Studio on the cheap
Feb 4th, 2008 by jeremy
Jamie asked what kind of setup I used for these shots. I was looking for a cheap way to get even lighting through the portrait.
I already had a fairly cheap flash and umbrella stand that I got a while ago. Then I built this contraption out of about $20 worth of PVC from Home Depot. So the umbrella and flash is behind the camera, the contraption has a reflector made out of a $ .99 emergency blanket from Target wrapped around cardboard. Cheap lights from Home Depot shine down through fabric I found in the junk pile at work, these hit the reflector. So I’m using the light from above to even out the lower half of the face and under the neck. Then another cheap light from Home Depot is clamped to a barstool shining straight up against the green paper. I set the flash to 1/8 power and set my speed to 125 to create the look you see in the picture above.
The flash and umbrella do most of the work, the pvc contraption is probably overkill, maybe I could find a way to get rid of the shadows on the lower half of the face without it. Could I get the same effect, totally even lighting, just by using two umbrellas on each side? I guess it doesn’t matter, I can’t afford to buy another flash/umbrella setup right now anyway.
The first time Britnie saw everything set up, she just started laughing. I’m not sure if it’s because I just added more junk to an already junked-up basement, or that I went to all this trouble for something that will be used to mostly take pictures of my two kids. Maybe I’ll do a 365 portraits in 365 days thing to squeeze a lot of use out of it. Anyone want their portrait taken in my basement?
I’ll add Britnie’s infinite patience with my hobby to the list of reasons I love her.
Okay, dang. I gotta go to Home Depot. brb.
Actually, I think having a little home portrait setup like this would be well worth it. Take weekly or monthly pics of your kids and someday you’ll have an incredible photographic timeline.
I do! I do! Actually, it’s my girls I really want to have shot. Too bad it will cost me 900 dollars to get them to you. I guess it’s cheaper to find a photographer here. Darn.
Hmm, maybe I’ll bring it to the next family reunion and force everyone to sit for me. Create some sort of mini Roberts Photo booth.
We’d love to get a family photo or attempt to get some individual ones of Lauren. We’d be happy to drive up some Saturday
Sure, anytime. Shoot me an email.
I’d love to have portraits done of all of our grandchildren. It would be awsome if you brought it to the reunion this summer. Great pictures.