First Shoot With Ligting. Any Tips?

[anth_333]

I am going to go out later in this month to take some photos of a model. This will be my first shoot with off camera lighting and it will take place outdoors during the day.
I was just wondering whether any one has any tips such as on how to stop the umbrella from falling over in the wind or how to get some different lighting effects, good places to position the camera etc.... Just general advice. Maybe even some advice on what time during the day is best to get good lighting.

This is just a practice shoot.

The photos will be mostly of her whole and upper top half of her body.

Equipment I Will Be Using:
1 x Speedlite.
1 x Umbrella With Removable Reflective Backing.

 

[bazooka]

Good luck!

The best time of day is going to be sunset or sunrise. The problem you will have is that a single speedlight through an umbrella is not going to be much power at all when fighting sunlight. The darker it is, the more your light will be able to accomplish. Also, the higher power you use, the longer your recycle times. You might be waiting 4 or 5 seconds between shots, depending on what kind of light you have, unless you have a battery pack.

Try to aquire some sandbags. Any real photographer store should have them and they're cheap. It's a real pain to be fighting an umbrella in even a slight breeze, not to mention you could damage your flash.

If you can, it's going to be best for you to practice indoors first. I think it will probably make more sense to you. First time OCF outdoors.... well, it sounds brutal.

 

[Rosshole]

A speedlight is going to have a difficult time pushing enough light through an umbrella to balance with ambient daylight. Have you considered a reflector?

 

[analog.universe]

Using the reflective side of the umbrella is a little more efficient than using it shoot through, so you'll be able to squeeze a little more out of your speed light that way. Shooting toward the end of the day when the sun is at a lower angle will give you more pleasing sunlight, as well as make your speedlight's job a little easier.

I totally agree with experimenting a bunch first. Balancing OCF with ambient light isn't rocket science, but it's not exactly obvious if you've never done it before either, especially when your ambient is as bright as the sun.

Check out Lighting 101 on Strobist. Lots of awesome information about how to do OCF on that site.

 

[KmH]

I am going to go out later in this month to take some photos of a model. This will be my first shoot with off camera lighting and it will take place outdoors during the day.
I was just wondering whether any one has any tips such as on how to stop the umbrella from falling over in the wind or how to get some different lighting effects, good places to position the camera etc.... Just general advice. Maybe even some advice on what time during the day is best to get good lighting.

The photos will be mostly of her whole and upper top half of her body.

Equipment I Will Be Using:
1 x Speedlite.
1 x Umbrella With Removable Reflective Backing.

To weight a light stand I use ankle weights: Reebok Adjustable Ankle Weight (10-Pounds)

Other do-it-yourself solutions are garbagae bags with sand, or bags of el cheapo cat litter, in them.

Which spedlight? How big is the umbrella? With just one spedlight and umbrella you won't be able to effectively light her whole body. Unless the umbrella is pretty good size you might not be able to effectively light half her body.

To keep the light and shadow edges soft, and not waste any of the power the speedlight has, you have to place the light/umbrella just outside the image frame so it's as close to your subject as possible. that mewans using the umbrella in shoot-through mode. In shoot through mode a 45" umbrella has an effective size of 30" - 35".

The light is best during the 'golden hours', the time right around sun up and sundown. Depending on your local horizon you should be able to start shooting about 15 minutes before or after sun up, sun down. Since you are in the southern hemisphere the Sun is lower in the sky than it is in the northern hemisphere so this time of year you should be able to shoot for up to 2 hours after sun up or 2 hours before sun down.

What camera and speedlight shooting modes do you plan on using? I recommend using both in manual modes and avoiding trying to use TTL.

Will the location have any open shade?

 

[anth_333]

First thank you for your replies.

Yes I will Definitely be practising indoors first before I go out of course .
I don't think I will need to light her whole body. Most likely from just below the bum upwards because she will be standing in some long grass.

Have you considered a reflector?

Yes i have considered a reflector, but that is an extra 30 dollars .
Maybe a homemade one if possible??

Which speedlight? How big is the umbrella?

I will be using the Yn 460 - II.... Yes I know it's cheap but i can't really afford a proper one for now .
The umbrella is 43" and has a reflective backing which can be removed so that it can be used as a shoot through also.

What camera and speed light shooting modes do you plan on using?

I plan on using both on manual mode and to trigger the flash I bought an infra red trigger which will set off the speed lite.

Will the location have any open shade?

There are some really big trees which may provide some natural shading. I will go and check out the site properly when i have time i guess.

I will go out to shoot while the sun is going down most likely. Probably around 5:00pm onwards. So maybe the flash will have more of an effect from then onwards.

 

[Dp-PARIS]

go take a look at strobist website. I use it a lot. Full of really valuable tips and tricks. Your speedlight and the sun will be fine, just make sure you have a warming gel, otherwise the flash light will be a bit cold compared to the sunset. Also remember to adjust the shutter speed to conrol the ambient light, aperture for the flash light. You can shoot in ettl, but better to shoot manually.

Providing your umbrella is pretty close to the subject, you will have no problem with power. Though fully lighting yoru subject will be toughas per the comments from KmH.

 

[anth_333]

Okay thanks i will look at the strobist.com.
Any idea where i could find a warming gel?.. I tried Ebay however i just get results for lubricants HAHA.
Also is it possible to correct the cold lighting in Photoshop later?

 

[analog.universe]

Okay thanks i will look at the strobist.com.
Any idea where i could find a warming gel?.. I tried Ebay however i just get results for lubricants HAHA.
Also is it possible to correct the cold lighting in Photoshop later?

I'd suggest something like this for gels: Rosco Roscolux Designer Color Selector Swatchbook - 8815 B&H

I have that particular one, and there are hundreds of color options for lots of creative effects, including a couple dozen calibrated warming and cooling gels. Also, if you're using speedlights, each page in the swatch book is good for cutting 3 or 4 gels from. Awesome value for $20.

You can't really correct it in photoshop because it won't be across the whole scene. You can adjust the color temperture of a whole shot, but when you're mixing light sources, it's the difference in temperature between them that will be unsightly. Gels are quite cheap and easy to use though.

 

[bazooka]

I tried Ebay however i just get results for lubricants HAHA.

LOL. I was buying my gels from mpex.com but for the life of me, I can't fine the sample pack that used to come with the strobist packages... maybe they don't have it anymore.

 

[anth_333]

Hey Guys I Completed the shoot. It went pretty well aside from the umbrella falling over a couple of times . It bent the umbrella when it fell.
Some results:
Spring Fashion | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Spring Fashion | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I am quite happy with the results .

Thank you For all the tips.

 

[Village Idiot]

There's a lighting forum.

Last time I was out shooting in daylight with a speedlight I was in the middle of DC and had tons of alleys for shade. Shooting in open sun and places with spotty shade (shun shining through leaves) is going to be difficult with your gear.

 

[ghache]

pretty good for your first time. Lets say ive seen alot worse !

 

[dots]

To weight a light stand I use ankle weights: Reebok Adjustable Ankle Weight (10-Pounds)

Nice idea! thanks for the tip!