Double Soft-box

I saw an Adorama video last week about using two soft-boxes on one light stand for doing actor head shots. So, I manually had to try and build my own. I started with a heavy duty 9-foot light stand and used some clamps, umbrella adaptor's and half inch hard copper tubing. I put a 24” soft-box on the top and a 20” soft-box on the bottom. Each soft-box was equipped with a Godox V860-II speed light.

I did some sample shoots with my practice mannequin. I will try to do more test shots next week with a real model.

MagMod Portrait

A friend of mine just last week picked up some MagMod gear. She wants to use it to do some corporate portraits next week and ask me if I would put together a lighting diagram for her. I have some MagMod gear but use it mostly for event photography. In my opinion MagMod modifiers produce light that is too hard for a corporate portrait. But, here is what I came up with. I used a MagSphere on a Godox V860-II speedlite as the main light, a 20” by 30” piece of white foam core as fill light and a MagGrid on another Godox V860-II speedlite on the background. the model is my lovely wife.

Product Photography

It has been very cold here in Minnesota lately, down around -15 on most days. I picked up a light tent so I could do some product photography indoors where it’s warm. The following photos are my first attempt. Not good, but something to work on during the cold weather.

These are some of my granddaughter’s figurine’s. 

I was not completely happy with the light tent so I am going to build a shooting table. I will post more photos soon.

Neewer 33" Brolly

Neewer 33” shot through umbrella softbox (brolly) is an economical approach to soft light. Usually selling for between $20.00 and $25.00. They do an excellent job with just one problem. They have very limited downward adjustment.

At full downward adjustment there is very little downward angle.

You can lower the pivot point by adding another umbrella bracket and a short piece of ½” hard copper tubing. Force a short piece of wood doweling into each end of the copper tubing to prevent it from collapsing. 

By lowering the pivot point the adjustment is unlimited.

Typical setup for portrait with shoot through brolly.

Typical results from this setup.

Rica - again

I did a second shoot with Rica. Different setup, I used two Godox AD360's and one Godox V850. ( see attached diagram)

Rica

I did a headshot shoot with a local model last week. A lovely young lady named Rica. I set up in my family room, a Godox AD360 for the main light and two Godox V850’s, one for a hair light and one for a background light. See the lighting diagram for details.

Henry

I got a chance last weekend to try out my new Adorama flash and SMDV diffuser 60 soft box. I did a shoot down at the local Park with Henry and his grandmother.