Photography question. Any photographers here?

[Gongalong]

Hi folks,

 

Not sure if there's any amateur (or professional?) photographers here. I have a question about using flashes with a studio setup.

 

I'm reasonably well versed with photography, and know the various camera modes, shoot a reasonable photo etc. We have a (cheap) studio setup for taking staff photos, and new students that missed the school photographer, to try and get a reasonable head and shoulders studio-esque photo. I'm using a Canon EOS 700D with cheap Neewer flashes (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neewer-Speedlite-Panasonic-Olympus-Cameras/dp/B01N76K0SD) and an umbrella kit (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Speedlight-Umbrella-600EX-RT-Youngnuo-Neewer/dp/B01ABFSAPU). The setup is a white background (projector screen), with one flash targeted at the background set to 1/2, and the second flash pointed pointed at the subject set to around 1/8. I've tried setting the camera to aperture priority (f2.2 with 50mm prime lens) as well as various manual settings.

 

I'm getting mixed results. Sometimes the subject is overexposed, sometimes too dark, never a consistent good quality studio shot.

 

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

 

Thanks

[bald_pig]

Assuming that the overall lighting in the room remains consistent, then it sounds like you will need to dial in the settings manually until you get it right! Keep the ISO speed on 100, then I'd probably set the aperture to about f2 as well, with a shutter speed of about 1/8 of a second, and adjust shutter speed according to results.

 

I'm not a pro photographer by far, there are plenty more experienced people who will hopefully be along to provide advice soon!

[TriggerHappyUK]

I found this to be very helpful, when I needed some info - How to Shoot Corporate Headshot Photography

Edited February 15, 2019 by TriggerHappyUK

[Gongalong]

@TriggerHappyUK Ooh that looks ideal, will give it a watch. Thanks!

[SamanthaD]

Setting your camera to Aperture priority means it will be exposing for the room as it is when you half press the shutter release, not when the flash fires and the shutter opens.

 

You need to be using Manual for anything involving strobes. Check the flash sync speed of your camera (get it wrong and you'll have shutter curtain issues). Set your ISO to around 200 to start, I'd recommend 1/125 shutter speed (guess but check your sync speed) and then manually change the aperture until you get a nice exposure. Or buy a lightmeter which will tell you what settings you need!

[Gongalong]

Yes, I started to get flash sync issues when I switched to manual and thought the camera had broken!

[SamanthaD]

Unless your camera is on a tripod you want a shutter speed faster than 1/50. 1/125 is my go-to for studio work, but manual mode is the only way to go when using off camera strobes. Good luck!

[Gongalong]

Yes, the linked YouTube video's advice is speed should never be below 1 over the focal length of the lens as a rule of thumb for shake free photos. First time I've heard this, but if it works...

 

I've got a couple of cheap softboxes and flashes, so will try the setup recommended in the video and see how I go.

[SamanthaD]

That's less of a rule these days with VR technology, but a 50mm prime isn't going to have that! Let us know how you get on.