Help me recreate a portrait

[Ron Smith]

You did not say, but I assume from your question, your shots will be used with the others on this site? In addition to the technical points, the style of composition (tilting background, space for copy on the enlarged bio detail page, degree of soft focus for background), and importantly, the expression of ease and friendliness in the eyes and smiles of the subjects will be another key for making your photos "fit in." Don't forget to bring your "good natured interactions with the subject" filter!!!

For all the technical shortcomings - I think these are pretty good portraits because of the expressions caught on most of the Dr's and likely the art directors idea for humanizing a large institution with all this photography.

 

[mrelsewhere]

Ron, I agree completely. The Intermed photographer did a great job of humanizing the doctors. Even without reading their bios, they seem like people you can trust.

To answer your question: No, my portraits will be used on the website of a small family practice in coastal Maine. The doctor for whom I'm working pointed me to the site as an example of work he likes.

 

[Designer]

Select a modifier that is not too big, like a 40 to 43 inch reflecting umbrella with a dull, white interior finish and a black outer backing.

Derrel, why an umbrella over a softbox? Would it be better because it throws more light around the room?

Derrel's recommendation was for the umbrella to have a black outer cover which keeps the light from spilling out into the room. His umbrella recommendation was because they are less expensive and easier to transport than a softbox.

 

[Derrel]

Black-backed umbrella with a white interior = Black outer covering keeps almost all of the light going forward, so it makes a metering string pretty accurate, since unlike a shoot-through umbrella, light is not blasting all over the place. I think the look of umbrella light is more "daylight", more "window light-like" than softboxes of a useable indoor size in places like offices. I think the wider beam spread of a 40 to 43 inch reflecting umbrella looks softer, less-theatrical, less "faked", less "set-up" than using a smaller softbox that will fit inside an office setting.

 

[pixmedic]

Black-backed umbrella with a white interior = Black outer covering keeps almost all of the light going forward, so it makes a metering string pretty accurate, since unlike a shoot-through umbrella, light is not blasting all over the place. I think the look of umbrella light is more "daylight", more "window light-like" than softboxes of a useable indoor size in places like offices. I think the wider beam spread of a 40 to 43 inch reflecting umbrella looks softer, less-theatrical, less "faked", less "set-up" than using a smaller softbox that will fit inside an office setting.

like this. 43"

they are nice because they are very compact. they fold up quick and easy and dont take up much space.
travel size for your convenience.

 

[mrelsewhere]

I have a black-backed umbrella that should bounce light back, but it doesn't have a front diffuser like in the image above. Is that a problem?

To be clear, you're suggesting that I use a speedlite rather than an Alien Bee, right? I don't even know if I can bounce into an umbrella with an AB.

 

[Derrel]

Use whatever you have...reflecting umbrella, or the umbrella box type that Pixmedic illustrates above. I would use the Alien Bee in preference to a speedlight for higher power and more range that will get your flash closer to the daylight exposure for the window part of the scene. And yes, every Alien Bee made has an umbrella receptacle and lock-screw.

 

[Didereaux]

Besides the tilting, it looks that the photog is using a single fill light, probably through a white umbrella for wider spread, or a large softbox.