Some more practice with portraits

12/22/2006 03:59:24 PM · #1

My friend, Sarah, from class agreed to let me photograph her super pregnant belly for practice.

I'd really appreciate tips for the future

Things I've already learned from this shoot:
-- Don't shoot in harsh winter sun; get a reflector and shoot in the shade
-- Don't shoot dark hair against a black background (though we'll see how those turn out)
-- Get more practice making subject comfortable with the camera so as to not keep getting that deer in the headlights look

** Also, I'm going to do a baby shoot with another friend tomorrow if anyone has any quick tips for that **

Thanks guys!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/23/2006 12:59:32 AM · #2

bump .

rjkstesch

Nikon D700

12/23/2006 01:34:18 AM · #3

Left a comment on a shot.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/23/2006 02:09:29 AM · #4

Originally posted by amandalore:

My friend, Sarah, from class agreed to let me photograph her super pregnant belly for practice.
Well, aren't you the lucky one. :)

[quote=amandalore]-- Get more practice making subject comfortable with the camera so as to not keep getting that deer in the headlights look

I suggest making the lady more comfortable. Not just with the camera, but in her clothing (soft, loose, flowing dress), the environment, softer lighting, etc., etc.. Try getting close too. Not necessarily on her bulging belly, but her face.

$0.02 (plus applicable sales tax)

Message edited by author 2006-12-23 02:09:53.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/23/2006 05:12:48 AM · #5

Thanks guys...

She brought a whole wardrobe, haha, but she's a business student like me and he's a law student, so that was the flowiest outfit she had.

How can you get softer lighting? I used a shoot through umbrella and placed it a few feet away from her... Does the distance matter, or how close should it be?

Any tricks?

and closer face shots... I'll work on that -- though I think that'll come in time and more practice when I get more comfortable with the camera myself, lol

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

12/23/2006 08:21:49 AM · #6

Left a few comments. Here were my favorites:

Originally posted by amandalore:

How can you get softer lighting? I used a shoot through umbrella and placed it a few feet away from her... Does the distance matter, or how close should it be?

Here's an easy rule to keep in mind: The smaller / more distant the light source, the harsher the shadows. The larger / closer the light source, the softer it becomes.

Think of the sun. It may be huge, but it's so far away that it becomes a "point source of light" with the resulting harsh shadows. Throw an atmosphere full of clouds in front of it and it becomes a huge light source (spread out over the entire sky).

So your bare flash is harsh, no matter the distance, because of how small it is. Put a shoot-through umbrella on it and it suddenly becomes 3 feet wide (mostly - there is still a hot spot in the middle). The closer the umbrella is, the softer the light. The further away it is, the more it begins to, once again, turn into a "point source of light".

Tip for getting software light (remember the hot spot?): Use the edges of your light source. Instead of pointing the umbrella directly at your subject, make it more of a "glancing blow". I mean ... shine it "across the subject's path" so that the light still lights them, but the center of the light crosses in front of your subject, not directly on them. Does that make sense?

Also, using two lights ... one as a main light, one as a fill, can help control the harshness. Alternatively, a reflector works well and is cheaper.

And another thing that helps is to place a light up above them, shining down on the top / side of their head (a "hair light") in order to light the hair. This makes the hair lighter than the background and will serve to separate the subject from the background. But it needs to be positioned correctly. You don't want to light the face with that light or you'll have confusing / conflicting shadows. So you need to carefully control this light.

An alternative that is easier is to point another light at the background so that the background is lighter than the subject's hair. Different effect, but still separates them. Of the two, I prefer the hair light as it tends to give a more 3-d effect.

12/23/2006 12:43:31 PM · #7

Thanks David

I have another light. I have a reflector umbrella and a shoot through umbrella. I tried using one bare light as a filler aimed at the ceiling, but it was on very low, I used it mostly to light the shadowed side of their faces. I wouldn't have thought of a hair light though...

would it work to place the reflector umbrella behind them to the side (as half filler and half hair light) with the shoot through positioned as you said? Or do you need 3 lights?

Or better yet - what's the best way to position what I have? (two strobes, one shoot through umbrella, and one reflector umbrella) also, it wouldn't be too expensive for me to buy a reflector if that would help

fotomann_forever

12/23/2006 12:49:38 PM · #8

Originally posted by amandalore:

Things I've already learned from this shoot:
-- Don't shoot dark hair against a black background (though we'll see how those turn out)

That's when a hair light (or kicker) really comes in handy. You might be able to fake it a bit in Post process by using white on a softlight layer to add highlights.

Message edited by author 2006-12-23 12:50:40.

12/23/2006 03:25:03 PM · #9

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by amandalore:

Things I've already learned from this shoot:
-- Don't shoot dark hair against a black background (though we'll see how those turn out)

That's when a hair light (or kicker) really comes in handy. You might be able to fake it a bit in Post process by using white on a softlight layer to add highlights.

hmm... I'll try that....

see, this is what practice shoots are for, lol

fotomann_forever

12/23/2006 04:26:01 PM · #10

OK, I got a bit of time to play. Just run a bit of Soft light over the hair. That's painting in white on a layer in soft light mode.

Then I added a bit of Gaussian blur and then faded it for soft focus.

A bit of De-sat on red and yellow channels.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/24/2006 02:38:47 AM · #11

awesome, thanks leroy... I'll play around with that when I get the time...

I wouldn't have thought to do that

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

12/24/2006 08:50:59 PM · #12

Sorry, I've been out of town so I'm only just now getting back to this thread.

Originally posted by amandalore:

I tried using one bare light as a filler aimed at the ceiling, but it was on very low, I used it mostly to light the shadowed side of their faces.

Yes, this is helpful. Just be careful not to cause shadows under their eyes by bouncing the light off the ceiling. For my fill light, I usually position a strobe right behind and above the camera with either a soft box or umbrella on it.

Originally posted by amandalore:

would it work to place the reflector umbrella behind them to the side (as half filler and half hair light) with the shoot through positioned as you said? Or do you need 3 lights?

Absolutely. Remember how I suggested not pointing your umbrella directly at them and instead using just the edge of the light? Well, that works out perfectly for putting a reflector in line with where the umbrella is actually pointing, and then reflecting the light back on the them from that angle. You'll have plenty of light to reflect because the people won't be blocking the light. And the light will automatically be a stop or two less because of the extra distance traveled and reflectivity of your reflector.