Photo lighting diagram-night beach shoot
July 16th, 2009Hi Gilbert, this is for you 
I love it ! Thank you for the GREAT questions and requests. This is the feedback that is nice to get because I really want to make everyone happy. This is exactly what I want from everyone. Interaction, communication is a two way street. Ok so check out the photo lighting diagram below.
Photography lighting diagram
I tried something different this time by actually putting the shot in the diagram. Tom, thank you for the compliments. I apologize for not posting in awhile. I’ve been slammed with shooting which also means I have a ton of content to write about.
The soft box was pointed at the model of course and angled down to produce a nice sculpting effect. It was placed on a c-stand about six feet sway from the model. I was sitting on the beach sand right under the soft box. I could have lit the totally dark background but my client wanted it to go totally black so that’s what I did. I offered my suggestion but in the end the client has the final say. I didn’t use another light to hit her hair because in MY opinion it would look too much like glamour lighting. With fashion lighting you don’t always want your lighting to look “perfect”, like it was a template you used from a “how to” book. When shooting portraits that’s different. As you can see the rock right behind the model is lit so that gave me some separation with her hair.
The pack I used is a Profoto 7B and yes I had a second battery that was sitting in the charger and I eventually had to use it. I didn’t use a generator because the state charges alot extra to use one and the permit was already $1,200, which included a state park ranger with us the whole time and a lifeguard. If the shoot was during the day the permit would only be $65 because you aren’t required to have a ranger and a lifeguard there the whole time. BTW the county says that if ANYONE on the crew is going to be in at least ankle deep water a lifeguard must be with you the whole time. Remember this is only for a night shoot.
Morgan did have a robe and between lighting set ups she had a nice warm 100 foot RV to relax in and fresh coffee which I took advantage of as well while my assistants set up the next shot. Now as we were shooting there was no way for her to stay warm. That comes from her own inner strength and me constantly talking to her to keep her mind off the cold.
The power output varied from each set up. Sometimes we were at full power and sometimes were were at half power etc. Just depended on the situation. My camera settings were : 100th of a second @ f/10. I didn’t do a custom white balance, instead I set it to 5900 throughout the whole shoot and shot a color checker for reference. I had another assistant shining a Maglight flashlight on the model so I could lock focus. LOL I laughed when the client said “Isn’t that light going to affect your lighting?”
Tom you are always welcome to ask as many questions as you wish to. That is the whole reason I started this blog. You don’t have to apologize EVERYONE please take note: ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS ON AS MANY POSTS AS YOU WANT. Go back in the archives and if there is something you don’t understand or you think of a question based on the shot that I didn’t cover by all means ASK ME. If no one asks me questions then the blog just sits still.
Also, if anyone has any suggestions of topics they would like me to cover please let me know. I made a category specifically for this. Go to Photography Discussion-Ask me anything about photography and ask as much as you want. Remeber this: there is no such thing as a dumb question. I LOVE to teach and educate. As a matter of fact I got my Associates Degree in child psychology because originally I wanted to be a teacher. And REMEMBER TO CLICK THAT RSS BUTTON !
July 16th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Interesting one, Jason. One question – Why the color chart? I mean, I don’t really seem to have any problem shooting RAW with my color correction (unless I didn’t realize I was shooting under sodium) but I see people use them so there must be something to it. I just don’t know what that something is.
Cheers!
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Jason Christopher Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Hi Wesley ! The reason you want to use a color chart is because #1 by clicking on the gray square you can set your white balance BASED ON THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS that you are shooting under. #2 reason is when you or your retoucher is color correcting the images for output, they can refer to the color chart to compare the colors in the shot. For instance, when shooting a scene with a blue sky, you can refer to your color chart sitting right next to you and see if the “blue sky” “skin tone” square matches. The color chart costs $70 and it’s literally a piece of cardboard with the exception of that the card is calibrated with a computer to the exact numbers. I understand the concept however I am not proficient at using it in post because I don’t do my own post. I don’t want to be concerned with that stuff. I only want to be concerned with shooting and my photography skills. But just like a director on a film, we have to have a basic understanding of everything that is happening but we don’t have to know how to actually do everything. Every person on a set has a specific skill that they are a master of and that is how a movie is made as well as a photo shoot.
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July 16th, 2009 at 11:00 am
… and this is EXACTLY why I love this blog.
thanks for the information. very handy and useful.
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Jason Christopher Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Tom you are very welcome. I am flattered that I have so many photographers that appreciate my advice. I am always happy to share any information you need.
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July 16th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!
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Jason Christopher Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Gilbert you are very welcome. It is my pleasure !
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July 16th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I gotta see this 100′ RV!
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Jason Christopher Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
LOL ya I know someone was taking behind the scenes shots. I will look into it.
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July 16th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Awesome post. Thanks for the wealth of information!
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Jason Christopher Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Hey Bram ! you’re very welcome my friend !
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July 16th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Hi Jason, I was thinking maybe I could help you a bit with the promotion of your blog. I work in a web marketing company and have some experience in improving rankings…don’t worry it’s free of charge for you!! If you’re interested in this idea just drop me a mail and we’ll take it from there.
Good day
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July 18th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I would love to know any tips you have on interacting with the model. What do you say/do to continually make her feel comfortable and beautiful for such a long shoot? I find that to be the most difficult part for me (and as you know, it is a pretty big part of photography)
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Jason Christopher Reply:
July 20th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Hi Mollie,
It’s funny that you mention the words “for such a long shoot” because no mater how long the shoot is you have to not let anyone on your set see that you are tiring. Remember that the energy on your set is determined by you and only you.
This is a very good question. I posted some info about directing a fashion model in Fashion Photography Tips and Advice category but I will of course add more info here just for you.
Your models will get tired way before you do and on a shoot like this one at night in the cold, wet and damp if you don’t take care of your model then forget it, it’s over.
So as I am shooting I am constantly telling her how beautiful she looks, how she makes that swimsuit look amazing, her eyes look great, posture is amazing etc. Just reinforce the positive and NEVER say anything negative not even in a teasing manner. Women as you know are very sensitive and at 2am on a freezing cold beach they are even more emotional lol. Just remember that your model or models are depending on YOU the same way we depend on our president to lead this country or the same way we as children depend on our parents to reinforce our good traits. Remember when you were little and your parents fought ? How did that make you feel ? Same thing applies to you as a fashion photographer. Doesn’t matter how old we are, we all need security and reinforcement
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September 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Hi Jason, im impressed with your shots. love to see more of your works
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