Diane T. Phillips |
Setting Up a Portable Studio I'm in need of information on how to achieve "quality" studio portraits. My equipment consists of a Nikon camera with a SB-50DX flash unit on a Stratos bracket. I have had all sorts of problems, from terrible shadows to washed-out images from too much flash. I have been asked to shoot indoor portraits of people and have declined because I am afraid of the results. With so many lighting systems on the market, I have no idea of which way to go. I want it to be portable, but my main objective is quality.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
It sounds like you are putting the flash on the bracket and just shooting. Most portraits you see are done with some kind of diffusion to diffuse the light and spread it out - like an umbrella or a soft box. The simplest set-up would be to use your flash, but get an umbrella and some way to attach it so that you bounce the light with the umbrella. You can use fabric for a background, and if your walls are white in your house, they can act as a fill reflector for the other side.
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Diane T. Phillips |
Thank you for taking the time to give me this advice. Am I to understand that I should move the flash off-camera and buy a softbox to mount on the tripod/stand? I also would like to know your opinion on the Omni Bounce. The white wall is also a great tip.
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pcmlphotography.com - Pamela C.M Lammersen Contact Pamela C.M Lammersen Pamela C.M Lammersen's Gallery |
Hi Diane: You need to be able to move your lights around in order to get different effects and also to flatter the features of your subjects. Good luck.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
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Diane T. Phillips |
Can you suggest a particular lens?
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Anything from 50mm to 200mm - depending on how much space you have and the perspective you want. If you want to have some space between you and the subject, a 135 is good. You can always move closer, or back.
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