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Author Topic: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations  (Read 2407 times)

rollsman44

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Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« on: August 09, 2018, 11:18:29 pm »

  I use a few different ways of shooting groups and they are good. My question is when I have a large group say 10-20 people. Best way with 1 light is that possible?
   I have a Large Shoot through umbrella or a Large Umbrella with a Black outer cover( White inside and black outside).  Will this work better than a Large Softbox?
   I dont want to spend a lot of money on a Big Softbox if the Umbrellas will work for me. Also, I sometime use a white wall behind me and bounce off the wall with a Higher ISO. Sometimes I dont have the white wall to bounce off.  Thank you
  Also, does anyone backlight when shooting groups?  Thanks 
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FelixWu

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2018, 11:32:17 pm »

Why limit yourself to one light? With only one light you are at the mercy of your natural light condition. Large shoot through umbrella will give more a spread than using a large softbox. Bouncing off a big white surface is also a good idea. Or if you have a large diffusion panel it will be the best provided your light is powerful enough.
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Two23

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2018, 11:42:16 pm »

I've never had any luck shooting groups that large with just one flash.  Invariably there were shadows.  If you aren't going to buy at least one more equal flash, you'd be much better off doing the photo on the north side of a building where the light is naturally even.


Kent in SD
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rollsman44

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2018, 08:38:33 am »

  I will reduce the amount of people to Max 20   I have multiple strobes and speed lights but at a wedding its tough sometimes to set up 2 lights .
   I appreciate the suggestions
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digitaldog

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2018, 08:50:41 am »

Use a very big honking light?  :D
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Two23

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2018, 09:11:03 am »

Use a very big honking light?  :D


I shoot weddings and have eight "big honking flash."  The problem is with only one flash, no matter how big, the people standing on the edges will always throw shadows on the faces of people standing around them.  I generally have a room set up for the formals, with an assistant acting as a "people wrangler".   Weddings aren't something to do casually.  If you screw up you can't simply go back and reshoot.  You really need to know what you are doing and have a plan in advance.


Kent in SD
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digitaldog

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2018, 09:17:15 am »


I shoot weddings and have eight "big honking flash."  The problem is with only one flash, no matter how big, the people standing on the edges will always throw shadows on the faces of people standing around them.  I generally have a room set up for the formals, with an assistant acting as a "people wrangler".   Weddings aren't something to do casually.  If you screw up you can't simply go back and reshoot.  You really need to know what you are doing and have a plan in advance.


Kent in SD
Yes I know. Shot lots of weddings in the 80s to pay for photography school.
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douglevy

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2018, 11:32:04 am »

1 light. Doable, not preferable. 60" umbrella, shoot through (you don't want to bounce bc you probably need all the power you can get), light on a stand next to me, as high as possible, slightly angled down. Works until the group gets too wide that folks on the edges don't get it, and more even than lighting from the sides (and more flattering). Most of these are 2-10 lights:

https://www.douglaslevy.com/index/C0000yJaBBOxN_TA/G0000epq5pF.fh2A

However, the roller derby is one light, a beauty dish, used as described above. Not super high in that case.

-Doug

rollsman44

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2018, 04:45:18 pm »

  Nice Group shots. I will stick to the Big Shoot thru umbrella
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Jim Metzger

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2018, 04:48:03 pm »

Doug,

Really nice work
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douglevy

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2018, 09:58:30 am »

Thanks Jim!

MichaelEzra

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2018, 08:43:58 am »

Here is example with a single 60" umbrella on the left and 28" beauty dish/softbox on the right:



Lighting non uniformity is correctable in post, just get enough light for mostly a clear picture.
« Last Edit: August 12, 2018, 11:32:48 am by MichaelEzra »
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rollsman44

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #12 on: August 12, 2018, 07:16:06 pm »

  Beautiful lighting.   The beauty dish was on the right but shouldn't the light be the same ratio on both sides?   How were the lights placed and aimed?   Thanks
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Two23

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #13 on: August 12, 2018, 09:53:06 pm »

Generally you want the second light to be 50% of the primary (2:1) to give the faces depth and definition.  In larger groups the danger is people will cast shadows on the faces of their neighbor, but here he has spaced the subjects far enough apart that doesn't seem to be a problem.  My own thinking is that with casual acquaintances such as you see in work settings you probably don't want the people to be really physically close, but with families I almost always have to "tighten" them up so they do intrude on each others' personal space.  I say, "Come on, move in close.  Act as if you like each other!" :)


Kent in SD
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David Good

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #14 on: August 21, 2018, 04:33:23 pm »

https://www.douglaslevy.com/index/C0000yJaBBOxN_TA/G0000epq5pF.fh2A

However, the roller derby is one light, a beauty dish, used as described above. Not super high in that case.

-Doug

Excellent lighting and posing Doug, very creative.

Dave
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douglevy

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Re: Lighting Large Groups with 1 Light Recommendations
« Reply #15 on: August 21, 2018, 04:36:37 pm »

Thanks Dave!

Also worth noting, from the master of groups - http://www.artstreiber.com/grid/7935/groups
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