Do you use ONE light most of the time.......?

QUESTION:

So when shooting commercial work, do you use multiple lights or do you stick with one light? Do you take tons of gear to your shoots and do whatever it takes to get the shot?

ANSWER:

I’m a one light kind of guy. The more lights you use the more complicated the setup becomes. However if multiple lights are required to get the shot the clients requires, then so be it. Multiple lights it is. On commercial shoots I can possibly count the number of times I used more than three (3) light on one hand.

One good rule I live by is preparation. At least I have a starting point. Plan, Plan, Plan. Not telling you this is always possible but it helps a bunch when you can. I love to use my 7’ parabolic and nine (9) times out of ten (10) I can get a pretty decent image with just that. My next favourite modifier when doing commercial shoots is the 24” Rapid Box. I just love this piece of kit. I can use it almost anywhere and it can be used in a number of different ways.

However remember reflectors and the sun can be added to your setup to give that fill or separation that’s sometimes needed.  (So then technically when I do this I’m using two (2) light then right? Sorta….)

So basically using one light makes you sharp, you need to think more and be creative with that light.  Multiple lights can sometimes slow you down. Once I needed to take an image, I really only had one light and the client needed the subject well lit on a pure white back ground. I used my 7’ parabolic.

Your First Soft-box.

QUESTION: Hey Shawn I'm about to make that purchase for my first softbox. Should I get the new 24" Rapid box or a big 4' Octa/soft box? I'm looking to shoot lots of portraits, couples and some group shots. Will be shooting indoors and outdoors.

ANSWER: Not the easiest question to answer. One main thing to remember is the smaller your light modifier the harder your light source will be. The larger your modifier the softer the light. Something else to always remember is your maximum working distance from your subject should be no more than twice the diagonal measurement of the face of your modifier.

 So what’s you style??????

If you shoot lots of full length shots, like your images well lit and like loads of negative space. Then your initial purchase should be the larger modifier. You’ll be able to put that box way back and shoot and still have good quality light.

 If you tend to shoot tighter shots, more head shots and ¾ length shots. The Rapid Box would be more your fit. Perfect for working in small spaces and doing a lot of outdoor shoots.

 Another item you’ll need to consider is your current source of light. Do you have hot shoe flashes or strobes? The further away you position your light the more power you’ll need out of that light source. So here’s a scenario. Place a hot shoe flash in your large modifier and position that bad boy 10’ from your subject, chances are your need to put that flash at full power. However the most you can expect to get is f4 or f5.6. So if you want to be in the f8, f11 or higher land you’ll need to be using strobes.

 Understand I’m not saying you can’t place your small modifier far away from your subject, I’m just saying it won’t be that great soft light most of us strive to achieve. 

My new family member.... Klaus.... (Rottweiler)

So I purchased a Rottweiler pup approx. ten (10) weeks ago. He's changed my life. Never in a million years would I have imagined I'd be so into a dog. Well I am. He's such a joy. Sometime a bit of a challenge, but nothing that can't be controlled at this time. I realise the importance of formal training and therefore I've taken that route. More updates as he grows.....

Two light full length portrait

Light setup for a photo shoot we recently shot at our local UWI. Image shot with my D800 and old 70-300mm lens. 

Camera settings were ISO-100, F7.1, 1/125s @ 85mm. I used my Paul C. Buff Large Octa camera right with Alien Bee B800 and the background was my Lastolite Background with one Alien Bee B800 with reflector.

SSF_1641.jpg

Janelle Green Designs

I recently did a photo shoot for Janelle Green and Deborah Ramdin to promote makeup and clothing. A few people asked me about the post processing on one of the images I edited .

So here's a very quick review.

The image was completely edited in Lightroom 5.

 

 

Camera settings. 

1/125s, F5, ISO 100. Lens used was the Sigma 85mm f1.4. One (1) Alien Bee Camera left fitted with 11" Long throw reflector (http://paulcbuff.com/11ltr.php). I wanted that haze/flare in the image, so I shot straight into the sun. I also removed my lens hood.

Wakefield Old Plantation House.

There's been quite a bit of buzz about this old Plantation House on a local Photography Forum I'm a member of. Many of the local photographers made a recent visit and took many images of this old abandoned house, both inside and outside. We photographers are often drawn to some of the most dangerous locations to try to capture images we hope will be different. So I decided to take a trip out there to scout the place for a shoot in the very near future. Well........I loved what I saw. YES it looks dangerous as hell! To be continued.........


 

 

UPDATE......

Well I guess this is different. Had no idea this is what I'd get.

 

Definitely spooky.

Here another image from that shoot.

 

Melissa Matthew

Here's an image from a recent shoot with Melissa Matthew in Barbados. Awesome girl to work with and such a pleasant personality. 

 

Melissa Smith