Beauty Lighting Question!

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Hi all!

I had a client send these frame grabs to me today for reference and I would really appreciate if you'd venture how this was lit.

Any thoughts or lighting diagrams/instrument suggestions would be wonderful!

thanks!

 

[Mark K.]

A big old circular soft source from slightly camera-right (you can see the catch light in her eyes), and two three-quarter back lights from either side.

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Any ideas what the round soft source might be and where it is placed from the subject?

Thanks!

 

[Mark K.]

Not really possible to tell just from the images. It could be very large and some distance away, or it could be moderately-sized but very close. Given that the catchlight is circular, it could be from frame with the corners rounded off with blacks, or a Briese Light, or a lighting umbrella. All we really know for certain is that it's coming from above and slightly right of camera. There could be anything from a 650w Fresnel, to an 18kw Arrimax providing the actual key, it all depends on the distance, size and nature of the key light.

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Mark,
I thank you so much for your insight and expertise!
My hunch was that it was a Breise Para, as they are the flavor of the decade here in California and New York!

 

[Joe D'Arcy]

What filter does it seem was used?

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Seems like a good deal of the smoothness is created in post.

Your thoughts?

 

[David Mullen ASC]

I think for a cosmetic commercial, they'd rather do the diffusion in post because they'd want control over the skin texture. I could be wrong though.

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Mr Mullen!

Great to see you chime in too!

In my experience with cosmetic spots , that is almost always the case.

Have you any ideas about the lighting set-up and fixtures used?

 

[David Mullen ASC]

Mark K. already said what I was going to say.

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Thank you!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Mark,
I thank you so much for your insight and expertise!
My hunch was that it was a Breise Para, as they are the flavor of the decade here in California and New York!

Breise sounds like a good bet!!

 

[Tom Gleeson]

I am willing to guess that the diffusion is a post process from these images. The skin was probably keyed and then treated. Frankly to my eye it looks ugly removing all the skin texture but its something I see in alot of cosmetic TVC's especially ones produced in the States. As this effect you see in these images are not likely incamera filtration your client should be made aware of this on shoot day. The previous advice on the key is good although every face is unique so you should be willing to move your key on the day and see what position works best for her face structure. Also some black solids from the sides may help but all your instruements are likely best close to your artist unless you supersize them.

Get a handsome model and a talented make up artist anf your job will be easy.

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Thank you Tom for the wisdom and advice.

Appreciated!

 

[Daniel Murphy]

Brandon

Just to add a few points. Great advice above regarding placement of key and use of black sides when appropriate. As for diffusion there's a good chance source could be high output, heavily diffused. Some Ad clients tend to love those well lit examples similar to what you posted here. Takes some 'oomph' aimed at subject once factoring levels of diffusion to still have enough light reaching them. I could use a 2400 watt/second flash burst to light a subject but once through diffusion it falls on a face like butter.

Also remember every face is different, some wide, some narrow, some oily & some dry- all this will play into lighting decisions.

Lastly, an old trick still photogs have employed for years is do not hesitate to bring main source in close. Why? Well in actuality light naturally wraps when closer to subject whereas it tends to spot farther from subject. Now of course types of light, grids and diffusion play a part but try it sometime and make comparisons. I've shot a career of portraits with main light source be it a beauty dish directly over camera, or soft box at 45 degrees a bit closer than one may expect.

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

Daniel!

WOW!!!!!!

Thank you for your generosity!

THis thread is amazing and one of the reasons REDUsers are such a unique and accomplished group.

 

[Joe D'Arcy]

David, Tom, Daniel - thank you for your insight.

 

[Bob Gundu]

We used the Broncolor Para system on this shoot.

https://instagram.com/p/3TuCK7G4Zl/?taken-by=bobgundu

 

[BRANDON JAMESON]

THat is really pretty , Bob.

How far was the light from the subject?

 

[Bob Gundu]

THat is really pretty , Bob.

How far was the light from the subject?

About 12 feet but we had another light for the back wall.

https://instagram.com/p/2pCA4vm4RG/?taken-by=bobgundu