BigOldArt Loc: Seminole, FL

What hints and or links can you give me?

I have access to a pair of ring lights on stands and a dark backdrop. I'll be taking amateur photos of residents in their 80s and 90s. The main purpose is for residents recognize each other. But I do not want to emphasize wrinkles. I would like to eliminate having reflections of the ring lights on eyeglasses.

I have a Nikon P900 on a tripod set to "portrait" with the flash off. It is about 15 feet from the backdrop to allow backing wheelchairs and scooters room to get in front of the backdrop.

When a resident is seated I raise the camera vertically on the tripod until it is level with the face. I then zoom so that the middle of the face is in the center of the 9 squares. I then take several shots from which one is later chosen.

Should I have people with reflections on their glasses lower their chins or what?

After the photos are on my PC, I have the best shot selected. In Photoshop, I rotate the image so the eyes are level and crop to a square format that fits in the handout of pictures. Sometimes I auto adjust the contrast.

Bret P Loc: California

Ring lights are great for eliminating shadows, but I don't like their reflections even with no glasses, ring-shaped catch-lights in eyes.

If they are big ehough, you could try using them in as clamshell lights, one from the top (higher than subject's head), facing downward at a 45-degree angle or more. The other below their face, facing up at a similar angle. Google "clamshell lighting" (usually done with large lightoxes).

Have you tried removing the highlights from glasses with Photoshop's AI filter content-aware fill?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

For portraits, you would be better off with a pair of white satin umbrellas, and a flash head or LED bounced from each. Place the fill light to the left of the camera, just off axis. Place the main light at a 45° angle UP and a 45° angle OUT from the camera axis on the opposite side. If you want to use those ring lights, they can make good kicker lights on the sides of the subject. You may also want to use one of them as a hair and shoulders-separation light, towards the rear, opposite the main light.

Ring lights put "space cadet" circular catchlights in peoples' eyes, especially if you put the lens in the center of the ring light. It's not a flattering look, but it can be okay for social media video blogs and selfie casuals.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

BigOldArt you've received stellar guidance from both Bert and Bill...
Bottom Line? Ring Lights are great for macro and they used to be widely used in the medical field for documentation. Albeit that's pretty much history now... far more elegant solutions abound.

I do not want to emphasize wrinkles... In this scenario I use Paramount a.k.a. Butterfly illumination...
Lens axis directly at the sitter's nose 24" above and 24" in front... While I typically use a BD (Beauty Dish) Bill's suggestion of a shoot through white umbrella is spot on... I've deployed that many times before on location.

The other scenario I use is that for "Copy Work" two identical lights either side in front at 45 degrees off axis...
This btw, will tame those pesky reflections in glasses (remember: Angle of incidence equals Angle of reflection)

Below is the reason to not deploy those ring lights on lens axis... Yes if you like living dangerously then use Content Aware fill on the Iris (under the Edit Menu in PS)... However I don't trust AI yet, maybe let others be on the bleeding edge, k?

You'll be best served to asked the sitter to look directly into the lens (just before you trip the shutter)... Although if they have deep set eyes you'll wish you had someone holding a reflector just out of frame below where your bottom image margins is (Be certain to check for heavy shadows obscuring their eyes on initial test shots for each client). An often encountered issue when using Butterfly illumination. If they have "Coke Bottle" half inch thick lenses in their glasses? I wish you good luck...

Hope this helps... And please always try to keep a conversation going to put your sitter at ease... I typically compliment them on their wardrobe styling, hair styling... the watch or jewelry they are wearing... You get the idea?

An Compelling reason why Ring Lights aren't germane for portraiture... Especially for Senior's ID imagery