Flash lighting for portraits

mloc

I was thinking of doing a few portrait/fashion shots, seeing as I don't have the time nor ability at the moment to do that many outdoor shots.

In terms of lighting, what should I be looking at? I'm thinking I'll use my D200 with the 105mm macro lens, but obviously the built in flash isn't going to do all that great.

I was thinking possibly using it to trigger maybe a remote flash or two (which I currently don't have), along with some gentle daylighting or daylight balanced bulbs. I have to admit, I don't have a huge amount of experience in this type of photography, any ideas?

Morlar

In terms of lighting - an off camera flash and a reflector should be a good place to start. I wouldn't go down the route of multiple flash units until you really know your way around the first off camera one properly and that will take a few months with different lenses in different lighting conditions against different subjects.

The lighting you do use on the day will depend on the location and a lot on the model and what he/she is wearing/their skin tones too.

If at all possible for the first session bring a laptop and do some test shots then check them out at full screen - the camera LCD is not the best for this - even if your nifty at reading histograms for a first portrait session I would say a laptop sized screen to check as you go along will mean that you can make adjustments to the lighting pretty much on the fly and learn more and get less wasted shots.

It may be possible to bounce the light around or use a mix of natural and artificial light - though natural light indoors through a window at this time of year can be more tricky than say, mid summer imo.

If I were you I would start with the fastest lens you have and don't bother with a tripod for a first session as you will learn more and get more interesting shots by being able to move around and then check the results of different distances/angles with the flash.

DotOrg

i use two flashes and a wireless trigger on my canon system and use them and make my own reflectors out of pieces of polystyrene. it's tough to learn and i still don't but you can play with them and learn as you go


two examples of my wireless flashes in action

paudie

Second shot is quality, where were the flashes for this?

DotOrg

flashes on the ground, i think, on the right and left of the band, both facing into large white polystyrene boards to give a bit of oomph to make the people stand out a bit from the background as it was a grey drizzly day

eamon234

put a little thin white tissue over the flash it'll give you a much softer effect I find it always works well especially for portraits

rymus

www.abetterbouncecard.com

Aww yeah

elven

rymus wrote:

www.abetterbouncecard.com

Aww yeah

My flash doesn't twist round, only up/forward and in/out I still bought some white funky foam from a craft shop though, to try and do something with it...

When I was shooting my snowman I cut a lens sized hole in a piece of a4 polystyrene and stuck it on the camera, it diffused the built in flash a fair bit.

P.S. DotOrg - fabulous stuff.

Rojo

rymus wrote:

www.abetterbouncecard.com

Aww yeah

What a geek!!

B0rG

I like the first shot - wide angle effect works really well with the guy on the left

rymus

elven wrote:

My flash doesn't twist round, only up/forward and in/out

Pff, peasant!