Never done a portrait

dlscott56

As the title says, I've never done a portrait. I've just purchased a little lighting equipment, just speed light stuff, and was experimenting. I'd love to here your comments on how I can improve this before trying to shoot someone else. This is SOOC since I thought that would be easiest to look at the lighting. It's a speedlight softbox high camera left. Tried getting it near 45 deg from subject and 45 deg high. A gridded flash camera right pretty much straight side lighting. I tried setting the exposure to darken the background and then adjusted speedlights from there.

Thanks in advance for your input.




(not sure if I should have posted this in Technique. Please move it where ever you think it should go)

Swartzy

A couple things: Exposure and color balance....get those right in camera...use the histogram and a grey/white card. The placement of the lights are fine but allow me to suggest using one speedlight to illuminate a bit of the bg and use a reflector (a simple white reflector board will do) on the side opposite your softbox. With 2 speedlights you will have enough power for proper exposure w/one subject at ISO 100...say f/5.6. The closer your light source the softer the light.

Nikolai

Dave:
1) Expression is solid
2) Overall the image looks underexposed
3) They are not called "portrait" for nothing. This is not frigging landscape - turn your camera 90 degrees!
4) The best use of the second light sorce is the hair/rim. Keep your lights in a crossfire pattern: Batterfly + Hair or Rembrandt + Rim. Use a reflector/foamboard/posterboard for fill if needed.
The second best use is the clamshell, but it's typically for glamour shots, you're not the type;
HTH

Mitchell

This looks underexposed and soft to me. I like your pose and expression.

I would suggest just using one light for now as you experiment with your new gear. This will allow you to shoot, chimp and make simple changes. In the end, you will better understand what you are doing.

Please ignore Nik's suggestion to put the camera in portrait mode for portraits.:D Rules are made to be broken!

dlscott56

I really appreciate all the feedback. Thanks guys! Ok, trying to pick up all of the suggestions here's what I've tried:

Set white balance from shooting an 18% gray card using main light. Although, after I took everything down it seemed maybe I should have done it after all of the minor lighting adjustments?

Next set main light to this. Am I still a tad underexposed here?:


Next set fill light. I'll pick up some whiteboard tomorrow for a reflector. I guessed I would really take a light reading for each of these to get the proper difference but had to wing it.


Next was to choose between lighting the background and trying a hair light. So here's the hair light although I had some trouble with this one as it didn't look quite right:


Then a shot with all of these speedlights on:


Next I switched the hair light to lighting the background a little:


That's as far as I got. I actually have 4 flashes and could of lit both the background and rim light but needed my poor man's triggers that haven't come in yet.

Nik, sorry about the landscape format but 40 times up and down from the camera just made me want to avoid leaning over sideways to check the camera display.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Flyinggina

Hi Dave,

I'll leave the technical comments to the experts, but I'm liking #4 the best. I don't think you need to light up the bg. I also like the first one, but then I like dramatic lighting and I think it suits the subject well.

Virginia

Nikolai

Flyinggina wrote:

Hi Dave,

I'll leave the technical comments to the experts, but I'm liking #4 the best. I don't think you need to light up the bg.

Virginia

I agree.
Told you about the hairlight:-)

dlscott56

Flyinggina wrote:

Hi Dave,

I'll leave the technical comments to the experts, but I'm liking #4 the best. I don't think you need to light up the bg. I also like the first one, but then I like dramatic lighting and I think it suits the subject well.

Virginia

Thanks Virginia. I just realized I still have your set up photo from your Faust shot in May. I recently purchased an umbrella with the removable black cover and still have an idea for this set up. Can't wait to try it.

dlscott56

Nikolai wrote:

I agree.
Told you about the hairlight:-)

Thanks Nik. Can't wait to try this with someone that shaves more frequently and doesn't think an old sweatshirt is dressing up!

Sublim3

I actually like the first one but the only thing I would add is a little fill, maybe just a reflector. Your expression and "look" is perfect for that.

dlscott56

Sublim3 wrote:

I actually like the first one but the only thing I would add is a little fill, maybe just a reflector. Your expression and "look" is perfect for that.

Thanks Mitch, I appreciate the feedback.