Need help with DIY Lighting setup for a portraits for a small group

[kuul13]

Originally Posted by ArmySoldier777

With group pictures, yes it does. You're going to have light falloff from your flash, and the intensity of the falloff is relative to the distance your subjects are from your flash/umbrella. When dealing with a group, if they're too close to you're umbrella, you're going to have a sharp falloff. This means that the person closest to the umbrella will be properly exposed, but the rest will fall off into darkness. You need to find that distance where the light falloff begins to even out so that they're all exposed properly.

Originally Posted by zona5101

David makes some solid points.

On your constant lights...if they aren't daylight balanced your going to have color issues so if you use them and if they are strong enough to add to the exposure I'd use them on background or as rim lights. Using those lights is definitely one you'd want to play with before hand to see the results. good luck

Thank you both for some valuable comments. I guess I need to digest all this information and try to setup the lights and practice. On location, I should do again as I don't know how much space I will get to set these up.

I am planning to use the following setup from one of the guys here. http://photo.stackexchange.com/quest...for-2-3-people

With this setup which is very close to what Bruce mentioned, I will use my 530 + umbrella as Key light and the CFL + umbrella as fill light. But not very sure, what wattage bulb should I use as fill light? The key light will be at 45 degree angle to the subject and set higher than the camera and fill light. To illuminate the whole group, I guess I will point the fill light to the farthest person in the group (this I read in some website). And fill light will be of same height as my camera.

Another question: they say that the fill light should be 1/2 power of the key light. how? Also, am not sure how will be the lights at the location and if that will make any difference to the setup (I guess they normally have the yellow lights).

I will keep the reflector handy if needed and also my third light (bare bulb).

Appreciate all the help till now and hope with your help I will make some difference in my shots (am sure it would be better than last time). Thanks in advance.

[ArmySoldier777]

Originally Posted by kuul13

Another question: they say that the fill light should be 1/2 power of the key light. how? Also, am not sure how will be the lights at the location and if that will make any difference to the setup (I guess they normally have the yellow lights).

I will keep the reflector handy if needed and also my third light (bare bulb).

That statement is referring to using flash as a fill light. Because you'd be able to set that flash at half of the power of your other one. With a constant light source, you'd have to work the opposite way.

If you're reflector is big enough to cover the whole group, I'd actually recommend not using the static light and placing the reflector in the same general position so that it reflects part of the light from the flash, back up underneath your subjects.

Another thing: If the lighting on location is of decent quality, you can use the ambient as your fill, and set your flash from there without having to worry about adding in other light sources. Sometimes the simplest light setup is the best one. Sometimes. If not, then I'd recommend drowning out the ambient using your flash and reflector as a fill. Because if it comes to that, you're static lights definitely aren't going to show up. If you can, try to get to the location early and see what you can work with there.

[zona5101]

So IF you were going to the constant lights and you wanted to set a lighting ratio, you vary the distance of the lamp to the subject to obtain the desired fstop. (Thats probably something for another day as it sounds like you have enough on your plate for now)

[kuul13]

Originally Posted by ArmySoldier777

That statement is referring to using flash as a fill light. Because you'd be able to set that flash at half of the power of your other one. With a constant light source, you'd have to work the opposite way.

If you're reflector is big enough to cover the whole group, I'd actually recommend not using the static light and placing the reflector in the same general position so that it reflects part of the light from the flash, back up underneath your subjects.

Another thing: If the lighting on location is of decent quality, you can use the ambient as your fill, and set your flash from there without having to worry about adding in other light sources. Sometimes the simplest light setup is the best one. Sometimes. If not, then I'd recommend drowning out the ambient using your flash and reflector as a fill. Because if it comes to that, you're static lights definitely aren't going to show up. If you can, try to get to the location early and see what you can work with there.

Originally Posted by zona5101

So IF you were going to the constant lights and you wanted to set a lighting ratio, you vary the distance of the lamp to the subject to obtain the desired fstop. (Thats probably something for another day as it sounds like you have enough on your plate for now)

Thanks to both of you again.. as Bruce said.. I have enough on my plate, I will try to digest this and wait for my umbrella to do some test shots. Hope I have my plan ready before the shoot. I appreciate you help. You guys are the best Thanks!