How to shoot for "Glossy" music video look?

[Hans von Sonntag]

I already have a 20" Chimera lantern, but this wouldn't give me the small, directional softlight source like the picture shows. It seems a 150w or 300w fresnel with a softbox would be ideal.

150w or 300w is nothing outsinde IMHO, in dusk it's different.

Hans

 

[Shawn Nelson]

150w or 300w is nothing outsinde IMHO, in dusk it's different.

Hans

But we aren't talking about outside.

 

[Mike Prevette]

Shawn, You can make a China ball more directional by flaggin it off with duvetine. In the end it becomes very similar to the softbox, just cheaper and more versatile. Having both is also great.

One thing I always do is imagine myself in the place of the subject. Then imagine every light hitting me like a 2d cutout. So it is only represented by it's surface area not it's depth. Then I compare the surface area and illumination of the lights. It helps picture the effect a soft surface will have on a subject.

 

[Petr Dvorak]

And you need tons of skin smoothing - sometimes its so heavily overdone.
But I can hear client - more, more, ... even more
It really make me

 

[Wes Printz]

Check out this Obie/softbox set up. Something this close and big really makes people glow.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnbrawley/1842135946/in/set-72157602879328823/

Nice to see the Anamorphic Lenses in action.

 

[C.H.Haskell]

Just wrapped a hip hop music video in Omaha and a Nikon 50mm prime was all I had in my bag, combo with a HVX and the detail popped. Yes working that tight had its hang ups but everything came clean and milky, I was seduced with being in close ...(bring lots of diffusion and a follow focus!)

passing out now, flight back to NYC tomorrow. My 2 cents...

Good Luck!