Lighting Diagram of Silverlake's Studio

Silverlake · #1 08-27-2005, 04:37 PM

Many have asked about the lighting situation in our studio. While we may not always use all of the lights, this is a diagram for the typical positioning of our lighting. Working with this many lights can be cumbersome at times, but I do like the results that it provides.

Travis

jodi richardson · #2 08-27-2005, 07:24 PM

Travis can you show us what you would recommend if we are shooting asy with one light and a reflector then maybe 2 adn a reflector and then maybe 3 lights

Hey can't hurt to ask!!! btw I love the reflector I ordered!! Thanks Jodi

Silverlake · #3 08-28-2005, 01:51 AM

Jodi,

I hope I understand the question. Here is a diagram of a simple one light system, two light and three light. There are other possible configurations, but this is a quick, simple way of configuring your lights.

If I have misunderstood you, please let me know.

One Light:

Silverlake · #4 08-28-2005, 01:51 AM

Two Light:

Silverlake · #5 08-28-2005, 01:55 AM

If I only had three lights, the third one would probably switch back and fourth between a hairlight, a background light, and an accent light...depending on what look I was trying to achieve.

Things are a little different in todays day and age. With digital you can do a ton of tests to see what you like the best without paying for proofs or polaroid film. It used to cost a fortune to hone your lighting skills.

Juli · #6 08-31-2005, 07:04 AM

Hi Travis,

Could you tell me when setting the filler light behind the camera what is the height & angle of the light in proportionately to the Camera? Thanks, Juli

MichelleM · #7 08-31-2005, 08:09 AM

Lights should be facing directly at and a bit above your subject, drawing shadows down.

Silverlake · #8 08-31-2005, 08:59 AM

That is correct. A majority of photographers attach their fill light to the ceiling. It needs to be high enough to shoot over the head of the photographer when standing. If not, your exposures will vary depending on whether you are standing, kneeling, or down on the ground. In other words, you do not want to be blocking the fill light with your body.

The main light should be slightly above the level of the subjects eyes. That means that when the subject is on the ground, the light should lower and raise when doing a standing pose. (Small children do not change the height much standing or sitting.)

Susanne Todd · #9 06-05-2006, 01:44 PM

I'm sure this is probably an old thread by now, but I was reading thru some & I have a question about lighting on this one. I have 2 lights & I also have the flash for my camera. Do you recommend using the flash for indoor portraits? And if so, what should my light set up be then?
Also as far as the flash goes, are there any special rules for using with outdoor portraits? To make it all work better or anything?

Silverlake · #10 06-10-2006, 10:01 AM

Wow, I missed this the first time around.

If you have two lights, I would not use your on camera flash for studio shots. Mainly because it is a very small light source. You can bounce it off the ceiling if you have low enough ceilings for an overall fill light, but I try to stick with larger sources of light in the studio.

For outdoor portraits, I prefer reflectors to fill flash, but it can be done and many photographers use fill flash outdoors. I am not sure what kind of on camera flash you have, but some of the more expensive ones can be programmed for very precise results.

In my opinion, the most common mistake outdoors is using too much fill flash and giving a very flat look to the subject and image.

Travis

Susanne Todd · #11 06-10-2006, 11:07 AM

Thanks for the help Travis! I've kind of been trying some different things to see how I get the best lighting. I didn't even think of trying to use my flash for an overall fill light, that might help too.
Just FYI, the lights I have in my studio are (2) 250 Watt Smith-Victor Photo Flood lights. I was told they would be great when I bought them, but am getting rather discouraged now. So that's why I'm trying to try some different thing with these lights & see what I get the best out of. Hopefully someday I can get a little better light set up. Also, the flash I have for my camera is a Quantaray QDC 900WA Digital flash. Hope I didn't get a bad buy on that either. :s

*threeliltigs - Mentor* · #12 06-11-2006, 02:34 PM

sorry to hear your dispointed with the smith victors. Thats what I bought the first time around and ended up selling them within the first week I got them. They just got hot and my kids would cry sitting for me since we were all sweating to death. lol I dont know, maybe I should have kept them until I sweated off enough weight. LOL

I then bought alien bees and LOVE them, but my next mistake was the brolly box. Once I got softboxes I felt much better with my equipment and felt I could really focus on what I needed to know about photography and lighting.
Good luck

Susanne Todd · #13 06-12-2006, 11:43 AM

Thanks, Tammy! I've heard a lot of good thing about the alien bees. Guess I'll just see what I can get out of these lights for now & when I can afford to get something better I defenitly will NOT hesitate.

Nicole · #14 06-12-2006, 03:22 PM

I'm very happy with my bees too - softbox, lights and all.

Silverlake · #15 06-12-2006, 05:42 PM

Several of our members started out with hot lights. They are attractive to photographers who are just getting started because of the price, but there are downsides.

Everyone so far has improved by leaps and bounds almost instantly when they switched to strobes. Not that you can't take nice photographs with hot lights, but strobes are definitely more gentle on your subjects.

Travis