please help

[Rebecca Loupe]

I have beent taking pictures for 2 years in my small studio. I am struggling with lighting issues, and well everything since I am learning on my own. Here is a picture I took recently. I am using M mode on my Canon EOS 40D....ISO 200, Shutter Speed 1/30, AP 5.6. I am wondering why when I set my Shutter Speed to at least 125-250 my pictures are darker.....I use the white backdrop alot so I don't know how else to set my camera to get the backdrop white without lowering my shutter speed. I have two Alien Bee 400's that are lighting my backdrop, a soft box to my right, and a regular umbrella continuous light to my left. I really NEED help to figure out what I need to do to get my pictures sharp and bright.
Please any help would be appreciated!!!
Thanks,
Rebecca

[SoxAddict]

Hi Rebecca & welcome to DPS! Your question will probably be better placed in the Critique part of the forum where people give feedback routinely - this particular area "Share your shots" is just for folk to share fun, cool, great photos so your question may not get the best attention here. Good luck though!

[Rebecca Loupe]

thank you so much!!! i appreciate it!!

[WooD]

I moved your thread here. It would have got buried in SYS.



What type of light are you using in the softbox, and what lens are you using? Also how are you metering, and are you manual focusing?

I use 2 AB800's and shoot at 1/160, and usually between f/8 to f/11.

I'd think in a shot that small, one 400 on the backdrop, and one in a softbox should be more than enough light.

[Rebecca Loupe]

The soft box is a cowboy studio light with continuous lights. My lens is a 28-135mm lens. I just got my 85mm f1.4 today I will try that one. Anyway, I take a variety of kids, families, seniors, and babies. The problem I am having is getting my backdrop white and not grayish with my settings.
Is it the fact that my room is too small to move the subject a few feet away from the backdrop??
I did purchase a meter since I got the strobes...just need to read how to use it.
Thanks

[Rebecca Loupe]

sorry i forgot to comment on the manual focusing....i switch back and forth not sure which one is working better.

[natek313]

Can you post an example? I think that would help.

[Rebecca Loupe]

I have a picture attched at the top of the page or do you mean a picture of my studio? I am glad I am finally getting so help...doing it on your own is very difficult!!

[natek313]

Wow. I don't know how I missed that photo. Haha. Sorry about that.

The only thing I see "wrong" with the photo is that it is a little soft, and that could be due to mis-focusing.

The only thing I can think of that's causing a gray background is that the light is too far from the background or the power is set too low. I agree with WooD that two B400's should be enough for a photo that size. When you start getting into larger, full-body portrait, you'll need a lot more light.

[zona5101]

If your backdrop is white but appears grey you need to add more light to it. (or lower the output of the main light and increase the over all exposure time). The backdrop will need to be 1 to 2 stops brighter than the subject. You still may need to touch up some areas of the backdrop in post if your lighting isn't even.