Daughter

Rebekah5280 · May 28, 2011

Here is my baby girl.

I need tips.

One question I have is regarding my background. When I am shooting against a white background, I set my white balance, but it seems dingy to me when I compare it to white on my subjects clothing. Is there a way to fix that? Could it be a lighting issue? Like should I be lighting my backdrop and my subject?

251033_205322962838906_100000836116771_522328_5415114_n.jpg

Hatch1921 · May 28, 2011

This is caused by light fall off/and the inverse square law. The main light you are using is not providing enough light to keep the background white. Watch this video... should help you out.

VIDEO LINK You could place her closer the the background to help bring the whites up. A little dodging in Photoshop would be a quick fix... but... it's best to get it right in camera versus post. A second light would be an option as well.

Hope this helps.
Hatch

Rebekah5280 · May 28, 2011

Ahh! This helps a LOT! Thank you so much for that link.

So just want to make sure I get the jist:

Since my daughter was already against the background, my light was too close. I needed to pull my light source back a few feet and then adjust my exposure. Right?

dallasimagery · May 28, 2011

Rebekah5280 said:
Ahh! This helps a LOT! Thank you so much for that link.

So just want to make sure I get the jist:

Since my daughter was already against the background, my light was too close. I needed to pull my light source back a few feet and then adjust my exposure. Right?

No.

The issue is that, like he said you're getting light falloff which is greying your background. It will be pretty difficult, almost impossible IMHO, to make a background white with a main light. Usually you use background lights for that, unless you want to blow it out in post, which may be hard depending on the photo.

This shot also doesn't appear to be very sharp...

Rebekah5280 · May 28, 2011

Yes, I understand that I am getting light falloff. In the link Hatch provided me regarding the inverse square law, it mentioned that light falloff was more drastic the closer the subject is to the light. So say my subject is 1 ft away from the light and the background is 2 ft away from the light, the background would be getting 1/4 the amount of light as my subject and therefore causing the dingy white effect that I have in this photo.
Also demonstrated in the video, if I were to move my light away from my subject, say ten feet, and have the backdrop 1 foot behind my subject, the falloff will be much less noticable.

But, since I like my subjects brightly lit up, I cannot move my lightsource back, so I will need a light specifically for my backdrop.

I have three. Two have umbrellas. I use a main light (obviously to the left of my subject in the above picture), and a fill light to the right. I do not ever use my third, so I will start using this one to light my backdrop. Now my question is: Where do I place this third background light? Is there a rule to how to light a backdrop? Or is it mostly trial and error?

If I were to guess, I think I would first try placing the light behind my subject, pointing up upwards on the backdrop. (I keep my lights and backdrops at my parents house, as my home is too small, and I have three small children who are very curious and like to touch/break my bulbs ect... So I gather as much information here/on the internet as I can, then I go experiment with new tips/tricks.)

Hatch1921 · May 28, 2011

Have a look at the white seamless techniques a little further down the page

zarias.com :: The blog of editorial photographer Zack Arias » Technique

Hatch

Rebekah5280 · May 28, 2011

Yes, I agree, the picture is not sharp at all! I was using 1/125 SS, AF, hand held. When I do shoot pictures of my daughter, should I be shooting at a higher SS? or if I were to place the camera on a tripod, could I still shoot at 1/125 but have a sharper image?

Rebekah5280 · May 28, 2011

Whoa.. Thats one I'll have to reference more than once! haha My husband keeps telling me I need a seemless, but he doesn't know how to operate a point and shoot, so I usually just dismiss his advice immediately after he give it..

I think I may just start with trying to light my background for now!

dallasimagery · May 28, 2011

Yes shoot at the highest shutter you can get away with.

And again, you need a background light, or maybe two depending on how big the background is and how far away you are.

Rebekah5280 · May 28, 2011

Thank you for both of your suggestions, advice and links to where I can find more information.

I love people photography, and I just want to get better at doing it.

When I try out your suggestions, I will repost an image or two and I hope to get more feedback so I can improve.

dallasimagery · May 29, 2011

I would suggest you pick up some books on photography... particularly lighting. the master lighting guide for portraiture is a great book...

Rebekah5280 · May 29, 2011

Ok, so I tried lighting up the background today and again used my daughter. The background still looks a little dingy, but I think its because the backdrop wasn't lit evenly. I'm thinking I need an umbrella on the backdrop to even out my lighting. I also increased shutter speed, but I would still like it more sharp. Overall, I like the exposure and skin tones.