jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

One of my camera clubs has been having indoor lighting workshops, something really new to me and my outdoor photography. This photo is a product of last night’s session. It’s not great, but I may get there someday. This is a one-light setup, a big soft box LED on the left set off with a trigger on the camera. It needs more light on the right, but we were working with just a one-light setup.

(Download)

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

A good start. You wouldn't want much additional light on the side away from the light source -- totally even light makes the subject less interesting. You need one side more strongly lit to give proper form and dimension to your subject. Totally even light is usually attained with a beauty dish fired at the camera position. With a little overexposure, it tends to soften the subject and erase small imperfections. It is used for glamor shots.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Nice shot. I like the lighting imbalance.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Thanks, Mike.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Thank you, Dean.

Toby

So do I

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Thanks

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

When using only one light, a reflective object on the opposite side of the model can provide a reduced amount of light and give just that little boost needed to bring a bit more detail.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

I think it's great just the way it is.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Yes, they demonstrated that technique also, but I wasn’t shooting at that time; I was listening (imagine that ).

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Thanks much, Jo.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

I like it.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Thanks, Elliott.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"... It’s not great" Jay, it's actually fabulous for starting out with off camera studio lighting...
Good Job!

Ok, here are thoughts to consider (and not meant to detract from your lovely rendering of Angie)

1. Your camera back focused on Angie, the tip of the nose is more in focus than her eyes.
It's typically all about the eyes (eye closest to the lens). Get those eyelashes razor sharp. Best to do this by zooming in while on set and either stop down or better yet calibrate your lenses before using them in a commercial scenario.

2. Using a Large Softbox? Then have the talent right up against it (just out of frame)
This will allow the light to rap around him/her and soften the transition edge.

3. While Angie had well groomed brows (brushed to perfection) she didn't have the benefit of an accomplished makeup artist, no foundation and worse yet, no matte powder to tame that "hot" nose tip and same on the apple of her right cheek. Suggest to your camera club to enlist the service of both a makeup artist and a hair stylist for future shoots, k? (They can easily be found on WeddingWire's web site and will work often for "trade")
https://www.weddingwire.com/c/in-indiana/wedding-beauty-health/16-sca.html

4. Love the moss green knit pullover which is a perfect compliment to her lovely skin tone...

5. It appears Angie is sporting a neutral pale rose color lip decor (excellent choice) however she didn't bother to line those lovely lips first... Again, a skilled makeup artist can (and often does) make a huge difference on the deliverables.

6. Finally in post please select Angie's pearly whites and de-saturate those teeth just a tad (don't overdo this). Just enough to kill some of the yellow hue and chroma... btw, this can also be done with the sclera (white of the eye) However in this capture the eyes are too far out of focus to allow this. Be careful not to overdo whiting of teeth and/or sclera... which is the hallmark of an amateur... i.e. Less is more here, k?

Thanks again for sharing Jay
Looking forward to your next Studio renderings :)

Cheers! Thomas