Prince William's engagement photo

[candidrachel]

I love this photo! The lighting is just soooo soft and beautiful but my question is how is that achieved? I suspect that a large softbox was placed fairly close to the couple but what else was used? Reflectors?

I'd love to create a photo with lovely lighting such as this. Can someone help?

Catwalk Queen: Mario Testino on snapping Kate Middleton & Prince William: "It was a real treat"

[archersdad]

I would guess it is either natural light from a large window with a reflector opposite or a huge softbox. Judging from the catchlights in the eyes, I lean toward natural light.

[scootermcq]

I agree with AD.....

I gotta say, that I really don't like it with the blown highlight on his forehead (at least on my pos work monitor) and the window being blown out. If the photographer had used flash, they could have balanced exposure much better IMHO

[OsmosisStudios]

Most people I've spoken to have actually said how terrible of a photo that is. The blown highlight background looks amateurish, and there's no life to them.

[i speak in math]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Most people I've spoken to have actually said how terrible of a photo that is. The blown highlight background looks amateurish, and there's no life to them.

gotta agree with you here. The photo looks awful. Looks like a cheap point & shoot taken against a large window. Blown highlights, awful lighting. Really nothing good to say about it.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Most people I've spoken to have actually said how terrible of a photo that is. The blown highlight background looks amateurish, and there's no life to them.

Originally Posted by i speak in math

gotta agree with you here. The photo looks awful. Looks like a cheap point & shoot taken against a large window. Blown highlights, awful lighting. Really nothing good to say about it.

+1. If you scroll down the page though, the 2nd portrait is really much nicer that that first one.

Reminds me of when Annie Leibovitz shot the Obamas. I wasn't impressed, I'd seen much better work from her.

[candidrachel]

Thanks for all your opinions and views! What I see in the pic is a beautiful moment! Its the pose too that does it for me. I'd be very happy to have a photo like that on my wall

I am not experienced in using a softbox or reflectors so can't comment on the tech side of things but just wanted to know what you all thought.

That's photography for you someone else's trash is someone else's treasure.