If the weather holds out I am doing a fashion shoot tomorrow and as part of that I am writing up a guest blog post for an international fashion photographer about the shoot. I would like to concentrate on my lighting and lighting techniques in general, along with other things that go into doing a fashion shoot.
As I only have a limited amount of words (i.e. I can not write a book) and I want it to answer the common questions people have about off camera flash, studio flash and fashion shoot. This could include but not limited to camera setting, subject distance, light modifiers. etc etc….
Now here is where you come into the picture….
I would love a list of questions that I can, if have enough words, answer in my guest blog.
I will also answer the questions here along with actual photos of the shoot and if required set-up shots of the shoot.
So if you ever had any questions about fashion/photo shoots, off camera lighting, camera setting, light modifiers, etc etc, then now is your time to ask.
If you like, you can be notified when I post the answers and images. All you have to do is follow me and when I post you will receive a notification in your home page, of course if you don't want to follow then just check back on a regular basis.
I have a question, I do lots of makeup (very creative extreme makeup) so I take a lot of head shots.... None of them are any good really, I think it's because of the light. What Camera setttings and light set up would you use to capture the details of makeup while still keeping your models face soft and warm?
I got a new Speedlight - an SB-700. It doesn't work the same as my SB-400 as far as bouncing for some reason. I want a book on how to use it but haven't found anything that isn't a tome. Do you have tips on using the larger speedlights, the filters that come with it, and the little screen that pops out and covers it?
@sdpace I am planning on using my speedlites for this shot a fair bit as I want the direct/harsh lighting with a spot. I think I will cover that so stay tuned.
i'm sure it has more power, and I really just don't know how to use it. Are you familiar with Nikon speedlights? I know you shoot Canon. I don't know what the equivalent is in Canon-ese...but the SB-400 is tiny, no controls at all, just a swivel head. The SB-700 is big and has a display and a lot of controls, as well as the 360 degree swivel head a few different little things that go on it. With my smaller flash, I am able to get the lighting I want indoors, usually just by flipping it up and bouncing it off the ceiling. The bigger one just has too many options I think and flipping it straight up doesn't produce the same results. I think I'm just scared of it because I don't know how to use it to get the optimal results.
Hi Brendan... I will look forward to reading your write-up with considerable interest! I have zero experience with lights and really wouldn't know where to begin in terms of asking questions. Hope the weather holds for you!
Cool thing your doing. Questions would really depend on what level of photographer is your audience. If they have zero experience in flash photography, that in itself is a book.
My question is one of laziness - I own a Speedlite 380 EX II and while I get by with it, there's a lot I don't know/understand about how flashes work! It seems they have their own exposure/manual settings... I haven't taken the time or effort to learn about it just yet! So I think it'd be really beneficial to many people if you did a basic coverage of it - the settings, what they do, how they work, etc. :)
How's this. Fashion photography is often about using flash photography. What would be the first thing you should learn about flash photography? What off-camera lighting should I first buy (i.e. strobe, speedlight, reflector, continuos lighting)? And what are some first-time light modifiers I should use?
@sdpace The SB-600/700/800/900 are really pretty complicated to change settings, but if you want to mimic the SB-400, switch it to TTL-BL mode, and leave it in the hotshoe. The camera will do the rest, as long as you just want some fill light. If you don't know how to adjust flash compensation, look that up in your manual and you can use that to dial up/down the flash contribution to the overall lighting.
Brendan, if you're doing this shoot outdoors (you mentioned the weather being a factor), my first question would be why use flash at all? Would you be just adding fill? Catchlights in the eyes? What about reflectors for fill instead of flashes? Assuming you want/need to use flash, how would you arrive at the balance between ambient light and flash (lighting ratio). Trial and error, using a meter or what? If you're in sunlight, would you use warm gels on the flash to keep the light consistent? How would you use flash mixed with ambient light and try to get a natural result?
Light meters.....I know in the movies the hold them out, flash the lights (or not) and then give a little affirmation nod and go back to the camera. Does the meter just tell you the exact camera settings to use or the power of the lights and you adjust off of that or what?
If you are new to off the camera flash, what would you recommend as the best first piece to buy? What is the biggest bang for the buck? As a newbie what should be on my wish list of equipment?
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@tigerdreamer I am sure you can come up with something... :)
Are you doing a commercial shoot or editorial?
@davetom Yep agreed. that is why I thought I would put the question out to this group to see what questions come out.
Its commercial and for the use of creating a how-to.
@pocketmouse Cool got it.
@northy No problem and thanks
How's this. Fashion photography is often about using flash photography. What would be the first thing you should learn about flash photography? What off-camera lighting should I first buy (i.e. strobe, speedlight, reflector, continuos lighting)? And what are some first-time light modifiers I should use?
There is a Nikon CLS Field Guide that is pretty good. Also these blog posts, which are a bit technical, but a few of the sections may be useful.
http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.co.nz/2008/01/nikon-flash-two-separate-metering.html
@swguevin Cool thanks.
Here is another guest blog I whipped up. For my mate, international fashion photographer and KelbyTraining.com trainer Frank Doorhof
http://www.frankdoorhof.com/site/2012/03/guestblog-brendan-maunder/