Lingerie photo session in the studio
During this same photo session with Olena – the first in my new photography studio space – we also worked with just the studio flashes. Actually, this part of the photo session was first. An easy setup just to get things rolling.
We used two lights here – the main light was a Profoto D1 head in the massive Westcott 7′ Parabolic Umbrella (B&H / Amazon). It’s an easy light modifier to use, since it gives a wrap-around light that is very forgiving. Forgiving to how the photographer places the light, and also forgiving to the subject – not that Olena really needed that!
The background light was another Profoto D1 head with a Profoto 7″ reflector (affiliate) and a Profoto Honeycomb Grid – 10 Degrees (affiliate).
The pull-back shot to show how the Westcott 7′ Parabolic Umbrella (affiliate) was positioned.
Details for the main image at the top:
- camera settings: 1/80 @ f/8 @ 100 ISO
- Nikon D4; Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S VR II
And then, to mix it up a bit, I shot directly into the huge Westcott 7′ Parabolic Umbrella (affiliate), to get a silhouette image of Olena. The image was enhanced with a Photoshop filter to give a summery warm feeling as if she might be on the beach somewhere.
- Canon 6D; Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II
- camera settings: 1/80 @ f/8 @ 100 ISO
The pull-back shot shows how it actually looked, and shows how Olena was framed against the umbrella.
Photo gear used used during this photo session
- Nikon D4; Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S VR II
- Canon 6D; Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II
- Profoto D1 Air 500 Ws studio light
- Profoto 7″ reflector and a Profoto 10 degree Honeycomb Grid
- Westcott 7′ Parabolic Umbrella
Related articles
- Lingerie photo session: video light & studio flash (model: Olena)
- Lingerie photo shoot in the studio (model: Carly Erin)
- Colored gels with flash photography (model: Jessica Joy)
- Lighting a boudoir photo session (model: Carla Starla)
- Lingerie photo session – light, lighting & textures (model: Melanie S.)
Studio lighting workshops
If you are interested in learning more about studio lighting, including lighting for headshots, I offer workshops on studio lighting. The workshops will be held at my studio space in NJ, and it has a wide range of studio lighting gear to play with!
Great shoot. The second shot is awesome Neil! Did you adjust the power on the parabolic from the first shot or was it left the same power? Camera settings are the same….
Scott, as far as I recall, I didn’t change the power setting between the two different shots.
I don’t see any light on the backdrop at all so how did you get the round light gray look on the backdrop? It looks like a light lit up the center of the backdrop in the first image. Was that done in post processing?
Todd .. the vignetting you see there is mostly because of the post-processing.
Neil, I notice you’re feathering the main. Looks really good. Except for size/aisle inconvenience, how do you think this 7 foot umbrella would fare for large group formals at a church?
Yup, I did feather the umbrella to get less light on the background.
This would be a great umbrella for group photos .. but the umbrella does focus the light since it is parabolic. It is huge though … and with this, I think a 45″ white shoot-through umbrella would be easier to work with.
However, I am guessing here. It would need some proper testing to see which umbrella gives the best spread of light … and is the most efficient.
Just bought the 7 ft umbrella from BH. Would be very interested in you informing us which umbrella is best for group shots the 7 ft or the 45″ shoot through. I purchased the white c black backing, not the shoot through. Would that make a difference.
I also just purchased your latest book and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival to add to your 2 previous ones
Neil, thx for the article. For the silhouette I can’t understand what did you meter your camera for?
If you had metered for the light, she would have came out completely black which is not the case, on the other hand I’m not sure you just metered for her otherwise you’d have got a pure white background that is not as well if I’m not mistaken (of course I know it’s yellow for the filter you applied later, but I’m talking about the luminosity)….
I didn’t meter. I used the same settings as for the previous sequence.
Very nice shot! Looking forward to your review of the 6D!
Just ordered your new book, to add to my collection of your others.
Also, just bought an 6D myself – can’t wait for your review. I was worried about only single cross focus point, but it works great. Was also worried that I’d miss my familiar Canon buttons – not a problem. Great low light focusing. The wifi was finicky at first but now plays well with the Canon and other software for previewing quickly on iPad. (after you set for jpeg only transfer).
But….. I am a TTL shooter (PW Flex and Mini), & geeks at PW are taking a while to reverse engineer 6D for a Beta test – aargh!
Hi Neil,
How do you like the 6D as a studio camera? It’s getting mixed reviews due to it’s low sync speed but curious how you’ve found it. And have you used it in HSS mode outdoors or in the studio?
There’s no reason that I can think of that you’d use HSS mode in the studio.
In terms of 1/180th of the Canon 6D vs the 1/200 of the Canon 5D mk III, the difference is marginal.