Studio portrait with just one flash (+ one reflector)

[stefantell]

First things first, I didn't really plan to just use one flash when I took this portrait of a stand-up comedian in my small photo studio. I just to forgot to turn on the other two lights when taking some test shots. But, I think it turned out well, so I will try this setup more in the future.

The one and only light is a flash inside a 150 cm/5 foot octa softbox camera left, at exactly 90 degrees to my model, and a little in front of him. The distance between the model's center and the softbox was about 1 meter.

On the other side, 1 meter away from the model camera right, was a white reflector. For this, I used a white 1x2 meter white piece of cardboard, nothing fancy.



Behind the subject I had a white paper background, which turned out medium grey from the little light it received from the flash and the reflector.

For this photo, I used one Profoto Compact 600R + a 150 cm/5 foot softbox octa, Nikon D700 with a 70-200 VRII @ 95mm 1/200s, ISO 200. Developed in Nikon Capture NX2 with just small colour corrections and a little sharpening, nothing more.

For more studio lighting setups and diagrams, please visit my blog.

-> Stefan Tell, Sweden - Photography & lighting

I like this setup, but I think I will get a little bit closer next time. Cold, blue hands are not that pretty in a portrait like this, but that's life in the cold Swedish winter.

[zona5101]

Excellent work. I have been checking in on your website/blog every few months to see what else you have posted as well as refreshing concepts you illustrate. Great stuff. Excellent resource. Thanks for sharing all this great info.

[wishvam]

stunning portrait.. have to try it... Thanks for great resource here...

[stefantell]

Glad you liked it, and I am happy that I didn't deleted it right away when I saw that just one flash was turned on. A lucky shot I will try again some time.

[wannabephotographer]

Excellent work, thanks for sharing.