toptrainer Loc: Wellington

I am going to shoot some headshots for a company to update thier business cards and advertisements. I just bought some new equiptment and would like some advice on setup. I have 2 alienbee 800 1alienbee 1600 an octobox. black backdrop plenty of umbrellas white, black, silver, gold, what settings would work the best and angles of the lights. If I do well today, I could be doing 70_80 headshots for them. Thanx

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

Go have a look at this.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-44488-1.html

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

My advice would be this: keep it simple and repeatable.

Use a shoot through white umbrella...large one for key...and an identical one for fill opposite side.

Shoot them far away from a medium neutral backdrop like a grey or a neutral wall and gel the wall.

You want easy...repeatable..not fiddling between shots.

Here is a simple easy repeatable set up that works every time.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-92052-1.html

cockney greg Loc: London E17

Simple may be the best way to go, with either a grey or white background.Perhaps a clamshell set-up and backlit drop. Have a look at this.

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/08/29/studio-lighting-4-seriously-simple-lighting-techniques-to-try-at-home/
It's better to have a set-up that you can assemble and remove easily and quickly IMHO. Hope the link helps you.

Say Cheese Loc: Eastern PA

Have you looked at their old business cards or asked them what they would like or even added your own thoughts about what might look good for the business. If their business has to do with the outdoors then maybe landscape would be good for a background. If it is a farm equiplent dealer then the color of the equipment would be a good background. Think away from the normal but not too far to scare them but enough for creativity.

jjestar Loc: Savannah GA

PM CaptainC, this is his area of expertise. I would bring lights, speedlights would be more portable if going from office to office. Octo if not to big, and a few umbrellas. Backdrop only if taking photos from the same location, as I prefer enviromental shots in situations such as these. At the end of the day the client will dictate what it is they want. Settings will depend on location and clients desires, when doing enviromental type location I set subject away from background and open my aperature so the background is blurred and subject stands out. I use two lens for this mostly, 85mm 1.4 and for compressing background a 70-200mm 2.8, hope this helps.

barry.lapoint Loc: Colorado

this might help...

Attached file:
(Download)

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Barry, I don't want to purchase more software to view your download. Can you try a different format?

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

Sounds like you, as they say, got the cart in front of the horse! You get all that new equipment and then ask for advice. Hope it works out to your advantage.

barry.lapoint Loc: Colorado

Sorry OddJobber. Instead of a Powerpoint how about a PDF...?

Attached file:
(Download)

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

You have what you need - at least for the most part.

Use the Octobox as the main - superior to an umbrella, although if you did not have the octga, the umbrella would be OK. DO NOT point the octa at the subject. It needs to be pointed out in front of him or her. Same with an umbrella. Use the 1600 here.

Place one AB over the camera into (not through) an umbrella. Meter AT THE SUBJECT and have the main, one stop greater than the fill. I usually have the main at f8 and fill at 5.6. This will give you a very pleasing 3:1 ratio.

You can use your remaining AB as a separation/hair light. YOu should have the standard 7" reflector than came with the Bee and place it high and aimed at the subject's ahead. Ideally, it would have the 30 degree grid in the reflector so you do not get lens flare, but careful aiming will work.

Alternatively, do NOT use the umbrella over the camera, but use a reflector as fill instead. One of my attachments shows this. Then use the Alien Bee as another separation light opposite the hair light OR shoot against the backdrop to separate the subject. That black backdrop may not be the best choice as it REALLY requires careful placement of separation lighting. It looks great, but with dark hair, that separation needs attention.

I usually just use speedlights for the hair and accent lights as they are plenty powerful and easy (lighter) to place on booms up high.

There are lots of way to do this and they all work. So you are doing this TODAY and have not practiced any setups prior to the real deal?? Well, shame on you for that, but I wish you good luck and I hope it works out. I hope you have a flash meter so you are not going to fuss around trying to get the light ratios correct.

Basic setup


Reflector only for fill


Octa main, umbrella fill + reflector

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Thanks, Barry, and Captain too. I was just looking for this kind of stuff this morning.