I have watched countless videos in which the presenter describes the importance of metering each light separately to create the correct ratio. But you're the first one who also included the critical need to also take a meter reading of the light output when all of the lights are on. Kudos.
Thank you John for your excellent content. I have recently returned to the profession after about 10 years of doing other things like worked at a retail store and studied occupational therapy. These videos have brought a bounty of knowledge available to help with my return to the fold. I work at a studio with an adjacent photolab in a high end ahopping center in Finland. We do your standard portraits and product shoots etc., consumer stuff mainly. I am planning on holding a walk-in day soon. If you have any ideas about that at all, I would be glad to hear them. Or from your audience for that matter! Thanks again and all the best!
good video. i havent used a light meter in the studio in years! Especially now with the new TTL Face Priority on the new mirrorless bodies R6, etc.) I can nail the exposure in 4 or 5 shots, and ratios. i have a lot of "feel" without measuring due to shooting experience also. of course the image result is what matters most regardless of what the meter says. Also been using Glows Arc strip box for clamshell and results are great as it offers more of a curve of controlled light. I wish it were narrower 14 vs the usual 12 but results are beautiful on women, and with positioning great on men also.
Thanks for that, great breakdown! Quick question - I have noticed that some use two octas and some use one octa and a strip for fill (as you do as well here). Is there any reason to go for a strip? Does it give another look vs another octa or is it just to get better/different catchlights in the lower part of the eyes? A guess...is it to be able to raise the fill to that position in order to keep the distance for a consistent fill as you mention in the end?
Thanks for the video! Love your material. How do you judge the distance the bottom light should be from the person? I feel like the ratios would be off depending on that distance. I understand the part about an equidistant angle of that 1 x3 just not the overall distance .
I would say it’s probably around 3-4’ that should be a good working distance where you’ll be able to get it at the right angle and not have it in the way. Distance will affect brightness but that just means that you will have to adjust th e I put power so the light falling on the subject from the full light is 1-2stops darker than the main light. However you could use this method. Pick your f stop then turn on the main light then adjust the power until the exposure looks right on the camera. Then turn on the fill light and adjust the power until the shadows look good to your eye.
Ok so I did the ratio that you have presented and even used a light meter However I feel like my photo is look a little over expose do you have any suggestion thanks
John, thanks for the quick review. Sorry about being late to this discussion. Just purchased my first strobe, trigger and modifier. The video was tight, well explained, and I appreciate the side-by side-by side comparison. Bravo. However, you lost me on the final tip. The strip box at the bottom is angled toward the model (just as the beauty dish key light is angled down). Yet, you said that the bottom of the soft box was "equidistant" to the chest as the top of the box was to the top of her head. You lost me here. The softbox is angled, and she is straight. So how is the distance to both the same? Thanks for your reply if you come back this a way!
Thanks. I probably meant the distance was fairly similar. What I was warring about was having the stand for the fill too close to the persons legs because having it come from below like that would light up the chest more than it would fill in the shadows on the neck.
@@JohnGress John, appreciate the clarification. I thought that was likely what you were referencing, but didn't want to assume anything since I'm ultra new.
What to do when the client wears glasses and doesn’t want to do a picture without them as it is part of their persona? How should I change my light setup? I’ve always struggled here.
Light is going to reflect off of the glasses at the same angle it strikes them. So if your light is close at the same angle as the camera then the reflection is going to come back into the lens. If you move the light further away from the camera, it will hit the glasses at a steeper angle and the reflections will be directed away from the camera.
@@JohnGress thanks for the reply. I'll play with the distance of the bottom light, then tape my marks on the floor so I know where to place the bottom light and move faster with confidence and less hassle.
Thank you for this 'enlightening' video, including the bonus recommendation at the end.
Thank you so much Dietrich!
As per usual a good quick lil video.
Thanks Andrew!
I enjoy your tutorials.
Thanks Terrence!
I have watched countless videos in which the presenter describes the importance of metering each light separately to create the correct ratio. But you're the first one who also included the critical need to also take a meter reading of the light output when all of the lights are on. Kudos.
Awesome, thank you!
Thank you John for your excellent content. I have recently returned to the profession after about 10 years of doing other things like worked at a retail store and studied occupational therapy. These videos have brought a bounty of knowledge available to help with my return to the fold.
I work at a studio with an adjacent photolab in a high end ahopping center in Finland. We do your standard portraits and product shoots etc., consumer stuff mainly. I am planning on holding a walk-in day soon. If you have any ideas about that at all, I would be glad to hear them. Or from your audience for that matter!
Thanks again and all the best!
Thank you so much! I am glad that I get to be part of your journey and I wish you the best is your new endeavors 🙌🏼
sweet! you got a demi!!! Awesome. Clam was one of my first setups and images came out so great! Great video, thank you John!
Thank you so much James! I really appreciate it!
Great explanation, as always. When I'm not shooting chiaroscuro, this is a portrait lighting I like.
