Portrait Lighting

[cmphotographs]

okay, here's what I'm doing: I have a booth for a local fair-like event. My plan is to set up my portable background and offer 1-2 pictures on a cd with a print release for $5-10. Basically, it's just a way to get my name out there. I will be outside, under a 10'x10' canopy, with side walls.

My equipment: portable 10'x20' background (black or white), set of 3 continuous lights with shoot-through umbrellas (2 7' and 1 mini stand), tripod, Nikon DSLR with SB-600 flash. Obviously, laptop and equipment to quickly edit and burn to cd.

My question: My backdrop stand is 10'x12', so my backdrop will be 8' high but only about 5 feet in front (not sure yet where I'm gonna hide the extra 7 feet, lol). I'm trying to determine whether I should use all 3 lights and if so, where to position them? The diagram is what I've come up with, except the mini stand in the back won't have an umbrella. I just couldn't find the right icon for it.

I've only had my backdrops and lights since December and this will be my first opportunity to use them (instead of just play around with them), so I'm not really sure what I'm doing yet. lol

I do plan on setting them up this weekend or next, to make sure. I have set them up once and played around with them, but that was inside.

I actually have a tent with removable sides, so light spilling into the portrait area should not be a problem, but I will also verify that during my experiment.

I do know my bulbs and flash are more than likely different colors and am hoping that I will have enough fill light without my flash, again waiting for the weekend to experiment. And I am planning on doing touch ups to the picture before I burn them. I wouldn't give unedited shots to people. I will let everyone know that I will need a few minutes to edit the pictures (to allow for color correcting, cropping, and things of that nature).

I'm expecting a lot of families with small children so I'm assuming a faster shutter speed. My children are 6 and 7 and so I'm planning on using them for my experiment this weekend to give me an idea of what is needed. I must say, I briefly considered putting my camera on its auto setting and letting it do the thinking since this is my first attempt at a setting like this. lol

what are your thoughts on where my lights should be?

[Jim Bryant]

3 continuous lights might be too hot and burn up the umbrellas. Charging 1-2 pictures on a cd with a print release for $5-10, just to get your name out there is way too cheap! You'll be know as "that cheap photographer."

So, my question is? "What wait so long to practice when you've had the equipment since December?"

Outside, you're gonna have to combine ambient light with the two different color temp of lights output.

My advice is to set it up today and practice on your friends. Remember, the most important thing is your reputation and name. Still what you are charging is pretty damn cheap.......go for at least $20.00, then again, it's still too cheap!

You need to set your camera on manuel and test various combos of shutter and f-stop.

[OsmosisStudios]

This sounds like a terrible plan from the start.

Purely from a technical side: Colour matching lighting (ambient, C-lights, and flash) is going to be a NIGHTMARE. The lights wont do much depending on how bright it is that day, and could overheat. Your space is small.

From a business side: you're not charging enough and are simply going to look like a cheap for-hire photographer, not a proper pro. You may be getting your name out, but it wont be the way you intend, and it won't be worth it.

[cmphotographs]

You both make very valid points. However, $5 for one high-res picture is my normal price although it's usually sold on a cd with 29 more ($150). I know you say that's too cheap, but my company's motto is "Bringing beautifully affordable photos to everyone". I'm one of those people that can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars on great looking photos and most everyone I know can't, either. That's how my philosophy was born. You don't have to agree with me, but that's how I feel.

As far as the lights being too hot, I've thought of that and I very highly doubt that my booth will have so much traffic that they'll be on from 10 am to 9 pm. I plan on turning them off between customers. So they'll have a few minutes rest every 5 minutes at the very least.

I've waited to practice because I don't have anywhere to set them up, basically. The main reason I bought the set I have is because they're portable. And I do have sidewalls on my tent (they're removable) so while I will have to deal with ambient light, it won't be direct sunlight.

I do plan on testing my manual speeds and f/stops. The auto comment was a joke.

As I previously stated, I'm going to experiment this weekend with it all set up and am hoping I will have enough fill light that I do not need my flash.

I'm merely curious, no matter what size the space is or what the ambient light is, where the best areas to place my lights are?

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by cmphotographs

I'm merely curious, no matter what size the space is or what the ambient light is, where the best areas to place my lights are?

The size of the space and the amount and direction of ambient do matter. So does the power output of your continuous lights. Example, if you have 45w bulbs you wont have enough light no matter where you put them.
But lets just say your continous lights can overpower any ambient... I would think you want one as the main, one as the kicker/hair and one on the background. How do you plan to control the light ratios? By changing the distances? - or do you have other light modifiers?

[Jim Poor]

What color is your tent? I ask because on a bright day with a white EZ-Up type tent, it's like working in giant light box and you could get away with just your flash as fill. It could also be a problem in that the tent won't keep out enough light to prevent ambient spill from being a problem.

If your tent is another color, yet not completely opaque, then you're going to have major color cast issues.

Hot lights in a tent are a major safety hazard and I'm guessing that the person in charge of the event might just shut you down.

You can see the tent set up I use at fund raiser events here:

It's 10x15 and the photo was taken in full daylight.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

You can see the tent set up I use at fund raiser events here:


It's 10x15 and the photo was taken in full daylight.

Note: These are FLASHES, not continuous lights. Hence the extreme power (and ability to block ambient) and easier useability.

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Note: These are FLASHES, not continuous lights. Hence the extreme power (and ability to block ambient) and easier useability.

And less danger of burning down your tent.

[JFSanders]

Nice set up Jim. As far as the OP is concerned. Why wouldn't you just invest in a on site printer. No burning needed, shoot print, buy. 10 dollars for a 5x7 and $20.00 per 8x10. Going "affordable" is just going broke slowly.

But hey if you love sitting out in the hot sun working your tail off for free. More power to you. And good luck.

Jim

[cmphotographs]

Okay, writing this on my phone, so please excuse any misspelling or grammatical errors.

My tent is white. Didn't think about it possibly being a huge lightbox, that'd be nice. However, living in Oklahoma, it may be snowing that day. Lol

While my lights are continuous, as I've previously stated, they will not be on continually. Only when I'm actually taking a picture. Theoretically, they shouldn't get too hot. And if they are on for a longer time than I originally thought, I'll simply take a "cool off break".

My tent does have walls, but they are removable and I probably will not have the front wall up at all. And if I feel as if the tent/gazebo is too hot then I will take down a side wall as well, probably not the one in direct sunlight.

As far as a picture printer, for whatever reason I don't really like the thought of selling prints. I wouldn't be comfortable with that unless I had a lab quality printer and I can't afford that. Plus, all the extra ink and paper, no thanks. Although I did briefly consider it. And also those prices? That's more than I normally charge for 5x7's and 8x10's.

I understand that all of you think I'm too cheap, and that's fine. But as I said, I strive to be affordable to everyone and people in my neck of the woods wouldn't pay those prices. As long as I meet my costs, for this first time, I'm happy. I know that may sound crazy, but hey, I never claimed to be sane. Lol

I do appreciate everyone's feedback, though. And if you have any more ideas/suggestions then I would love to hear them.

Thanks!