Shooting portraits in limited space

[taxboy]

I'm pretty certain I've seen some behind the scenes shots of images on here previously taken in the typical living room scenario with speedlights
I've tried searching unsuccessfully but if anyone can please point me in the direction or share some tips that would be appreciated.
I'm looking to do head and shoulders or torso portraits as I understand anything more ambitious can be challenging in a small space

 

[DG Phototraining]

Is this the sort of thing you mean ???



If so, this is one speedlight on-camera and the background is a window-blind. It's shot from across the room over 2 sofas and a coffee table in a room with 5 others all getting ready and crap everywhere lol

Dave

 

[taxboy]

Is this the sort of thing you mean ???

View attachment 294541

If so, this is one speedlight on-camera and the background is a window-blind. It's shot from across the room over 2 sofas and a coffee table in a room with 5 others all getting ready and crap everywhere lol

Dave

Spot on thanks. What modifier if any did you use please

 

[mike weeks]

Shoot through umbrella least control, next reflective umbrella, followed by softbox and most control is gridded softbox

you could bounce a speed light off of a white wall for example

Mike

 

[taxboy]

Shoot through umbrella least control, next reflective umbrella, followed by softbox and most control is gridded softbox

you could bounce a speed light off of a white wall for example

Mike

I'm new to flash photography so please bear with me . If my understanding from what I've read is correct by bouncing flash the walls / ceiling becomes the light source so I've created a soft light. This light effectively is all around the subject and will light them more or less evenly.

If I want to control where the light falls on the subject I will need a modifier e.g. grid and softbox? If I want to try side lighting I can make the light soft by using a softbox and the grid limits it's spread ? However in smaller rooms will I get bounce back off the wall opposite my light or is there a way of dealing with this

 

[mike weeks]

You could also look at flags, black reflectors (subtractors) to control but yes to your reply

mike

 

[gerry s]

You could always experiment with low key, one flash off camera. Very simple but effective

 

[gerry s]

Or two

 

[DG Phototraining]

Spot on thanks. What modifier if any did you use please

The ceiling & wall, the flash was simply pointed up towards the point where the ceiling meets the wall

For more control and with more time, I'd use my 16 sided umbrella softbox in my fave positions of either Butterfly or Short-lit (Google them), in a house full of crap its a good idea to find a 'blank' background area if you can or use such as a Lastolite folding background, the 6ft one is more than big enough and they are often 2-sided so you have 2 different colours/patterns to play with

Get used to what you can achieve with one flash and then maybe introduce a second one such as a hairlight as it helps with separation from the background, or even to light the background for gradation effects can be nice too

YouTube is full of vids for this sort of stuff - enjoy

Dave

 

[gerry s]

That’s where low key had an advantage as you don’t have to worry that much about the background as you won’t see it with just a little separation.

 

[cardiff_gareth]

Like these?

Shot with a 2m wide x 5m long vinyl with 2 studio lights both set to the same power and shot through 2 brollies so flat even lighting.

I find if I'm shooting in a living room then you need to get an idea of size and give the customer also an idea of the size you need. I try and shoot above the 50mm focal length if I can unless I want to shoot wide for fun such as fun distorted portraits. In the past I've set up the mobile studio and not had the room behind me to then shoot so had to put on a zoom tele and open the window and shoot outdoors in!