model shoot - cc

doziergraphic · Mar 7, 2011

here's four best shots - mainly just a H&S shoot. all are still uncropped. (she also forgot her bag with jewelry, so the same necklace in all shots) whaddya think?

1.

2.

3.

4.

snowsoftJ4C · Mar 7, 2011

You need to fix the top right corner of the backdrop; it's grey compared to the rest of the photo.
The second and third photos are the best, in the first and fourth photos she has a really weird expression on. The second photo would've been more succesful if your key light was a little more powerful.
She should be happy with these photos!

Big Mike · Mar 7, 2011

The look pretty good. The 2nd is my favorite, manly because that's the only one where she's smiling (or showing any emotion at all). I like the dark background, and I would have like to see that with the dark top as well.

One little thing that I'm not crazy about, is being able to see multiple catch lights in her eyes...especially when they are on opposite sides of her eyes. For studio lighting, I much prefer to see just one catch light per eye and to have them both on the same side, giving the impression of a single light source.

doziergraphic · Mar 7, 2011

Big Mike said:
One little thing that I'm not crazy about, is being able to see multiple catch lights in her eyes...especially when they are on opposite sides of her eyes. For studio lighting, I much prefer to see just one catch light per eye and to have them both on the same side, giving the impression of a single light source.

I've been thinking more about that lately, but I keep using the second light in front as a safety net to make sure I don't have shadows in the face (being lazy and not wanting to have to play with the reflector so much). this was a quick shoot, set up in a room I had not used before with limited space. She was happy with them and is coming back, but I'll be using a larger studio.

And I'll be looking for those catchlights in the eyes - thanks!

Snowsoft - that's a fleece-type material I purchased at a fabric store, and it also gives me a bit of a 'pinkish' cast unless I use two lights on it. that's one light off to the right - I'll be adding one on the other side because I REALLY like the blown-out look. Meanwhile, for these, I'll make that adjustment for the print by blowing that out of there. - thanks for the comments!

Robin Usagani · Mar 7, 2011

at what focal length did you shoot this?

doziergraphic · Mar 7, 2011

@ schwetty - most of them seem to be in the 50-65mm range - again, I had limited space - maybe 15 feet if even that.

@ mike - smiling, black backdrop!

mwcfarms · Mar 7, 2011

That smile never reached her eyes too bad. Looks forced on the last one you posted. Not bad over all lighting looks nice to me. But I am a novice really. Thanks for sharing though. Did you shoot these with your sigma?

doziergraphic · Mar 7, 2011

Thanks dee - and yes I did use my sigma. I never take it off my camera because it seems to work with both landscape and studio work. When I win that lottery and have more to invest, I'll go with fixed-lenth lenses - I'm sure that will help!

Regarding the 'fake' smile - she's done some limited modeling with 'professional' photographers and somewhere down the line they've convinced her the non-smile was a great look for her. I did get her laughing and have some genuine laughing/smile shots as well. As expected, she didn't think she looked 'sexy' while smiling.

mwcfarms · Mar 7, 2011

Hehe real emotion is always sexy. I use my zoom quite a bit too just have to find the sharpest spot I guess. As for the non smile well I suppose there can be times its better not to fully smile but I think you can almost always show some sort of emotion with the eyes. Thats the key to modelling right. Connecting with the camera without going over the top. Both have their places. What did you use for lighting on these. How many, placement etc. I've been playing lots with lighting in my ghetto studio set up so right now thats all i have on the brain.

Derrel · Mar 7, 2011

I do not subscribe to the single catchlight theory. Multiple catchlights better define the eyeball's shape, and give the "sparkly eyes" that look better in some types of photos. On "fashiony" type stuff, one expects multiple catchights, either from light sources, or light sources and reflectors/diffuser panels. I see no need to make it appear as if the light is coming from a "single source".

tirediron · Mar 7, 2011

Derrel said:
I do not subscribe to the single catchlight theory. Multiple catchlights better define the eyeball's shape, and give the "sparkly eyes" that look better in some types of photos. On "fashiony" type stuff, one expects multiple catchights, either from light sources, or light sources and reflectors/diffuser panels. I see no need to make it appear as if the light is coming from a "single source".

Thank-you!

doziergraphic · Mar 7, 2011

Derrel said:
I do not subscribe to the single catchlight theory. Multiple catchlights better define the eyeball's shape, and give the "sparkly eyes" that look better in some types of photos. On "fashiony" type stuff, one expects multiple catchights, either from light sources, or light sources and reflectors/diffuser panels. I see no need to make it appear as if the light is coming from a "single source".

hey derrel, been a while since I posted. Decided to get away from the 'beginner's' forum and come play with the big boys (and girls!).

The catchlight situation has been on my mind lately. One reason being I can't get my softboxes to 'screw on' so that they are either completely vertical or completely horizontal, so my catchlights in the eyes are cockeyed. I've been looking at others and I don't see that too often. Maybe I'm just softbox ignorant!?

dee, my lighting setup was almost completely suggested by the above-mentioned derrel. The $199 adarama Flashpoint combo. However, I did add a larger Flashpoint 320 as well. I use it for my main light, one of the 160's for the backdrop, and i've been using one of the 160's for second front flash.

I actually also purchased another 160 for the backdrop white blowout, but after I received it one of my original 160's blew and won't hold a fuse. For adarama's part, they were quick to tell me to send the entire thing back and they'd replace it immediately. Good service! But I have been lazy and haven't sent it back in.

But in general, I firmly believe just TWO of the 160s (the combo for 199) will do the trick for basic lighting. add a reflector and you should have plenty (no shipping cost either!)

Hope that helps.

FPBK1 Flashpoint Budget Studio Monolight Flash Basic Kit with 2 160 Watt Second Flashes, Light Stands, 33" White Umbrellas & Softex Carrying Case.