Lighting Is As Easy As 1, 2 and 3.
In this tutorial, I will give you 3 different lighting set ups. Each using 1, 2 and 3 lights combined. You will see how easy and versatile one light can affect an image but also see how having 3 lights can create a dramatic tone.
1. The single light source.
tip: When using a white background with one light, depending on the distance of your subject from the light source, you can get a beautiful neutral grey background. Now you don't have to buy another roll of seamless paper! Saves you some money!
This is pretty straight forward. Don't think for one moment in your photography career that you need the most expensive, top of the line equipment. The image above was created using only one speedlight flash and a reflector. The silver reflector below the subject's face looks like you're using a completely separate light. This is great for portraits of women.
1. Camera Settings: ISO 200, 1/250th, f/7.1
2. Wescott Rapid Box w/ deflector plate and diffuser attached.
3. Silver reflector
2. The Fashion Duo
If you ever find yourself shooting fashion, just remember to keep it simple. In this set up, I use my Wescott Rapid Box as my key light along with a small softbox as a fill light. The softbox fill light also doubles as my background light. If you "feather" the fill light enough, you can have it hit both your subject and background evenly. I had another fill light coming from a silver reflector to the right of the camera. This just balanced my image a bit more and brought out some more detail in the dress.
1. Camera Settings: ISO 400, 1/125th, f/4.5
2. Wescott Rapid Box w/ deflector plate and diffuser attached.
3. Mini Softbox
4. Silver reflector
3. Oh Baby, a Triple!
Nothing beats a good dramatic shot, especially when it's for an athlete or fitness instructor. The hot new look of the season has to be the blue-tone rim lights. To get this look, I put a full CTO on my keylight. I left the two speedlights in the back bare-bulbed. I then set my camera to the Tungsten white balance. Since my camera is reading my keylight as a tungsten light source my rim lights turn blue. Using gels are a fantastic way of getting the look you want. I will cover that in a different blog post.
1. Camera Settings: ISO 400, 1/125th, f/4. White Balance set to Tungsten.
2. Wescott Rapid Box w/ deflector plate and diffuser attached.
3. Silver reflector
4. Speedlights on either side of subject.
Conclusion
That's it. Three lights. Nothing crazy. Nothing expensive. Now you really have no excuse when someone asks you to shoot in the studio!