Advice on Portrait Setup and Lighting

12/19/2007 08:25:53 PM · #1

Experts, your advice please...

How would you setup the people and any auxillary lighting, and what would be the approach to photograph the following:

Two portraits, one with 3 people, 2 adults, 1 child, second with 4 adults, 3 children.

Assume that this description is as the camera sees it. There will be a Christmas Tree in a corner. A window to the left wall, two windows to the right wall. Windows on the right have lit candles (bulbs). Photo is at night so the windows are dark. There is room for people in front of the tree and to the right of the tree.

I would like the people lit well, with the ambience from the tree making it a warm, cozy, Christmas feel.

Thanks in advance!
Paul

AllanL

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

12/19/2007 08:29:26 PM · #2

What kind of lighting equipment do you have at your disposal?

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/19/2007 09:03:57 PM · #3

Natural lighting (lamps), Canon 580EX flash. But, I'm prepared to make any DIY lighting equipment necessary.

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

12/19/2007 09:08:54 PM · #4

Most of the time, lighting from the sides would be ideal.

Or having a Main light, out front, with a fill light(s) on the side(s).

I suggest using a single subject, (i.e. a flower) and playing around with different lighting angles to find one's that you wish to use.

And you can adjust your white balance to get that cozy temperature, but as far as the lights go, I think it would be best to experiment.

You can always diffuse a flash with some tissue paper.

Also, for the poses, usually getting the taller one's in the back, and since you are shooting next to a Christmas tree (assuming it's fairly tall), you can set up the crop of the image to match the conditions of the Tree/windows. Perhaps a set up could be, adults in the back, children in the middle. I suggest that when you are posing the people, that you check their heads, and make sure that the angle of the heads, (heights) don't go in a mountain shape. This probably doesn't make sense in this post, but maybe this works better...

Notice in This Shot, The family's heads come at a nice slope downwards.

Same thing with This Shot. Heads at a slope

But with This shot the heads form a somewhat "mountain" peak formation.

Hope I don't sound like a complete idiot, but I hope I helped.
-AC

Message edited by author 2007-12-19 21:18:00.

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

12/19/2007 11:37:30 PM · #5

Thanks. The issue is that I don't want the natural glow from the tree to be swamped out by ancillary light. Thanks for the tips. I'll have to experiment...looks like its self portrait time....unless my wife is willing to help.. :)

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

12/20/2007 07:18:52 AM · #6

To keep the tree lights and window candle lights looking right, use Tungstun balance. You'll want a fairly slow shutter speed to capture the light from both and get that glowing look. And if you end up using regular lamps to light the scene, they'll be Tungstun anyway, so it will all be perfect. Just don't mix any flouresent lights in!

I'd think 3 lamps would be best. Two at 45 degree angles from the subjects, at about face/neck level, and then the third hidden behind them at a reduced power/bulb to set them apart from the background. You'll want to play around with this until you get a nice even light, without background shadows.

I did my family's portrait by our tree the other night, and used .5 seconds shutter speed to let our tree lights glow enough that they weren't lost in the scene lighting. I used flashes, which probably overpowered them more than lamps will, so you might start experimenting at 1/30 seconds or so. Just be sure to take several, in case someone moves a bit.

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

12/20/2007 08:23:58 AM · #7

Thanks, I'll try that out. I was also considering two exposures where I could mask out the tree lights (highlights). I'll probably shoot a couple like that to see how it works, but I'd like to do it in one shot if possible.

As for the lights, what about CFLs at the tungsten temperature? I haven't done a spectral analysis on the light, but to my eye, the glow is perfect.

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

12/20/2007 08:27:52 AM · #8

A quick read of the CLF page on Wiki makes me wary. They aren't really the same balance as regular tungstuns, just close. And anytime you start mixing lighting types, you have to compensate for it.

But try it - if it looks good and works, who cares what kind of lights they are!