Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay-Rock
I tend to use the 2 reflective 48 inch umbrellas for fill and I will use an octagon softbox for my keylight. (1000 watt monolight/strobe for each light) I leave the modeling lights off on my lights since they are 3200 k. I use a set of Kino flo Diva 400s as my modeling lights since they are 5600 k (daylight) this give the eyes more pop to the models eyes and they seem to glow.
If I am shooting glam I will create a rimlight with 2 strobes facing the models back in addition to the previous setup. This will give you that glam look that people like so much. Sometimes a hairlight boomed over the model is also very flattering this will make the hair shimmer in the light.
Reflective umbrellas can really soften the skin and hide imperfections if you use them correctly. Use them to fill the room with soft light then make the model pop with your key light.
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Someone said way up in the beginning that it's all about the resources and painting with light.... what do you feel like shooting with today?
Umbrellas, reflectors, ringlights, Kino's, boxes, octagons, etc, etc... I shoot with them all and it just depends on how I feel that day. Often, the speedlight and a wireless transmitter can make a great shot. Other days, you whip out all 15 lights and have fun playing like you are a Playboy photographer. (we heard the record at Playboy was like 55 lights.. damn!!)
Lights and shaping tools are resources.. nothing more. You can watch another photographer shoot and reproduce his setup and still not have a clue what you are doing.. or you can fuck around with your tools and learn them better than anyone else knows them. Then you become skilled.
I don't like umbrellas most of the time, but they travel better than a beauty dish and are easier to setup than a soft box. In a pinch or a time crunch, that umbrella pops up and connects quickly. The light will be a little more harsh than a softbox, but that can be compensated for by placing it closer to the subject.
Jay... why turn off your modeling lamps? Your strobes are much more powerful than the modeling lamps ever could be. Their color would be negligible if any. But then again, I do the Kino for focusing and catchlight trick as well.