Starter Portrait Lighting?
Mark Foster
I am just getting started in portrait photography and was
wondering what kind of lighting equipment I should invest
in. I am interested in doing indoor portraits and want to
get away as cheap as possible. I currently use a Canon
Rebel X with a built flash and have been trying just plain
ambient incadescent lighting. I guess I'm looking for more
of a "glamour" look to my lighting. Any advise for the
starting novice would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Mark A. Foster
Sam Carleton
> I am interested in doing indoor portraits and want to
>get away as cheap as possible.
Mark,
This is simple, buy two White Lightning Ultra 600. They will have the
light output you want and a ton of features. I am not going to try
and sell you on them, check out their web page, they **WILL** sell you
on them!!!
or call for info:
Sam
P.S. www page and F# came from inside cover of shutterbug I just
got...
Kevin McGowan
Mark Foster <fi...@frontiernet.net> wrote in article
<327077...@frontiernet.net>...
HI Mark,
I think you might look at some portrait "HOW TO" books to
get some ideas.
All you need to do work is one to three lights. The less
you have the more
creative you have to be with your lighting. If you do your
homework and look for
lighting setups you can handle you'll do just fine. Just
don't try to light a large
interior with one light. Stick to what you know you can
handle and you'll do fine.
(I'll add that I think EVERY photographer at should try to
do things they've never attempted before. That's how we
learn. Just make sure you've studied up on
it and ask other shooters who may be able to offer some
advice or insights. )
Basic info on lighting? Strobes are preferable over
hotlights for people. A softbox or
some kind of light modifier that can soften light is good
to have. Most of the people
you'll photograph aren't going to be great looking with
perfect skin and harsh lighting can really pick out a
person's flaws. Learn poses that show people at their
best.
From a business stand point; see who your competitors are.
What kind of market
are you in? Large city? Small town? The more you demand
of yourself the happier your clients will be. Learn to
give them more than they may even appreciate.
I'm sure you'll get some great advice on here. There are a
lot of knowledgeable people in this group who know a lot
more than I do about this.
Well again.. I've babbled on..
Later. :)
Kevin McGowan
Timmer
In article <3273ec12...@news.one.net>, scar...@cintech-cti.com says...
>>get away as cheap as possible.
>
>
>This is simple, buy two White Lightning Ultra 600. They will have the
>light output you want and a ton of features. I am not going to try
>and sell you on them, check out their web page, they **WILL** sell you
>on them!!!
>
control. I feel like I've died and gone to heaven, being able to tweek the
lights to get just the effect I want!
Wonders of the Unseen World
Mark Foster wrote:
>
> I am just getting started in portrait photography and was
> wondering what kind of lighting equipment I should invest
> in. I am interested in doing indoor portraits and want to
> get away as cheap as possible. I currently use a Canon
> Rebel X with a built flash and have been trying just plain
> ambient incadescent lighting. I guess I'm looking for more
> of a "glamour" look to my lighting. Any advise for the
> starting novice would be appreciated!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Mark A. Foster
My reply is:
The cheapest approach is to start off with one or (if you can afford a
second one) two photo flood lamps with reflectors. There is no single
way to light a portrait, so a visit to the library is in order to borrow
a couple books on photographic lighting. A typical basic lighting
situation would have light coming in from about a 45 degree angle on
the right or left, and then either placing a reflector (a white sheet
can
do quite nicely in a pinch) on the other side, or else a second lamp
situated further away from about 45 degrees on the other side. Some
people have a talent for "reading" shadowfall and some will have to
learn
it through experience. A few just never figure it out.
Of course, floods have some disadvantages, which I'm sure other
photographers will be telling you about (if they haven't already). I use
floods exclusively, though, and while I don't often do portraits (I
usually
do nude girls), those I've done have turned out fairly well.
--
**************************************************************************
Afterglow Erotic Photography, Portland, Oregon - Source for photos
+ the booklet "How to Recruit Models for Nude & Erotic Photography"
afte...@teleport.com - http://www.teleport.com/~afterglo
dh...@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
Wonders of the Unseen World (afte...@teleport.com) wrote:
: Mark Foster wrote:
: >
: > I am just getting started in portrait photography and was
: > wondering what kind of lighting equipment I should invest
: > in. I am interested in doing indoor portraits and want to
: > get away as cheap as possible. I currently use a Canon
: > Rebel X with a built flash and have been trying just plain
: > ambient incadescent lighting. I guess I'm looking for more
: > of a "glamour" look to my lighting. Any advise for the
: > starting novice would be appreciated!
: >
: > Thanks!
: >
: > Mark A. Foster
: My reply is:
: The cheapest approach is to start off with one or (if you can afford a
: second one) two photo flood lamps with reflectors. There is no single
: way to light a portrait, so a visit to the library is in order to borrow
: a couple books on photographic lighting. A typical basic lighting
: situation would have light coming in from about a 45 degree angle on
: the right or left, and then either placing a reflector (a white sheet
: can do quite nicely in a pinch) on the other side,
< snip >
These are good suggestions-
However - there are other solutions than simply more equipment.
The cheapest way is to use a north faced window. Diffuse the light with a
sheer blind, or use it straight, reflect it with tin-foil and white-foam
board & other stuff for a second light, and use your fill-flash as a third
light. Artificial light is simply a way to copy natural light in a
controlled manner. If you have the chance to control natural light you've
got it made.
DH.
w8w8...@coastalnet.com
Mark Foster wrote:
>
> > The cheapest approach is to start off with one or (if you can afford a
> > second one) two photo flood lamps with reflectors. There is no single
> > way to light a portrait, so a visit to the library is in order to borrow
> > a couple books on photographic lighting. A typical basic lighting
> > situation would have light coming in from about a 45 degree angle on
> > the right or left, and then either placing a reflector (a white sheet
> > can
> > situated further away from about 45 degrees on the other side. Some
> > people have a talent for "reading" shadowfall and some will have to
> > learn
> > it through experience. A few just never figure it out.
> >
> > Of course, floods have some disadvantages, which I'm sure other
> > photographers will be telling you about (if they haven't already). I use
> > floods exclusively, though, and while I don't often do portraits (I
> > usually
> > do nude girls), those I've done have turned out fairly well.
>
> the way... Also, would there be an advantage to using a silver umbrella
> over a straight flood for softer light... The lighting I use draws harsh
> shodows that I'm trying to get away from...
>
> Mark Foster
To Mark, et al,
Yes, an umbrella helps. The larger the light source, the less sharp
the shadow line. As for those "harsh shadows", that is what the
reflector or second light source is there for, to light up those areas.
Shadows are needed to create shape, but need illumination at about one
stop less than the main.
Try this. Using the main only, light the subject to about f/8. Turn off
the main and light the subject to f/5.6 with the second light. Put the
main back on and take the picture. That will give you a starting point
and you can refine from there.
Chuck @
Portrait Boutique
CB
I started with nothing but a Metz flas and some reflecters. Did a
wonderful buisnes with that.