Single Light Portrait Help Needed

[evader]

I’m trying to do some portrait stuff at home with a single light setup…I would like to be able to take some nice shots of the kids etc. The problem I seem to be having is the pictures I’m taking don’t seem to be coming out very good (they look more like passport photos than anything else)…just wondering if anyone here could help with some advice on my lighting set up or anything else that might help. I’ve done some searching online but almost everything I’ve found talks about using multiple lights and I’ve only got the one light.

I don’t have a lot of space but managed to clear out some room in the garage. The available space is approximately 7’ wide by 13 feet deep.
I’ve set up a backdrop (black sheet) that hangs from the ceiling and I have a Tristar 4 Section Light Stand (has 3 digital imaging fluorescent 26w true daylight spiral bulbs), an Aurora Light Bank Translucent Light Filter and an Aurora Light Bank 32”x48” Silver & Gold Light Panel Reflector.
I’m shooting with a D60 with a 35mm 1.8 lens (I’ve also got the kit 18-55mm lens). I seem to get the best results when I put the camera on “portrait” mode and use the on camera flash.

I’ve attached a diagram of the set up I have along with the distance between everything. Am I on the right track with the placement of everything?

Does anyone have any advice and/or suggestions based on what I’ve said or my diagram below? Should the light and or reflector be in a different position? Should I use a different setting on my camera?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[natek313]

First off, can you post some examples of the photos you've taken? I think that would help quite a bit.

I think you'd be surprised with how much you actually can do with a single light and a reflector. That is all I had to start with when I first started getting more and more interested in portrait photography.

Without seeing any of the photos you've taken thus far, my guess would be that you just don't have enough light. You listed three 26W bulbs (72W total); that's just not enough. You're going to need more light. I would recommend, if you're on a tight/tighter budget, looking at getting an older Nikon flash unit - something like a SB-26 - and some cheap radio triggers like Cactus V4's. Of course, you'll need a light stand, flash bracket, and umbrella. Depending on what exactly you get, all of that will run you around $200.

The position of your light and reflector shouldn't really be an issue. However, I would be aware of the height of your light. I generally put my light above the subject a little bit and aim it at a downward angle. I attached a lighting diagram that shows what I've used before, if it helps.

Also, another thing you want to keep in mind, especially if the subjects have dark/darker hair colors, is that you'll want a hair/rim light if you're shooting against a black background. Using the hair/rim light will give some separation between the black background and the dark hair.

I hope this helps!

[zona5101]

like Nate asked...would be best to see an example and also you exif data... that will tell us if you need more light and how much wiggle room you have with your settings...

[evader]

I haven't kept any of my shots because they haven't looked good. But I will take some when I get home from work and post the results.

Thanks

[evader]

Ok, here are some I just took of my son. I haven't done any post production work on them aside from cropping a bit. To me they just don't look very good...I know there needs to be some post production work done but shouldn't the pictures better than that before post production work is done or is at all done post production?

Is it the lighting or is it the photographer?
Can anyone help me out with some suggestions and/or advice?


F-Stop: f/2.8
Focal Length: 35mm
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: Fired


This one I used the 55mm-200mm lens
F-Stop: f/4.0
Focal Length: 55mm
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: Fired



This one I used the 55mm-200mm lens and I moved the light filter and shot without the flash
F-Stop: f/4.0
Focal Length: 55mm
ISO Speed: 200
Flash: No Flash

[OsmosisStudios]

Not to plug my own work, but...

Single light, no reflector. In hindsight i'd have had her move her head slightly more to her right (frame left) and moved the light a bit closer towards me, but hey. The wall behind her is a medium brown, so it's not a very good reflector.

If youre going for a higher-contrast shot (like this) then it works. If you want more even light, you need a second source of some kind, be it a flash, window or reflector.

[zona5101]

Thanks for posting the pics...
So if I am understanding you have a single bank of continuous lights, a light diffuser, a reflector and your on-board flash?
Of the 3 only the last one didn't use the on camera flash? It is also the one that looks like it has motion blur. You didn't post the shutter speed but visually it appears to confirm Nate's conclusion that your fluorescents don't give you enough light. Also without the diffuser that light is casting some big harsh shadows.
Ok so enough of the problems- how 'bout what to try... Keep the diffuser in front of the light bank. Move it in closer, a lot closer so it's just out of camera frame. You'll probably need to bring the reflector in closer as well. Keep the on board flash off. Shoot in manual, use your 35 f1.8 not because it all that much faster because I hope we can get your aperture up a bit...but because the shorter focal length will allow you to have a slower shutter speed handheld with less risk of motion blur/camera shake. {The old school rule of thumb was the reciprocal of the focal length should be your minimum shutter speed. 200mm = 1/200] So pick a shutterspeed like 1/60 of a second and see what your camera says for apreture or take some shots where you vary the apreture on each and see where the sweet spot is for your main light. Then move your reflector in or out to get your hair rim light how you want it.

Good luck. Post back and let us know how things are going.

[evader]

Thanks so much for the reply and suggestions Zona, I really appreciate it. It gets pretty frustrating after a while when nothing you try seems to work out the way you think it should.
I will try what you suggested tonight after work and post the results again.

[agresbach]

natek313: thanks for posting a diagram. i'm in the same position and experimenting with the best kind of arrangement with my new softbox and reflector to maximize their potential. the only thing different i had been doing was positioning the reflector on more of an angle, angled slightly toward the softbox to catch the light from it but it wasnt doing how i wanted or expected it to ....does the parallel angle to the subject work much better (like you have here?). i know a lot of this just goes back to the basics of how light is affected and more practice will help

[evader]

Ok, I went home for lunch today and tried some more shots using the tips provided (moved light and reflector as close as I could and set the shutter to 1/60 and played with the aperture).
Since I was the only one home they are self portraits (sorry about that).
There has been no post production work done of any kind as I want to show you guys/girls what the originals look like.

I would appreciate anymore tips/advice/suggestions anyone could offer.


First shot...obviously too dark
ISO - 200
Shutter - 1/60
Aperture - F5
Focal Length - 35mm
Exposure Mode - Manual
Flash - No Flash


Everything the same except I changed the Aperture from F5 to F1.8
ISO - 200
Shutter - 1/60
Aperture - F1.8
Focal Length - 35mm
Exposure Mode - Manual
Flash - No Flash


Changed the Aperture from F1.8 to F3.5 and moved the reflector a bit further back and on a bit of an angel (not sure if that made any difference at all or if the difference is strickly from changing the aperture)
ISO - 200
Shutter - 1/60
Aperture - F3.5
Focal Length - 35mm
Exposure Mode - Manual
Flash - No Flash



Added a small cheap work light positioned above and to my left pointing down
ISO - 200
Shutter - 1/60
Aperture - F3.5
Focal Length - 35mm
Exposure Mode - Manual
Flash - No Flash