Lighting help!

[ashleyi]

I am hoping some has some advice or tips to give me on here...

I have a small studio..very small! It's a 10x12 with 8 foot ceilings, i'm currently in the process of doing pin up photography but can't seem to get the right lighting! Becoming very frustrated in the small space that I have.

I have 2 300w strobes, is there a certain diagram or something that I could find that would work in the space that I have? If I use both the strobes it washes out my background, i've tried everything I can think of but i've also been very frustrated with it so hopefully someone has some advice!

This isn't one of my pictures but this is the look that i'm trying to get any helpful tips?

Thanks!!

 

[tirediron]

A little more information - how are your strobes configured? What settings are you using on your camera and on the strobes?

This is a small space for full or 3/4 body shots (I assume that's what you're doing when you say 'pin-up'), and 8' ceilings are a real killer. I would try something like this: One strobe with soft-box/umbrella 35 deg camera left/right and a reflector 90 deg on the opposite side. Ideally, I would use the second strobe to blow out the background, but with such a small space, that ain't gonna work.

 

[Big Mike]

A lot of what I see as 'pin up' photography involves replacing the background (usually with a strong color). So if that's your goal, you needn't be too concerned about the background...just make sure that your model doesn't blend with the background, which makes it hard to extract the model from the background in post.

What do you know of portrait lighting? It's not all that easy (especially at first) and having only two lights, can make it challenging. But using a reflector can certainly help.

Post some examples, if you can, it will go a long way to helping us diagnose the problems you're having.

HERE is my favorite 'pin up' photographer

 

[KmH]

Tell us too - what color the walls and ceiling of the room are, and what light modifiers you use.