{"id":43995,"date":"2018-02-07T22:55:33","date_gmt":"2018-02-08T02:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=43995"},"modified":"2021-05-16T11:31:25","modified_gmt":"2021-05-16T15:31:25","slug":"whats-in-my-bag-lighting-gear-for-headshots-on-location","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/whats-in-my-bag-lighting-gear-for-headshots-on-location\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s in my bag – lighting gear for headshots on location"},"content":{"rendered":"

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What’s in my bag – lighting gear for headshots on location<\/h1>\n

In one of the previous articles dealing with lighting gear for headshots on location – headshot photography lighting on location<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a0I showed the need to be flexible. There I showed a number of the setups I have used, depending on the client’s needs, and also dependent on where we are shooting. With this article now, I want to more specifically show the lighting gear I have in my lighting roller case – my usual minimum setup. As you might expect by now, my lighting choice is based on the Profoto B1 and A1 flashes. It is a reliable, and easy to use ecosystem of lights.<\/p>\n

Most often I don’t have the luxury of a lot of time to set up – so the gear should not be fussy to use. Even then, it should be flexible enough for me to change things up a little bit.<\/p>\n

Oh, this isn’t just my setup for headshots – this is my general setup for any kind of shoot where I need my lighting gear. For example:\u00a0Fitness photography \u2013 photo session in the gym<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s what I roll in with when I do headshots or similar type of studio-on-location shoot. Two large roller cases (and a shoulder bag) that contain everything I need. It looks neat and uncluttered. I need to look slick and efficient in front of a client.<\/p>\n

The taller bag is the Photoflex Transpac roller case<\/a> (B&H<\/em><\/a>) \/ Amazon<\/a>)<\/em> from which I stripped out all the dividers so I can more easily fill it up with light-stands and umbrellas. The interior of this roller case is 46″ \/ 116 cm tall, so anything\u00a0that is tall goes in this bag.<\/p>\n

The shorter bag there is the Think Tank Production Manager 40<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate<\/em>), which\u00a0is a high-capacity rolling gear case specifically designed for lighting gear … and the contents of this bag is what I want to show here since it contains the flashes and other accessories that I would use.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tIn the first two compartments you can see two\u00a0Profoto B1 flashes<\/a>\u00a0(B&H<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Amazon<\/em><\/a>) – they are the two main units I use during most shoots on location. On top of them, you can see the pouches with the OCF\u00a0grids and gels for the B1 flashes, in case I need those.<\/p>\n

The third compartment has two\u00a0Profoto A1 flashes for Nikon<\/a>\u00a0(B&H<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\/ Amazon<\/em><\/a>). (They are also available\u00a0for Canon<\/a>). I use the A1 flashes for rim\u00a0lighting, or to light up the backgrounds, or I use them as fill-flash. They are also super-handy should I ever need backup flashes to the B1 units.<\/p>\n

That red & black zip pouch has the Profoto A1 gels, as well as spare A1 batteries. I also keep two Manfrotto Snap Tiltheads<\/a>\u00a0(B&H<\/em><\/a> \/ Amazon<\/em><\/a>), in that pouch. They are needed to mount the A1 flash to a light-stand and to attach an umbrella. So everything in that compartment has to do with the A1 flashes.<\/p>\n

The 4th compartment has 4 spare B1 batteries, and the Profoto Air controllers for Nikon, Canon and Sony. I primarily shoot with Nikon, but keep all the controllers together. I have the variety because I use the Profoto B1 flashes for some of my photography workshops<\/a>, and need to be able to use the flashes across platforms.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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Then there is the D810 with the 70-200mm f\/2.8 VR II which is my main camera & lens for headshots. Of course, I bring backup in a shoulder bag – in which I carry my laptop as well.<\/p>\n

The two blue zip-up bags in that one compartment – the one contains the tethering cables and connectors. The other bag has hair spray and cheap $1 combs. \u00a0There is a handheld mirror that I keep in the outermost pocket of this roller case.<\/p>\n

