Lighting Check - Need Feeback on this set-up please

[bazooka]

Also, is this going to be a group shot? You'll probably start to notice falloff right-to-left and left-to-right with 3 or more people lined up in a row.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

I'm wondering why you chose to have your fill light off of the camera axis? Not necessarily good or bad, just wondering. I see the potential for cross shadows.

I have a very small space to work with in my basement, and my ceiling is unfinished and maybe 7 feet high. I have no room for me to be but in one place, so I have to find a way to make it all work. I too am worried about cross shadows. When I used the box, which had some larger dinemsions then the hat, I started to see shadows on the BG, but on the left side of the subject. I re-set the softbox to light more of the BG and just the edge of the 'person'. It seems even to me, so far it seems even to everyone else too, so I might be on the right track with that fix so far.

.....The peeps will be wearing either a Santa Hat or an Xmas scarf and goofy sweaters. It is intended to be rustic and whimsical.

Okay, I thought all would be wearing cowboy hats (wide brims). Wearing Santa hats will not cause a shadow on their faces with being lit from above. Yes, I saw that too with the shadows, I have to be careful with the hair and clothing. Buttons on the shirt were blowing out, so I think I will want them to wear simple shirts. The extra umbrella just came from B&H and I do have time to try it out. I write down in a journal all my distances and settings of the lights and placement of the modifiers so I can bring it back exactly if I have too without too much effort.

If you are shooting small groups of people and you have time, I would also try using the two umbrellas as a test just to see if your lighting will be more even over the group. Position them a foot or two on either side of the camera.

Also, is this going to be a group shot? You'll probably start to notice falloff right-to-left and left-to-right with 3 or more people lined up in a row.

Because of the crop sensor giving me so little excess frame and the tiny space I have set up, I came up with a strategy for the 'group of three'. I will be taking individual photos and then framing them side by side by side. The Center Photo will be Santa and the ones on either side will be the girls facing toward Santa and air smooching or blowing him a kiss or something along those lines if I can even fit a hand in the frame and then be able to crop to square. Santa is going to be looking up and with a happy, funny, silly smile. That's the plan.

I hope I can manage a portrait vertical, I really do...we'll see....This is awesome feedback....Anything else I should be thinking or doing???

 

[bazooka]

I think it's great that you have already thought through what you plan to do, and it sounds creative so I say go for it. The worse you can do is not like it and learn from it (although I'm sure your family will still love it regardless).

If you're going for even lighting, then equal powered cross-lighting will get that for you, but it is fairly flat lighting. If that works for your vision, then so be it. However, with a 7 foot ceiling I think you could squeeze that box over your head (or just bare flash, fill doesn't have to be soft), right above the camera so you would have a flat light fill, but still retain the directional key light coming from your umbrella. Just an option that may or may not work, or may or may not be what you envision. I hope to see the results either way.