{"id":32119,"date":"2015-11-28T23:29:02","date_gmt":"2015-11-29T03:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=32119"},"modified":"2017-08-11T17:08:35","modified_gmt":"2017-08-11T21:08:35","slug":"studio-photography-lighting-simply-for-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/studio-photography-lighting-simply-for-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Studio photography – Lighting simply for impact"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Studio photography – Lighting simply for impact<\/h1>\n

This striking image is from a commercial gig, shot in my studio for a company launching a range of\u00a0hair extension products.\u00a0For this sequence, one of several different setups we did,\u00a0the client\u00a0wanted this view and this look\u00a0–\u00a0so I had to decide on the best way to light their suggestion.\u00a0We really make the hair the focus of the image, so I had to shoot from above on a short step-ladder.<\/p>\n

The decision on how to light this, was based on the commonly accepted principle of starting with a single light first, and only then building it up if needed.\u00a0Now, before we go further – while I used studio lighting here, there isn’t anything done here that is out of the reach of someone using speedlights in a smaller area.\u00a0\u00a0I do\u00a0have the luxury of the high ceiling in the studio perhaps.<\/p>\n

While I\u00a0\u00a0wanted this light to be diffuse, there had to be some contrast. There had to be distinct shadow, but\u00a0with a soft edge. I didn’t want the light to be flat – I\u00a0wanted that gradient of light going into shadow across the side of her face turned to me. I therefore deiced on a smallish softbox that was positioned so that it was coming slightly opposite of me. chose a\u00a0smallish softbox<\/p>\n

The pull-back shot below will show the lighting, and you’ll see how it was positioned to give me this lighting –\u00a0the\u00a0Profoto RFi 3.0′\u00a0Octa Softbox<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate<\/em>),\u00a0mounted on\u00a0a\u00a0Manfrotto 025BS boom w\/\u00a0008BU stand & casters<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate<\/em>).<\/p>\n

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In this wider shot, you can see how the light fell off to her feet – but this wasn’t a problem, since the intention with the sequence of images we shot here, was to show her hair attachments.<\/p>\n

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If I had wanted to achieve similar lighting, but with our model lit up evenly across her entire length, but with a similar shadow, then the\u00a0Profoto RFi 1\u2019\u00d76<\/a>\u2019<\/a> softbox<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate<\/i>) would’ve been just handy. It’s quite a versatile light modifier:\u00a0using a big gridded strip-box \/ soft-box<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In terms of her pose, I directed how she should finesse the position of\u00a0her hands. I also\u00a0asked her to turn her face slightly away from me – into the light. It always comes back to that – the Direction and Quality of Light<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The execution and lighting of this photograph is therefore quite straight-forward – but it was all that was needed here.<\/p>\n

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Photo\u00a0gear (or equivalents) used in this photo session<\/h2>\n