Studio Lighting: When using studio lighting kit what should the aperture in your camera be set to. I have a canon 1100d and studio lighting kit and when i shoot portraits the lighting...

lively99

When using studio lighting kit what should the aperture in your camera be set to. I have a canon 1100d and studio lighting kit and when i shoot portraits the lighting is very bright. If i use external flash would it make a difference and i shoot in manual with a 50mm.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

What kind of lighting is it? Flash or continuous?
The lighting should be adjustable somehow.

lively99

Umbrella light kit , flash

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

lively99 wrote:

When using studio lighting kit what should the aperture in your camera be set to. I have a canon 1100d and studio lighting kit and when i shoot portraits the lighting is very bright. If i use external flash would it make a difference and i shoot in manual with a 50mm.

99, let's start simply. If you change nothing, and your lights are too bright, and you are concerned with certain DoF, then simply move the lights farther away, and less light will fall on the subject.
If you can't move the lights, you can stop down the Fstop. If you can't change the first two, them move your subject further away, it's the same thing.
But often one is concerned with DoF, so stopping down is not an option.
If the exposure triangle can't be altered, then you must dial down the lights, but I assume your lights won't do that, or you would not be asking.
In most situations though, you just stop down the f-stop. SS

lively99

Thanks, i'm going to try this. i hope it works.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

lively99 wrote:

Thanks, i'm going to try this. i hope it works.

99, let us know if it helped. SS

Jim Peters Loc: Pittsburgh

Do You Have A Flash Meter?

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

lively99 wrote:

When using studio lighting kit what should the aperture in your camera be set to. I have a canon 1100d and studio lighting kit and when i shoot portraits the lighting is very bright. If i use external flash would it make a difference and i shoot in manual with a 50mm.

The brightness (power) of the lights determines what the camera settings are...

The aperture is a creative choice as is shutter speed.

Your question doesn't make a lot of sense. Do you understand the relationship of aperture and shutter speed to an image and why you'd pick certain f/stops and shutter speeds?

Beyond that, you need to set your light intensity at the appropriate level to get a good exposure at the distance to the subject and the camera settings you've chosen.

I think possibly you are going about this backwards.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

lively99,

This link http://www.scrappersworkshop.com/foto-friday-getting-ready-for-class may help understanding the exposure triangle if you already know the relationship of light and effects of adjusting the ISO, Aperture, and SS (Shutter Speed). Hopefully this will help, and, you can print it and keep it in your camera bag or shirt pocket or wherever it is handy when shooting.

balexander101 Loc: Occoquan VA

Jim Peters raised a good point...that is you should consider buying a exposure meter. (There are many available online at reasonable costs). If you are at the point of doing studio lighting...then it is something you should consider!

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

balexander101 wrote:

Jim Peters raised a good point...that is you should consider buying a exposure meter. (There are many available online at reasonable costs). If you are at the point of doing studio lighting...then it is something you should consider!

Agreed.
Also, it will help in deciding how to set everything AND help the OP learn about exposure much faster than just guessing.

Jaime Loc: Los Angeles

You can also diffuse the light on he umbrella with a white bed sheet. The other thing you can do is just use the modeling light if it's a strobe. I find I can shoot with a wide open aperture using just my modeling light. But don't forget that the modeling light is a different color temp than your daylight balanced strobe. So shoot raw, adjust in camera or use a gel. Also remember, the further the light from your subjact, the harder it becomes. I'd try diffusion first. My two.

Jim Peters Loc: Pittsburgh

There Are Some Very Cheep Ones The One We use And Have Used For Years Only Cost us About $250.00 And It Is A Student Version But It Works Fine! Never Had A Problem

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Jim Peters wrote:

There Are Some Very Cheep Ones The One We use And Have Used For Years Only Cost us About $250.00 And It Is A Student Version But It Works Fine! Never Had A Problem

Try using 'Quote Reply' so we know what you're referring to.

Jim Peters Loc: Pittsburgh

Flash Meters!