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11/16/2009 09:59:14 AM · #1 |
I have been asked to photograph a family group of 12...
not sure yet if inside or outside (outside would be better, but scenery here is not all that pretty this time of year...not fall anymore not winter)
anyways, I have a SB800 and a SB600 and 2 'small' umbrellas....what would be the best placement of these lights to avoid horrible shadows....
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11/16/2009 10:09:55 AM · #2 |
Well it is going to depend on what you are looking for, you can cross light them from shooting through the umbrellas with them high on the stands with even lighting. Much of how it needs done will depend on how you plan on posing them and what you would like your end result to be.
Matt |
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11/16/2009 10:38:13 AM · #3 |
| you could try something differnt, and take each persons photo separatly(cool lighting setup for one) then add them together in photoshop. Dave Hill does this and it works very well. |
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11/16/2009 11:22:42 AM · #4 |
| I don't have experience with setting lights, but I saw a photo recently where the subjects were backlit by strong window light and the umbrella's were used to fill in the front. It was a "simple" set up, but effective. |
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11/16/2009 11:33:54 AM · #5 |
You can light a group of 12 with one speedlight on camera if you needed to. It really comes down to how you are going to pose them.
With the CLS on the nikons, I would just set up the 2 speedlights on stands pointing at the opposite directions of each other (so the light with cross in the middle) Then raise the speedlights up, just a little bit higher then the top row of people and angled slightly down on them. That should make eliminate any shadows on faces.
Alex - how much time do you think it would take to composite 12 people into a cohesive group shot? I mean unless you were shooting on a seamless, its gonna be a bitch just to pull out all 12, organize them, and have it look good. |
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11/16/2009 12:21:57 PM · #6 |
| Think of the background as much as the light. Possibly, the less light in the background, the more meaningful the flash power you have. Tripod, stand still, see the lens, and pose well... |
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11/17/2009 05:02:03 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by AJSullivan:
You can light a group of 12 with one speedlight on camera if you needed to. It really comes down to how you are going to pose them.
With the CLS on the nikons, I would just set up the 2 speedlights on stands pointing at the opposite directions of each other (so the light with cross in the middle) Then raise the speedlights up, just a little bit higher then the top row of people and angled slightly down on them. That should make eliminate any shadows on faces.
Alex - how much time do you think it would take to composite 12 people into a cohesive group shot? I mean unless you were shooting on a seamless, its gonna be a bitch just to pull out all 12, organize them, and have it look good. |
true, was just an idea. ;-) |
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11/17/2009 08:23:51 AM · #8 |
thanks everyone.....I don't know the setting yet....I don't have room at my house, so need to do on location and will talk to the clients today to see what options are available...
Then I'm sure I'll ask AGAIN!!!!!!
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12/12/2009 12:53:04 PM · #9 |
Ok here is where the photo will be taken....
15 ppl...(9 adults and 5 children and an infant)
I took this picture just as an setting example using my 18-200 (at 18mm...used auto settings=1/60 f/3.6 iso 320 and onboard flash)
I have 2 small umbrellas and 2 flashes... one white umbrella and one black/silver lined
AJSullivan suggested kinda how I was thinking...
Anyone have any other ideas? also what fstop would you use....The don't want full length so how do I do wide and everyone clear....
Then I will be taking about 15 different shots...parents, parents and kids, kids and their kids, grandkids....etc etc..you get the picture.
Alls happening tomorrow, so would appreciate your input to help ease the butterflies.....
Message edited by author 2009-12-12 12:53:45. |
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12/12/2009 01:10:34 PM · #10 |
If the background is dark, you can ask to borrow a lamp from the family, maybe prop it on that chair and the background will be lit. Put it behind the people in the back so you don't see the chair. You can take some with the lights and some without to see what you like best. Check to see if you get any color shifts with any background lighting as it would be difficult to fix in ps.
If you have reflectors bring them. Where you see shadows on the people you can some reflective light.
Check for reflections on that window before moving to the next photo. Otherwise shift shooting positions so it doesn't appear.
Use a tripod if you can.
Good luck and have fun.
Message edited by author 2009-12-12 13:17:04. |
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12/16/2009 11:27:55 AM · #11 |
This is what I would do: point one flash at the ceiling to get a nice soft even lighting and put another behind the white umbrella some 3 feet off the floor slightly to the side of the camera (probably left since otherwise you may have reflection off the window) to kill the shadows under their chins. You may need to turn down the power on the second flash a bit so that it remained just the fill-light.
First line-up the adults and only then bring in the kids as they get bored very quickly and you don't want them looking like they eat lemons.
Tripod, remote release, ISO 200, Ap priority with f/8-11. |
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12/16/2009 01:26:58 PM · #12 |
Sounds like hell to me. But if you have to do it...
A small umbrella will be difficult because the people closest to the umbrella will be much brighter than those on the other side of the group. I would see if I could bounce a light off the back wall or a back corner. Use a white or gray balance target by your subjects to make sure you compensate for any color added by the walls. The walls appear to be light enough in the photos to be useful. If you play around you might find a placement that gives you fairly even light across the group and enough natural fill to give a decent ratio to each subject. I'm thinking the second light would have to be used to knock down some of the shadows behind them and maybe add some separation from the background. If you can crop off the ceiling in the final image you might try a light pop off the ceiling being them to give a slight rim/hair light affect.
I would probably use a handful of people into a similar room to try this first.
Message edited by author 2009-12-16 13:28:37. |
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12/16/2009 03:22:14 PM · #13 |
the people close won't be blown out if you move the light back. So, put the light about 15 feet back and point it at the opposite corner so the falloff is even.
I would use a tripod and take a number of shots so you can swap heads if need be as someone will be blinking/looking away/not ready.
Actually, you could do something very cool with that and light them individually and arrange them later in post- that's what I'd do.
Or, stick the camera on a tripod, open the shutter for 15 seconds and run around them with a flash and see what happens.
Or, camera on a tripod, shutter on bulb, pass the flash to someone and make them hold it and trigger it themselves then pass it along the line so they can light themselves.
You could make it fun if you wanted to. You don't have to be held to sticking a light on a stand and posing people. |
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