What is essential lighting for a portrait studio?

February 8, 2010 by homelighting · 2 Comments
Filed under: Photography 
lighting
Kimberly R asked:


I’m just starting a studio and only have a small light with a softbox to start. I have my backdrops in mind but am unsure of the size I should get. What other lighting should I need, light meters, umbrellas etc.

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Comments

2 Responses to “What is essential lighting for a portrait studio?”
  1. Ken F says:
    February 10, 2010 at 7:46 am

    If your budget allows for it, a 3-light setup would be ideal for most situations.

    - 1 main light w/softbox
    - 1 fill light w/softbox
    - 1 extra light to act as a background light, or hairlight.

    If you cannot purchase a fill light, a reflector may be a decent alternative.

    The background light is needed to get rid of shadows cast by the subject onto your background. If you use a narrow DOF, you can probably get by without it.

    Assuming the lights are optically triggered, you will only need one flash cable (usually comes included with your light) that runs from the camera to the main light.

    Other things you may need:
    - light stands
    - a stand for your backdrop
    - incidental light meter (I use Sekonic)
    - a very sturdy tripod, maybe with lockable casters (wheels)
    - an adjustable bench

    I prefer softboxes over umbrellas, so I do not use umbrellas; however, I could be wrong on this, but umbrellas might have a wider coverage so it depends on your application. If you are doing mostly waist-up or facial portaits, the softboxes should be enough. If you are doing full body portraits, you will need large softboxes or umbrellas.

    Now if you have a lot of cash, you can get a Pocketwizard setup to make everything wireless. You can even trigger the flash from your meter with some setups. (If you are always doing indoor studio work, I don’t think you will need to consider the Pocketwizards.)

    Check out alienbees for some good kits, or try renting a kit from your local photography store. The alienbees have modelling lights included in addition to optical triggers. [who] Ken F

  2. lensmen2 says:
    February 10, 2010 at 11:00 am

    At least 3….

    One on each side of your model and one over the top, a hair or rim light.

    Nothing is set in cement here, however 3 is the least you want for half way good looking images.

    You normally want your 2 side lights to be off set in the distance to your model. Distance the lights so there is at least 1.5 to 2.5 f/stops different between bright and not so bright parts of the face. This often can relate to having 1 light 3 to 5 feet back from the other light..

    Another way, that is my fav.. is having the lights on their own dimmer controls or lights WITH built in dimmer controls. My 500 watt/second lights have such and they also have built in model lights so I can either shoot via “hot lights” of I can see and shoot by electronic flash.

    I have them at equal distance from my focal point and about a 45′ angle from the subject and about 12 ft back. I may move a light left or right but never in or out. As said, each lamp is on it’s own dimmer switch and this also controls the amount of electronic flash.

    One of my earliest “studios” was 3 clamp on utility lights and regular 100 watt house hold bulbs. I was shooting a lot in BW so the bulbs were fine. I did have them on their own rotating dimmer switch tho and it was easy getting 2:1 or 3:1 lighting.

    I used a hand held light meter and I dialed in my lighting ratios, I marked the face plate of the dimmers and always had it ready now. I also marked the floor where the lights would go.

    It takes only ingenuity and experimentation. Some have done fantastic lighting with only 1 light, from a window.. as this here..

    Or 2 windows, with no other lighting…

    Don’t go thinking your self into a money pit. Much can be done with ugly and cheap equipment. The people looking at your image won’t know, so here you can make something up, if you want… The images speak for them selves and how well YOU understand light..

    Photography – Painting with light..

    Bob – Tucson [who] lensmen2

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