Photography without an assistant

sactown024 · Oct 23, 2012

Hey guys and gals,

I am doing a few upcoming family portraits and i started to think i may want to have a reflector and maybe even some umbrellas to shoot through, but then i was thinking who would hold the reflector etc...

I am always by myslef when shooting and was just curious if theres any tricks you guys/girls use when shooting alone?

kathyt · Oct 23, 2012

I am always alone and I use a reflector all the time. I manage to do it without any help. It just takes practice. Sometimes if you have another family member there they can hold it for you but I usually find myself taking it back and doing it myself because it's faster. It is rather difficult with my 70-200 on and a speedlight.

MLeeK · Oct 23, 2012

Light stands and clamps are wonderful things to have! I use my rolling tote to hold a reflector all of the time. That thing is my life saver for SOOOO much besides carrying all of my gear.

Big Mike · Oct 23, 2012

I have been using a speedlite in a small softbox on a sturdy light stand. But for using a reflector, it's a huge PITA if you don't have someone to hold it. If you don't have an assistant, recruit someone to hold it for you...could be someone who is just not in that photo, or even a stranger walking by.

I've used a triangular reflector with a handle, but it really only works (you holding it while shooting) when you're very close to your subject.
http://cam-essentials.blogspot.ca/2010/11/5-in-1-triangular-reflector-with-handle.html

Either way, a reflector on a stand is very hard/annoying to use.

tirediron · Oct 23, 2012

Reflector stand.

kathyt · Oct 23, 2012

I have one like this too that I use if I am inside. It doesn't work very well outdoors though. This is what tirediron is referring to I believe.
Westcott 40in 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector Kit 304

Trever1t · Oct 23, 2012

I ask my wife to help but I shoot alone half the time. Either way.

2WheelPhoto · Oct 23, 2012

My assistant is priceless, especially when that "unexpected" wind gust comes along =)

sactown024 · Oct 23, 2012

ah swee,t thanks everyone! I shall try to solo it and see how it goes, if all fails ill try the stand!

2WheelPhoto · Oct 23, 2012

sactown024 said:
ah swee,t thanks everyone! I shall try to solo it and see how it goes, if all fails ill try the stand!

you'll be fine, if you don't have an assistant be sure and sandbag the stands

sactown024 · Oct 23, 2012

for outdoor portraits would a speedlite and umbrella be just as good if not better than a reflector, giving that the sun is out? do they give the same effect? i do have a speedlite, just no umbrella or stand yet.

Big Mike · Oct 23, 2012

sactown024 said:
for outdoor portraits would a speedlite and umbrella be just as good if not better than a reflector, giving that the sun is out? do they give the same effect? i do have a speedlite, just no umbrella or stand yet.

Could be similar, could be completely different.

In terms of size, a typical umbrella is about the same size as a typical round reflector...so the softness is probably fairly close. But the characteristics of the light would certainly have it's own quirks for either one. The big difference between using a flash or not. A reflector is good because you don't have a limit on your shutter speed, but you are limited by the light that you have to reflect.
When using flash, you have to understand how to use it and how to control the ratio between flash and ambient exposures. You will likely be limited to the max flash sync speed of the camera, which may be an issue in very bright conditions.

kathyt · Oct 23, 2012

sactown024 said:
for outdoor portraits would a speedlite and umbrella be just as good if not better than a reflector, giving that the sun is out? do they give the same effect? i do have a speedlite, just no umbrella or stand yet.

It depends on alot of factors. I don't use a speedlight with an umbrella usually but others might. With my speedlight I generally bounce the light off of something like the ceiling, wall, or even my reflector sometimes.

TCampbell · Oct 23, 2012

Just be aware that these things all act like sails if it's at all breezy. You may need some weights or sandbags and a way to attach them to your light / boom stands. Sandbags are often laid on the ends of the legs. Sometimes you can hang a weight on the center column.