photographic help

[Ed Fenwick]

Aloha, my church has asked me to do the photos for a new directory (individual portraits). I have no experience doing this and would like any input you may have.



I have a Canon T5 and plan to use a 28-80 mm Ef lens at 80mm or so. I will use a Sunpac 522 flash shooting through a 33inch white umbrella. This main light maybe 40-60 degrees to the left of the camera. A silver reflector maybe 90degrees right. 'hoping to get a hair light set up above. I can fire all this at the same time but am worried about a shadow on the wall behind. Does this setup sound good and have I missed anything?

Bless you Ed

 

[Richard L]

You need a back-light flash. You set up a flash unit behind or just to the side of the subject and pointed up towards the wall behind them where the shadows would appear. The flash should be triggered by cable or by and electronic remote flash sync sensor so that all flash units fire at the same time. An alternative is move the subject away from the wall, elevate your main and fill flash units to that the shadows will fall lower on the wall behind the subject an not appear in the photo. The other option would be to take the portraits outside?



Practice at home on the wife or kids so you will know what adjustments need to be made for you main flash, fill flash, hair light and back light.



...Rich

 

[Ed Fenwick]

Thanks Richard, my problem is that I can't fire anymore flashes than what I have now. I could remove the hair light and out behind but I light shinny hair. What is your opinion of moving the subject about 4- 6 feet from the back drop?

TKS

 

[Richard L]

superfast,

Yes, as I previously said, you could move your subject further away from the wall behind them, and raise your main and fill flash so that shadows will be out of the photo. You have to be aware that the background wall may become too dark?



Another interesting technique is to frame your subject in front of a window and use your front flash to compensate for the backlighting. You can then use the depth of field on your telephoto lens to blurr the detail in the background....similar to taking a photo outside that I suggested earlier?



If you have a main flash, fill flash and a hair light, you could use large sheets of white cardboard/posterboard to reflect light as the fill light and use one of the flash units as a backlight on the wall behind the subject. White poster board is relatively cheap and you can always have someone hold it, so no additional equipment or stands are necessary



In all cases, you would need to make your choice based on the environment you are taking the photos in. I would also recommend that you experiment by taking test photos to be sure all your lighting is in proper balance. That's harder to do when shooting outside, or using windows as a back light since outside lighting is so variable and unpredictable...and useless if you are shooting at night..:grin:



...Rich

 

[Richard L]

superfast,

Yes, as I previously said, you could move your subject further away from the wall behind them, and raise your main and fill flash so that shadows will be out of the photo. You have to be aware that the background wall may become too dark?



Another interesting technique is to frame your subject in front of a window and use your front flash to compensate for the backlighting. You can then use the depth of field on your telephoto lens to blurr the detail in the background....similar to taking a photo outside that I suggested earlier?



If you have a main flash, fill flash and a hair light, you could use large sheets of white cardboard/posterboard to reflect light as the fill light and use one of the flash units as a backlight on the wall behind the subject. White poster board is relatively cheap and you can always have someone hold it, so no additional equipment or stands are necessary



In all cases, you would need to make your choice based on the environment you are taking the photos in. I would also recommend that you experiment by taking test photos to be sure all your lighting is in proper balance. That's harder to do when shooting outside, or using windows as a back light since outside lighting is so variable and unpredictable...and useless if you are shooting at night..:grin:



...Rich

 

[Richard L]

superfast,

Yes, as I previously said, you could move your subject further away from the wall behind them, and raise your main and fill flash so that shadows will be out of the photo. You have to be aware that the background wall may become too dark?



Another interesting technique is to frame your subject in front of a window and use your front flash to compensate for the backlighting. You can then use the depth of field on your telephoto lens to blurr the detail in the background....similar to taking a photo outside that I suggested earlier?



If you have a main flash, fill flash and a hair light, you could use large sheets of white cardboard/posterboard to reflect light as the fill light and use one of the flash units as a backlight on the wall behind the subject. White poster board is relatively cheap and you can always have someone hold it, so no additional equipment or stands are necessary



In all cases, you would need to make your choice based on the environment you are taking the photos in. I would also recommend that you experiment by taking test photos to be sure all your lighting is in proper balance. That's harder to do when shooting outside, or using windows as a back light since outside lighting is so variable and unpredictable...and useless if you are shooting at night..:grin:



...Rich