Looking for feedback on first Studio Shots

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/14/2007 11:05:53 PM · #1

I finally got my studio up and running. I've rearranged my spare bedroom...meaning i took down the bed, and put up my new lights, and a makeshift backdrop. Here are 2 of my first shots. My hubby was sweet enough to model for me for a while. Any feedback would be appreciated!

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

02/14/2007 11:12:14 PM · #2

Hey Magen! Congrats on getting your lights a room of their own! :)

Light on the first shot is terrific, as is the composition.... but..... that backdrop is so wrinkled and it distracts. I suggest steaming it since it looks like velvet and pulling your model a bit farther away from the background for better separation and to allow the backdrop to fall out of focus.

Second one light looks great again. The only nit there is the shot is a bit reddish. The fix is to desaturate the reds a touch. Otherwise excellent shot.

Oh and your hubby is a cutie! :)

I Enjoy Ham

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/14/2007 11:12:43 PM · #3

the lighting on both of these is great. The only thing i would want to change is to bring out the eyes a lttle bit more in the PP.

-Dan

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/15/2007 12:32:32 AM · #4

Curious ... were you using auto-White Balance? It just seems odd to have such different coloration between the two images on a studio shoot. The biggest reason I love studio work is consistency. Consistent lighting, consistent color, consistent backgrounds, etc.

So what I'm thinking is that you used AWB and the camera picked up one color on the first image and a different color on the second and balanced them differently.

What I would suggest instead is: set the camera's WB to the type of lighting you are using (Sun or Flash if you're using strobes, otherwise choose tungsten or fluorescent as appropriate). Alternatively, use an 18% gray card and shoot it to set a Custom WB in camera. Or, if you're shooting raw, shoot the gray card, and the fix up the color later in the raw converter (very easy to do).

renefunk

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/15/2007 12:37:46 AM · #5

left a comment o nthe first pic

02/15/2007 08:56:27 AM · #6

Originally posted by idnic:

Thank you Cindi!!!
Yes, I as well hate the backdrop...a friend of mine let me borrow it for now...and he had it all bunched up in a bag... I definitely need to steam it before i use it again!

Yes, I agree that the shot came out reddish. I will go back tonight and desaturate the reds a bit.

Thanks for the feedback! Yes, my hubby IS a cutie, isn't he?!?!? heee! ;)

02/15/2007 08:57:24 AM · #7

Originally posted by I Enjoy Ham:

the lighting on both of these is great. The only thing i would want to change is to bring out the eyes a lttle bit more in the PP.

-Dan

Thanks Dan. I sharpened the eyes in my pp, but maybe I didn't do enough? Do you suggest more sharpening? Or maybe another technique that I haven't thought of?

02/15/2007 09:00:14 AM · #8

Originally posted by dwterry:

Yes, I had it on AWB. I will try next time setting it to 'flash', cuz yes, I'm using my new strobes. :) I don't know how to do the custom WB...guess I should try that...seems like it may work better.
Thanks so much for your feedback. I appreciate it!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/15/2007 09:00:34 AM · #9

Originally posted by renefunk:

left a comment o nthe first pic

Thank you for the comment, renefunk!

Jaded_Housewife

Canon EOS-5D

02/15/2007 09:59:28 AM · #10

Beautiful job! ::High five:: :D

02/15/2007 10:03:08 AM · #11

Originally posted by jaded_youth:

Beautiful job! ::High five:: :D

Thanks Darrrrrrrling! :)
I had so much fun playing around last nighT!! It's so addicting, being in your own studio! :)

02/15/2007 10:04:40 AM · #12

OK, one more question....
how far away should the model be from the background? I've gotten a couple comments about moving him a bit farther away... he was about 2-3 feet away in these shots...

anyone? :)

Dan_Cottle

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/15/2007 10:25:49 AM · #13

5-6 feet is a good distance. The photos are good, altough he blends in to the backround a bit on his right side, so if you have another light you could use it as a rim light.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

02/15/2007 10:28:43 AM · #14

Originally posted by Emenresu:

5-6 feet is a good distance. The photos are good, altough he blends in to the backround a bit on his right side, so if you have another light you could use it as a rim light.

showing my newbieness here: What is a rim light?

aKiwi

Canon EOS-7D

02/15/2007 10:54:02 AM · #15

Great shots.
I find the high contrast to be fine on Men.
If you want to bring out a few more details on the dark sode of him, just use a reflector. This can be a white piece of card, styrofoam or a propper reflector.
A rim light is a second light usually to the side and behind the subject pointing forewards. It creates a light outline.

Try to get your subject about 2 m /6 feet from the Background (said above). But if room is a problem just keep it as much as possible.

In the first photo I would turn his head a little towards your main light making a slight profile of his nose. I like the second shot.

I always have my camera set to Manual
Shutter 1/125
Aperture about f8
White balance = Flash or Sun (Both are pretty similar)

Great work,

Peter

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

02/15/2007 10:59:43 AM · #16

Originally posted by aKiwi:

Wow! Thank you Peter!! Great info and advice. Yes, I have a second light, so I could use the rim light (thanks to you, i understand that now!). I was only using one light last night. Thank you, THANK YOU!!!

aKiwi

Canon EOS-7D

02/15/2007 11:23:22 AM · #17

Stick with just 1 for a while.
Play with that & learn how different heights, closer, further away More to the side etc. affect your image. Then play with the power & see what apperture changes you can produce. Look at how much of your face is in focus. For portraits I normally use about F8 with my 50mm or my 70-200, & that is relatively shallow.
Use a reflector at first for fill. It is softer & more subtle.
When you do start using flash fill I fire my fill light back towards the wall behind me when I am in a room with white walls. I find I have more control and it makes a softer light than if I usa an umbrella.
Just a few things i have learnt.
Have fun.