My girls…

Kit List

Pentax 645z & 90mm

Elinchrom 190cm Octa ( indirect )

Elinchrom ELB 1200

Elinchrom Ranger AS Speed Pack

ELB HS Heads x 2

1 - Elinchrom Square Dish

CTO Gels

Backdrop from Gravity

Manfrotto Light stands x 3

C Stand x 1

ND Filters x 2

The set up

This image was taken in the Summer during our first lockdown. I decided to take some shots of my girls, Kenzie & Harper. We let them choose their own clothes to avoid any wardrobe meltdowns! Yes it happens at 4 years old!

So I set up the backdrop, I have 3 Gravity Backdrops , Grey, Green & Red. I use Manfrotto 1004BAC stands as they have a air cushion to the stand so they are easy to use to hold with a backdrop. I also had an old ladder that we found in the basement so I used that also as a side prop to fill the frame a little. Setting up the shot is just as important as taking the shot. Using different elements to balance out the shot, whether they are there naturally or added make the scene stronger.

I use the 6ft Indirect Octabank a lot. Outside if it’s not windy as this thing takes off! It gives a soft and wrapping light and is perfect for full length. I also use my 135cm direct if I want deeper shadows. Both placed at the correct height and angle give a wrap to the opposite side of the face that is not being lit. My rear light on this occasion was more to add a pop of orange light to the background and top of the frame.

Shooting on a Pentax 645z camera with my 90mm. Key to success on this one was making sure as the girls are small and I am sitting on the grass that the main light is at the right height to still illuminate their faces and eyes. Lighting too high is a common problem. I try if i can to get the bottom of the softbox level with the top of the head of the subject.

I always get my key light ready first and then build from there. Adding lights as I go if I feel I need to layer the light more. Don’t be scared of taking your time to see what each light is doing and how it is effecting the shot.

I use ND filters on my Pentax 645z ( medium format camera ) A more lengthy explanation of why can be found HERE. I uses a 0.9 ND filter on this shot, meaning a loss of light of 3 stops. I have always used ND filters for my flash work, as my flash sync is 125th it is a great way for me to shoot open ( apertures ) whilst keeping the shutterspeed at 125th second. I use Pocket Wizard Plus 2, 3, & X’s. Preferring to keep the triggering system as simple as possible makes sure there are little problems with the lights all working together.

It is a slower process when using flash , that’s a given but as long as your subjects don’t move too much and stay at the correct angle to the lights then once the light is right I tend to get on with the shoot. Rarely do I look at the back of the camera preferring to concentrate on what the subject is doing.

I was really happy with this shoot. We did some different looks also with some slightly altered lighting set ups which I will post soon.

The final images were worked on in Photoshop with some colour grading ( colour grading video coming soon). It’s also a great way to slightly change the colour of the backdrop, making a grey backdrop very versatile. You can also see the flare from the gelled light creeping in on the top of the frame. Shooting directly into the light is a great way to get a little flare and it can look like the setting sun. In the shot above you can see where the light has caught Kenzie’s hair and given some depth to the images.