Getting the lighting right. (pics & tips)
 

First off, I don't claim to be much more than a hack when it comes to photography.....Sometimes you play around, try some different things, and you just plain get lucky.

Other times you plan things out carefully.

In preparing to shoot this set, I knew I wanted the model outdoors and that I wanted to open the double doors to the house for the background. The model was in the shade so some fill flash was needed. I set a medium size softbox outside to light her up.

Doing that would leave the inside so dark that you could not have made out any details. To compensate for this, I placed a large softbox on the floor behind the couch to light up the entire background. That was cool but it would leave shadows from the model on the front of the couch and just look strange so I added a second medium softbox and using a boom arm, I extended it from just outside of the picture and aimed the softbox straight down onto the couch. This eliminated all shadows and allowed everything behind the model to be well lit.

Then I used a disposable Fuji 35mm camera and took a few snapshots. :glugglug

http://ampcontent.com/Pikz/Lighting001.jpg
http://ampcontent.com/Pikz/Lighting002.jpg


Here's the end result.

http://www.ampcontent.com/Pikz/SCN/SA/026.jpg


Happy to answer any questions. :pimp

Good info, thanks Aaron :thumbsup

very nice.... I know shit about photography but what you say seems to make sense. I don't have a question but I did learn something

Super dope :thumbsup

Very nice...

Well, if all it takes is a disposable camera, hell, I can do this.

A slightly gifted monkey could pull this off with the right training. :1orglaugh

Great Pics Aaron :thumbsup , when are you heading over to Arizona?

good tips and tricks..very nice work, man..!

PS: the babe is really hot!

Not sure man....I have a lot of work lined up here.....I'm thinking of headed there or LA in a week or so just to take a break for a few days.

Are you calling me a monkey, Barbie?

I love the way that room looks, so soft.....with that lighting..especially the top pic, where you're shooting behind her.....the room is so inviting..and then when you added her to the shoot...wow.

Not bad for a noob.

Now if I could just sell this crap.... :winkwink:

Have your people call my people. Might be able to get you a gig at Sears.

I guess that kicks Sobe out of the running :1orglaugh

when are you coming back up to the PNW? I'd love to sit in on a set if you wouldn't mind

isn't that at donny's house?

Hold on....Let me check the last 3 weeks worth of threads to see how many times that's already been mentioned......

Yeah. Aaron's been here shooting a few weeks now shooting some of our models. We find some nice girls up here so it's no surprise people want to shoot them.

We invite very few photogs up here. We've invited Brian of Wanton.com and AaronM to shoot girls. That's it. And you, of course. But you were shooting some of the males.

Aaron uses the same lights you use, by the way. But softboxes over them instead of umbrellas.

Yeah I hear you, well let Me know if you end up out here and enjoy you're break from that terrible job you got :1orglaugh j/k I know exactly how tiring shooting can be.

If I recall correctly...I may have been the one who recommended those lights to Noah. :glugglug

AaronM, if you set the lights, camera and make sure everything else right, then let me push the button, I will fuck it up. :helpme

Cool, I'm glad to be l33t enough to be one of the chosen few. Looks like you guys have been having fun. :)

Dude I'm almost 100% positive you picked up the Alien Bees after talking to me. I've had mine for over 3 years now. :)

Either way, they're bad ass lights.

hey aaron. What kind of lights do you use brand and wattage? Constant or stobes. Great Work Man!

I'm surprised at how fantastic the photos turn out when you photograph those males. Particulary because you're not gay, yet you get all the poses right. You do some great work.

Thank you.

http://alienbees.com/b800.html

Guess I was wrong then. Tony404 is the one who turned me onto them though. :winkwink:

Aaron. For the truly great shots. You need to keep the pink glasses on.

what are you using for hard light? the natural sunlight?

duke

The secrets revealed ;) Nice work man.

If i was going to get some nudes done of me, I would have AaronM shoot my SEXY BODY

Noah (xenigo) told me about them a long time ago but I didn't listen to him. I use ProFotos, which are as expensive as hell. I figured the more expensive the better, right? But my fiancee has been trying to get me to buy her a set of Alienbees for months after Noah came up with some. She didn't get to use his. But now that you're here and she's been able to try yours out on a few models I think there will be no keeping her from aquiring some.

I have to admit, they're pretty nice.

Nice stuff Aaron :) Hit me up plz I need to talk to you :)

139036653

I already have....Ya asshat. :1orglaugh

http://ampcontent.com/Pikz/PF101.jpg

Oh lord :1orglaugh I'm hitting the gym tomorrow.

Get her fingernails and toenails to match, and it's perfect!

Just busting you... great job. (I use White Lightnings, cousin to the Bees. Never a problem with them.)

nice one Aaron :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

very helpful info. Thanks, Aaron!

right on Aaron....thanks for posting more input on lighting, more of an insight from my questions yesterday....post more tips whenever you get the urge :)

Can I get icq for you?

Aaron, do you film movies also, or photography only?

I swear by my Dyna-lites for Photos and my Kinos for my video aand photos. Ill never give up the kinos they just give the best even light.

That is a very good info.

Photo and Video.

Ahhh Aaron...yer nuthin' but a hack.

;)

J.

P.S. i'm kiddin'...when you coming back up to Vancouver? Settebello's is calling...

;)

Settebello's rocks. :thumbsup

I have no plans to return there anytime soon...Although I do have some personal business that I will be attending to in Van sooner or later. I'll be sure to look you up when I am headed there next.

very nice work!! :)