GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

After much research, I decided to switch from speed lights in umbrellas to strobes in modifiers. Here is a photo from the shoot and my setup. I used a Nikon D500 at f/8.0, shutter speed-1/400 (I meant to set it at 1/250), ISO-100. I'm not sure what caused the blackness at the bottom of the screen. The hood was on the 18-35 lens, which may have caused it. Moving the stripbox did not get rid of it. Of course, I just cropped it out for the final edit. I didn't have a lot of room, which is why I used the 18-35 lens. The Christmas tree lights and lights in the village on the mantle were on. Is there a way to get the shot AND show that the tree and village is lit?

EDIT: The only way that I can think of to get the tree and village lit is to merge two photos.

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E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Very easy technique:

After your lights are set up and placed, turn off the modeling lamps. Then determine the shutter speed that would be required to expose for an nice glow the Christmas tree lights and other decorative lights AT THE APERTURE YOU SET FOR YOU MONOLIGHTS. The shutter speed may be such that you need to use a tripod. Usually a shutter speed of 1/2 to 1/15 of a second will do the trick. I instruct the subjects to hold perfectly still for a few seconds after the flash fires. If the aperture is too small for a practical shutter speed, reduce the flash output or the ISO setting. f/8 or f/5.6 should still make for enough depth of field for a group.

If that fire place is active, move the group over and light it up- the dragged shutter will pick it up nicely.

This technique is called shutter dragging. It will work well with Christmas lights, fires in the fireplace, candles, and certain othere practical lights like lamps or chandeliers in the room. Again, remember to shut off the modeling lamps or dim them sufficiently so the do not affect exposure and color balance. All you need is enough ambien light to maintain focus and see the expression when you shoot. If the modelling lamps bleed through slightly you will get a slightly warmer tone which may add to the effect.

You can run a few test prior to the shoot so folks don't need to stay in place too long while you determine the exact exposure. Once you have it down pat you can just shoot away for the best expressions.

If the tree is further into the background for individual subjects, you can use the same method with wider apertures and get some interesting "boheh".

The tree will look like you ambient ligh shot of your setup. If you prefer slightly less of a glow, simply increase the shutter speed. You may want to increase the lighting ratio for a little more contrast in your group by reducing the fill light power. Try to use you UMBRELLA coming in on the right side as a main light and bounce you fill ligh (without the soft box) off the ceiling in back of the camera. If there as a bit of shadow, from the group, on the tree, it will look better with the tree lights glowing. Just make certain that the umbrella light is evenly covering the group from about 25 to 30 degrees off camera.

If you get it right, you will not require any post processing mergers- it will all be in the shot!

If you wish, run a quick test and post it for me and I'll advise further.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Thank you so much for that detailed explanation. I will give it a try! We didn't have a fire in the fireplace because the youngest child is autistic; but I will try it with the next adult group.

Just a couple of clarifications. Ditch the soft box and put the umbrella in its place, to the right side of the fireplace as I'm looking at it, right? I have two lights, an Einstein and an Alien Bee 800. I used the Einstein for the main light. In order to bounce a flash off the ceiling, I assume you mean a speedlight on the camera. I haven't tried that combination yet; but I do have a sync cord, so I will try that.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

I think the reason for the black bar on the bottom of the photo is you exceeded the max sync speed of the camera. Lower it to 1/250th second, or less. Alternatively, google high speed sync.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

That’s what my shutter speed was supposed to be. I must have bumped the dial when I was putting the camera on the tripod. Thanks for giving me the reason.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I'm guessing that it was either bumped to faster than 1/250, or the max may be 1/200. I have the D-500, but no matter what body I'm using, I never set it to the maximum shutter speed. The buff lights don't have High Speed Synch (I also use Buff lights) You are best to go with 1/200 or slower. Use a lower ISO, or whatever it takes to get that shutter speed down.

It is definitely a sync issue with the black band at the bottom. I think it's a common problem when moving from speedlights to studio strobes.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Yes, I usually have it at 1/125-200 but wanted it at around 1/250 because the autistic child has a hard time being still. My ISO was 100 with aperture at f/8. I was pretty happy with the result actually.

Thank you for your insight

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

A few points: I suggested that you shoud try a test shot without the softbox on the fill ligh but use the MONOLIGHT as a ceiling bounce unit- the umbrella ligh being the MIAN. You are still using both of you BUFF lights. Alternatively you coud use a speedlight bounced off the ceiling, (on camera) for a fill and use both of your Buff lights in a double main setup- that is a somewhat more complex

You electronic flash gear has a flash duration of approximately 1/1000 sec. When flas is the main light source it will, in effect, freeze the motion of an active child. It's important to keep the shutter speed within the camera's flash synchronization range. Weh shutter dragging, as I explain in my previous post, at slower shutter speeds the available ligh also factors into the exposure and may produce a blur if there is subject movement, Sometimes, however, there will be a slow enough shutter speed to bring up the tree lights but no slow enough to cause blur.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

My grandson is also Autistic. As Ed said, the flash will freeze the motion of hummingbird wings, so rest assured it will freeze a boy's movements. The thing I would worry more about is the flash itself. Many autistic people have sensory issues, and the flash could cause an overload. In the case of doing family photos with him, I try to use hot lights, and do my best, just so it's not so much for him.

I never thought of it until he came into our lives, but now it's something I ask during family photo pre-session meetings if there are any people with sensory issues, and sometimes even someone with epilepsy can have a seizure triggered by a strobe. Not often, but I have had a couple of times that I was really glad I asked.

Just something to keep in mind.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Yes, he does have sensory issues. He did really well with the family shoot; but the next day we had the whole family over to make cookies and open presents. He had a meltdown and my son took him to the park for a while. Probably too much stimulation and nowhere to decompress. He gets speech therapy and special school but he still doesn't communicate. He does say a few words, though, so we're hoping his use of them will improve. He's 5 going on 2. Most people don't understand, so I'm glad you do. He flaps his hands and I have a lot of pictures of him where his hands are blurry!

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

My grandson is 12 and is completely nonverbal. Starting at about age 10, the school started him with an iPad to communicate. It's very slow going, but the more he learns to communicate what he wants and needs, the fewer melt downs he has. He didn't have that many to begin with, and he's the sweetest, most loving boy in the world, but sensory overload is the one thing that will set him into a tailspin. It can take days for him to get back to being himself. What an interesting, yet terrifying world he must live in. We do feel blessed with him, and people often say "do you think they'll ever find a cure?" We've come to the point where we just love him for exactly who he is, and can't imagine even wanting him "fixed." That realization made his, and our lives better. He's the boy in the camera lens in my avatar. That was when he was probably 5 or 6, he's much bigger, but just as lovable.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

There’s a special place in my heart for that boy. He has 3 older siblings and they are wonderful with him. The mom has debilitating ADD and struggles with managing 4 kids. Her oldest has issues as well. I help whenever I can.

Thanks for sharing. I think God makes these kids especially cute and lovable!

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

This worked like a charm. In this picture, I was not focused on the dog, but rather on the fireplace. He jumped up there just as I was taking the photo! Too bad there isn't a plugin where I can move the focus point!

I lit the fireplace for the pictures I took later and it looked nice. I only used the 45" umbrella and one strobe. It was enough light for a smaller group. Thank you. I may try the more complicated setup another time, that you mentioned later in this thread. Again, thanks for all your help. My skill level just jumped up a notch, thanks to people like you!

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E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Good job! Don't forget to.post some of your results with the groups! 👍👌😀

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Here's a group shot. Guess which one is me!

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