First Studio Photoshoot, Model: Mickey

[TomTomTuning]

Hey everyone,

I thought id get some CC on my first studio attempt.
The subject is my Girlfriend Mickey.
She did an excellent job at following my directions.
This was her first time ever doing anything like this also.

Setup:

PVC Adjustable background holder
Black queen size bed sheet: Background
Home Depot Dual work lamps
Metal cloths rack on wheels
Rip stop nylon clamped on to rack
Large foam core: 2 sheets taped together to make a V-Card
I also used another large form core as a flag to block the light from spilling on the background.


Gear:

Canon 40D w/ 50mm 1.8
Silk Tripod


Picture:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2079/2251267079_647eb39c0e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomtomtuning/2251267079/)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a98/boostd240/Photos/MickeysPhotoshoot.jpg
(Round white light modifiers are White FoamCore, and round translucent light modifiers is cloths rack with nylon cloth attached.)


My Thoughts:
I had tried to make a rim light (hair light) to separate her dark hair from the background but i dont think it was enough light so i put it away. I plan on making something different with a flood lamp and a snoot this week.

More from this set could be found here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomtomtuning/

CC is super super appreciated.
Thank!
Tom

[geotography]

TomTomTuning,

I like your photo and you have captured Mickey's loveliness. I like your soft light alot. I have virtually no experience with studio portraits so I am sure others can offer you more in this critique. I did notice something that I think should have been avoided: those ripples in your black sheet background on the left. I know people have used pleats in art background but I don't think you intended those and I think it would have been better without them.

Nice work!

[Nicole]

TomTomTuning,

I like your photo and you have captured Mickey's loveliness. I like your soft light alot. I have virtually no experience with studio portraits so I am sure others can offer you more in this critique. I did notice something that I think should have been avoided: those ripples in your black sheet background on the left. I know people have used pleats in art background but I don't think you intended those and I think it would have been better without them.

Nice work!

I agree with geotagography about the sheets. One other thing I might consider given your model and background would be to use some light behind her to separate her from the background a bit more. Otherwise her hair tends to blend in to the black. :) Nicely done though! I look forward to seeing more from your shoots.

[TomTomTuning]

TomTomTuning,

I like your photo and you have captured Mickey's loveliness. I like your soft light alot. I have virtually no experience with studio portraits so I am sure others can offer you more in this critique. I did notice something that I think should have been avoided: those ripples in your black sheet background on the left. I know people have used pleats in art background but I don't think you intended those and I think it would have been better without them.

Nice work!
Totally right. I am looking to get a muslin this week and ill make sure to look for that next time.


I agree with geotagography about the sheets. One other thing I might consider given your model and background would be to use some light behind her to separate her from the background a bit more. Otherwise her hair tends to blend in to the black. :) Nicely done though! I look forward to seeing more from your shoots.
Yea, in my thoughts (see original post), thats exactly what i stated.

I will be giving it another shot this week with a friend and maybe mickey again.

Wish me luck, lol

[steve]

i think you need a light in the upper left, and maybe a half shade lighter in background, well maybe not the background, but i think if you had more light coming from that position you could really make her hair be a bit more defined.

[Digidave]

I can't really add to what has already been said except, Nice post!!! Great set-up & explanation. Your definitely on the right track.

[RussHeath]

You picked a really challenging outfit and background to work with here, and you did a nice job. Particularly with only one light. An easy way to avoid losing her against the background is to have it (or her dress) be a different color. The one with the pink shirt is a good example.

You already have the idea down of controlling your spill light, so think about getting a lighter background and controlling its color by how much light exposure it gets (start with something at a middle grey range and brighten or darken it with exposure control).

For this particular setup, with the black on black, I would try a rimlight not from above, but directly behind the model. It would give you a well lit halo of edge light that would give separation from the background and still keep the black on black look. I notice you have a speedlight listed in your gear on flickr -- can you trigger it off camera? If so that would be an easy thing to hide behind her.

Use of fill is good here, it looks to me like you got the V-card nice and close to catch plenty of light and get a nice ratio of main to fill.

Your girlfriend is great model, too! Hope you'll share more of these with us soon. :)

[TomTomTuning]

I can't really add to what has already been said except, Nice post!!! Great set-up & explanation. Your definitely on the right track.I Appreciate the kind words!

You picked a really challenging outfit and background to work with here, and you did a nice job. Particularly with only one light. An easy way to avoid losing her against the background is to have it (or her dress) be a different color. The one with the pink shirt is a good example.

You already have the idea down of controlling your spill light, so think about getting a lighter background and controlling its color by how much light exposure it gets (start with something at a middle grey range and brighten or darken it with exposure control).

For this particular setup, with the black on black, I would try a rimlight not from above, but directly behind the model. It would give you a well lit halo of edge light that would give separation from the background and still keep the black on black look. I notice you have a speedlight listed in your gear on flickr -- can you trigger it off camera? If so that would be an easy thing to hide behind her.

Use of fill is good here, it looks to me like you got the V-card nice and close to catch plenty of light and get a nice ratio of main to fill.

Your girlfriend is great model, too! Hope you'll share more of these with us soon. :)
Yea i am definitly in the market for a Grey muslin, i been looking all week (trying to find a good deal).

Funny story about the black dress. I had got her that dress for our anniversary last year and while she was looking for cloths to wear i had mentioned to bring it. I knew i was shooting against my black background but i thought why not lets give it a shot. And honestly i think i liked it the most. I think its just the whole casual feel to it.

I am ordering some eBay wireless trigger, a speed lite clamp and stand next week. So ill be able to use my 580exII on a shoot. I also plan on picking up 2 vivitars and stands as well. Might go with a whole strobist lighting deal for a while until i can afford mono strobes.

I plan on doing some different stuff this week, so ill be sure to post it up.