Forums >
Photography Talk >
beauty lighting setup
Hi, I've been experimenting with a number of setups for beauty shots, I was wondering if anyone can recommend/share a setup specifically for beauty (inc background lights) that they use regularly. At the moment I tend to use a beauty dish high at one side and a large softbox for fill ratio 4:1 cheers Matt Jun 25 07 01:50 pm Link pearly wrote: oooh yeah, I'm just getting in to beauty, and I"m interested in this topic as well. Jun 25 07 02:18 pm Link You want an even shadowless light. Traditionally you would use a 4' x 6' soft box positioned behind the camera so that your (the photographer's) head was just covered by the box. Sometimes you might utilize a soft butterfly lighting by allowing a hint of shadow to appear under the nose. This is most often call standard beauty lighting. It can also be modified with to additional lights, either bouncing off umbrellas or flats, positioned fairly close together under the camera, in essence creating a VERY large softbox effect. Some shooters use large banks of flats to either side of the model to bound light in from the sides as well, you really have to shoot a test and see where the light falls and falls off. Also, you may consider shooting through a hole in a flat that you bounce light off of or, conversely, shoot through a diffusion panel that you shoot light through - but really that isn't necessary in most cases (one interesting use of this technique was utilized during a ::gasp:: playboy cover shoot. The front cover and back cover were to be shot simultaneously, the front from the front and the back from, well, the back. It was necessary to shoot through the flat to conceal the photographer and equipment. The second camera in back was synched to the main camera via radio remote). As far as backgrounds go, simple works best. Using a longer lens will be more flattering. Jun 25 07 02:44 pm Link Jun 25 07 02:45 pm Link Jun 25 07 02:49 pm Link great cheers guys v helpful Jun 25 07 03:38 pm Link A beauty dish and reflector under neck good mua and Of course a beautiful girl helps Mar 10 11 11:44 pm Link All rules should be broken. And when you know how to do something well, it's time to do something else. Beauty light? Which side of the story do you want to tell? If it's the make up and not your photography , use a soft broad source, no reflectors unless absolutely necessary. If it is both MU and your photography, then a mix of a smaller source but with some fill or a second light. If you know how to do the above, then use a hard light or daylight, mix it up until you find your happiness. I wrote up, but have not yet typed it into the computer pages for my blog about lighting. The information there will help I hope, so keep tuned I should post it within two weeks. Mar 11 11 12:03 am Link BRUCE GILLING wrote: Did anyone look @ the date this was posted ?/ Mar 11 11 12:09 am Link Images by MR wrote: ooops got me again, usually I look! Mar 11 11 12:17 am Link haha...Bruce. Mar 11 11 12:22 am Link i have shot for years and often the beauty work i did often had 4+ lights. These days ive been shooting natural light and now theres nothing better to me than a north facing window (south facing if your in the southern hemisphere) or a shaded area with a large reflective object (im talking building size) providing bounce. You dont need complicated lighting setups to do beauty. Whats most important in good beauty is #1 HAIR!!!!!!!! #2 Makeup #3 Models facial structure #4 models skin #5 Post Mar 11 11 12:24 am Link Jeff , while I agree that nothing replaces natural light, I wouldn't say north light or Zenith light is best for beauty. I have a privileged studio with a double expo SW and NE. The light is interesting from the north, has a nice wrap, but for serious publication the spectrum is not going to do you favours for colour. If you have composite reflections off wals though the mix can be nice indeed and within a range of tones suitable> Mar 11 11 12:30 am Link Neil Snape wrote: well i should rephrase what i said actually. I dont really mean north facing window light is the best. i rather ment thats what im into most right now...(its been a long day). If its artificial light i usual turn to a beauty dish or a large octobox gridded Mar 11 11 12:38 am Link |