Then you can see the corner of a white box peek out in the smaller compartment – in there I keep a spare bulb for the B1 flashes. I’ve had one flash die on me when it took a knock and the flash tube cracked. So now I keep a spare. With the two Profoto A1 flashes, and a spare bulb for the B1 units, I should we well covered for an emergency. The small blue bag with the white box is the rain cover that comes with this Think Tank roller case.<\/p>\n

Oh, that black thing on top of that white box is …. you guessed it,\u00a0the Black Foamie Thing<\/a>. Have BFT, will travel.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tThe\u00a0Manfrotto Snap Tiltheads<\/a>\u00a0(B&H<\/em><\/a> \/ Amazon<\/em><\/a>), are some of the handiest lighting accessories that I have ever bought. They are compact – unlike the cheaper units with the lock handle. Then they also have some kind of spring-loaded mechanism inside, which keeps the top-heavy flash from just toppling over. Brilliant!<\/p>\n

What also needs to be mentioned – the way the tilt-head locks the flash into position, is really good. That black textured knob right below the flash, screws up, and locks the flash into position. The flash can not fall off, even if you don’t use the flash’s locking mechanism itself.<\/p>\n

They are well thought out to ensure your flash doesn’t get damaged.<\/p>\n

There is the slot then for you to slip an umbrella shaft through.<\/p>\n

As I mentioned, I keep two of these in a small zip-up bag in the camera case. They are compact enough for that.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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In the aforementioned article on\u00a0headshot photography lighting on location<\/a>, I showed several setups. Here again I want to show three recent setups I had for headshots. Of course, it is imperative that I shoot tethered – the client wants to, and needs to see the images right then. Shooting tethered helps involving your subject in the process, and allows them to adjust clothing or hair, and suggest a few changes perhaps.<\/p>\n

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Here I used a Profoto B1 and a large reflecting umbrella as the main light. I didn’t want to bounce my flash into the area behind me, because there were other vendors right behind me. So I wanted to contain the light. But it turned out that this was just a touch too contrasty as the single light source – therefore I added fill-flash – a Profoto A1 with a handy\u00a0black foamie thing<\/a>\u00a0to flag my flash. This extra light was just enough to give a nice lighting ratio, and lifted the shadows a bit.<\/p>\n

For the background, I had a gridded Profoto B1 with a gel to give a warmer glow to the background. The background here is a roll of Fashion Grey made by\u00a0Savage backdrops<\/a>\u00a0(Amazon<\/em><\/a>). I am now using a Lastolite collapsible White \/ Grey (6×7) background (B&H<\/a><\/em>) which is easier to set up.<\/p>\n

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Here I had the ceiling height to use the massive\u00a0he\u00a0Westcott 7′ Parabolic Umbrella<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0(B&H<\/a><\/em> \/ Amazon<\/a><\/em>). This is my favorite large light modifier – it is light and it isn’t expensive.<\/p>\n

Here you can see the\u00a0Lastolite collapsible White \/ Grey (6×7) background<\/a>\u00a0 (B&H<\/a><\/em>) which I like for the ease with which it sets up. You can see the two Profoto A1 flashes there – one to light the background, and one as a hair \/ rim light.<\/p>\n

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Again, a very similar setup. but to avoid the umbrella reflecting in my eye-glasses, I chose to bounce the main light into the ceiling. This gives a nice soft light that I can still make directional by bouncing it slightly to the side. There is so much spill light, that you don’t really need a fill light to the one side – you just rotate the main light slightly.<\/p>\n

With these pull-back shots there is flare because I had my assistant step further back for these photos. For the actual head-shots, I am next to the light, and there is no risk of flare from the main flash.<\/p>\n

In the second photo, I stood a little to the side to show the flash lighting up the background. Of course, you can dial the power up to give a brighter background.<\/p>\n

The rim-light here is lower than I would usually set it up, but I had to reverse-engineer a previous headshot for the client.<\/p>\n

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And here is the result – a test shot of me that my assistant took. It is also imperative that you don’t keep your clients waiting – you have to be completely ready when they arrive.<\/p>\n

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Related articles<\/h2>\n