How to take better indoor studio photos vs natural light

9 years 7 months ago #396126 by Chris Curran
I have just bought a couple Nikon flashes and working on improving my studio portraits.  I'm comfortable with natural light and during the last few weeks have been working on flash used portraits.  I'm using softboxes and umbrellas and just can't seem to get a realistic looking photos that doesn't look right.  I know natural light is a completely different beast.  A friend was telling me I should order a beauty dish, that these are great for portraits. 

I was recommended to sign up on this site for answers and I'm excited to be here and do appreciate your help. 

Chris


Photo Comments
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9 years 7 months ago - 9 years 7 months ago #396161 by KCook
Some common issues:

Lighting too even - For many setups the fill light needs to be less powerful, or more distant, than the main light.

Funky background lighting - In most cases the background needs to be darker or lighter than the subject, not match the subject!

Dull poses - Practice setups on mannequins or even a big doll ahead of time.  So when the shoot date arrives the subject does not get bored by a fumbling photographer.

Links for ideas -

www.photographytalk.com/photography-arti...tarflash-150watt-kit

blog.snapfactory.com/?p=392

photography.tutsplus.com/articles/a-guid...and-more--photo-7840

neilvn.com/tangents/headshot-photography-studio-nj/

Post a few of your problem shots here for C&C.

Kelly Cook 

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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9 years 7 months ago #396187 by W Cage
:agree:   Mark Wallace with SnapFactory has a good DVD on lighting and also Joe McNally


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9 years 7 months ago #396275 by Shadowfixer1
Most people put their lights too far away from the subject. Quick rule of thumb would be place light the same distance from the subject that equals the distance across the box or umbrella. In other words a 48" umbrella at 48" from subject. Adjust power or aperture to adjust exposure. The closer the light source, the softer the light source. Seems counter intuitive but that's how it works.
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9 years 7 months ago #396370 by garyrhook

Shadowfixer1 wrote: Adjust power or aperture to adjust exposure. The closer the light source, the softer the light source. Seems counter intuitive but that's how it works.


Darn physics ;)

Good advice.


Photo Comments
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9 years 7 months ago #396555 by Joves
:agree:
Yep.                                                
Like anything else in this hobby/craft, it takes practice, and experimenting to learn it effectively.


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