Thank you so much!!
good video. i havent used a light meter in the studio in years! Especially now with the new TTL Face Priority on the new mirrorless bodies R6, etc.) I can nail the exposure in 4 or 5 shots, and ratios. i have a lot of "feel" without measuring due to shooting experience also. of course the image result is what matters most regardless of what the meter says.
Also been using Glows Arc strip box for clamshell and results are great as it offers more of a curve of controlled light. I wish it were narrower 14 vs the usual 12 but results are beautiful on women, and with positioning great on men also.
Awesome work!! I will have to check more of your videos.
Thanks Joseph!
Another short but very good video 😀💪 Thank you!
Thank you so much Marcin!
I really like how it seems that you are talking a bit faster than before in your video. And great explanation! 👌
Thanks! 😃 A year ago I was still getting comfortable con camera, and sometimes reading a teleprompter.
Caught the intro in IG and had to watch it all, thank you for the great setup info! Bravo!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you clicked over!
Thanks for the video !
My pleasure! Thank you!
Great video thank you very much!
You are welcome! Thanks!
Awesome tutorial!
Thank you so much!
Thank you 😊
Thank you!
John! great video as usual… may I ask which clamp or connector you’re using on the cstand for the fill light? many thanks!
Thanks! The stand and the arm are all one and the same. Here’s a link. Studio Titan Side Kick STA-06-090
B&H bhpho.to/3UakUM1
@@JohnGress thank you sir!
Thanks for that, great breakdown! Quick question - I have noticed that some use two octas and some use one octa and a strip for fill (as you do as well here). Is there any reason to go for a strip? Does it give another look vs another octa or is it just to get better/different catchlights in the lower part of the eyes? A guess...is it to be able to raise the fill to that position in order to keep the distance for a consistent fill as you mention in the end?
Thanks! While not exactly what you asked, I think this video may provide an answer th-cam.com/video/GB1G_Ly2rqc/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the video! Love your material. How do you judge the distance the bottom light should be from the person? I feel like the ratios would be off depending on that distance. I understand the part about an equidistant angle of that 1 x3 just not the overall distance .
I would say it’s probably around 3-4’ that should be a good working distance where you’ll be able to get it at the right angle and not have it in the way. Distance will affect brightness but that just means that you will have to adjust th e I put power so the light falling on the subject from the full light is 1-2stops darker than the main light. However you could use this method. Pick your f stop then turn on the main light then adjust the power until the exposure looks right on the camera. Then turn on the fill light and adjust the power until the shadows look good to your eye.
John, question, do you prefer the silver or white on the Mola?
I haven’t used the silver.
Ok so I did the ratio that you have presented and even used a light meter However I feel like my photo is look a little over expose do you have any suggestion thanks
Well if lets say one metered at 8 and one metered at f4. Try shooting at 9 or 10.
ok awesome thank you so much john your youtube channel has be so helpful. @@JohnGress
Can this be done with Speedlite and a 21x21 Softbox to replace the main light?
Yes but using a small hard light source for fill may not be optimal.
@@JohnGress so using two Speedlite what modifiers do you recommend?
Something 2-3’ and something smaller.
Do you use flash to take these?
Yes sir.
Clams are delicious 😂
I prefer muscles
@@JohnGress 😂😂😂
Do you use a sock on your beauty dish?
I don’t
@@JohnGress thank you!
John, thanks for the quick review. Sorry about being late to this discussion. Just purchased my first strobe, trigger and modifier. The video was tight, well explained, and I appreciate the side-by side-by side comparison. Bravo. However, you lost me on the final tip. The strip box at the bottom is angled toward the model (just as the beauty dish key light is angled down). Yet, you said that the bottom of the soft box was "equidistant" to the chest as the top of the box was to the top of her head. You lost me here. The softbox is angled, and she is straight. So how is the distance to both the same? Thanks for your reply if you come back this a way!
Thanks. I probably meant the distance was fairly similar. What I was warring about was having the stand for the fill too close to the persons legs because having it come from below like that would light up the chest more than it would fill in the shadows on the neck.
@@JohnGress John, appreciate the clarification. I thought that was likely what you were referencing, but didn't want to assume anything since I'm ultra new.
No problem!
What to do when the client wears glasses and doesn’t want to do a picture without them as it is part of their persona? How should I change my light setup? I’ve always struggled here.
Light is going to reflect off of the glasses at the same angle it strikes them. So if your light is close at the same angle as the camera then the reflection is going to come back into the lens. If you move the light further away from the camera, it will hit the glasses at a steeper angle and the reflections will be directed away from the camera.
@@JohnGress do you have a video that demonstrates this with how you adapt for glasses? Thank you!
I don’t. But I should.
@@JohnGress I'm scared of glasses...lol
@@JohnGress thanks for the reply. I'll play with the distance of the bottom light, then tape my marks on the floor so I know where to place the bottom light and move faster with confidence and less hassle.
Are the models details correct?
Oops. I fixed it. instagram.com/haley.wirth_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
🙏🏼
Jesus Christ, why was I unsubbed from you?
Welcome aboard!