How Do I Eliminate Background Flare?

[GrandmaBev]

I'm struggling with what I assume is background flare on my pictures. Any suggestions on how to eliminate or reduce the flare on the side of the man's face? I have two background speedlights behind bifold doors and two front sides lights. The one on the left has an umbrella and the one to the camera right is bouncing off the ceiling. Also how is the exposure? I lowered it by about 1/3 of a stop inside Lightroom.

Thanks,
Bev

EDIT: Camera Settings
Nikon D80
f/8.0
ISO: 125
Shutter Speed: 125 (forgot to put it at 200!!)
Focal Length: 48 mm

[Benji]

When you position a light so it will fire against something reflective the light will be reflected! This is what you have here. In order to make the background white you put more light on it than what is on the subject and it becomes white. Mathematically you only need about 1/2 stop more light on the background than what is on the subject to make the background "255" white. In reality it usually takes about 1 stop more. ANY MORE than one stop and you will get flare. I don't see any flare in the above image but I do see some reflection from the background. Can you move them further away from the background? If not position the man so the background is directly behind his head. Since he has no hair on the sides of his face like his wife has, any stray light will skim across his face and highlight it whereas this same light on her will simply illuminate her hair. Actually I rather like the light on the side of his face.

Benji

[GrandmaBev]

Thanks for the reply. I have learned alot from you and appreciate all your help. I do not have a meter so I really don't know how much brighter the flashes are on the background. Unfortunately, I don't think I can move my subjects any further away from the background. Why am I only getting one catchlight in the dog's eyes/man's eyes and none in the woman's eyes? Does that indicate I should be repositioning my front lights? I'm assuming since the one light is bounced off the ceiling, I won't be getting any catchlights from that light.

Thanks again,
Bev

[Benji]

I assume the light you bounced off the ceiling was your fill light and not your main light, and it may or may not be visible in the subject's eyes depending on several factors, but the main light MUST be visible in their eyes. To position it I shut off EVERY light in the room, then turn the modeling light of the main light to the "on" position and place it off to one side of the subject(s) then I LOOK into the subject's eyes. When the catchlight is located at the 11 or 1 o'clock position in their eyes it is correct. The main light should NOT cast a shadow across the face of his or her neighbour. If it does move it to the other side and start over again. The main light should illuminate ALL of one side of the subject's face. There should not be ANY shadow on the side of the face nearest the main light. Sometimes there is a shadow around the eye or across the cheek. If so move the main light in an arc toward the camera until All of the shadow is on the far side of the face.

Benji

[GrandmaBev]

Yes, the light I bounced was my fill light to the right of the camera. I'm using Nikon Speedlights so I don't have a modeling light, but I will play with the position of the main light the next time.

Thanks for sharing your expertise.

Bev