How would you light a Dance Studio portrait session?

[craigsexton]

Hi All, just wanted to see how you guys would go about lighting for a Dance Studio portrait session.

I plan on using a 20'x20' gray muslin backdrop, probably just standard cross lighting (two lights bounced in umbrella) and maybe a strip softbox on boom to even out the background.

Craig

[Brooks]

I'd make a wall of light on one side of the set, using a large 6.5' x 6.5' silk. One or two strobe heads behind, lighting the entire silk. I'd want a light source as large as the subject, assuming a head to toe point of view.

On the opposite side I'd use an equally large fill card, maybe 2-4'x8' white 1/2" foam-core panels taped together vertically to make a large, self-supporting V reflector.

If I had the ceiling height of 12' or higher, I'd use a medium 3'x4' softbox on a boom for a hair/seperation light.

Finally a grid spot or large fresnel lens for a diagonal slash of light on the background.

It might look something like this....

[kgphoto]

Nicely done Brooks.

[deluco]

I wouldn't "cross light" the subjects because of the risk of two shadows. I normally place the main on one side and the fill behind the camera just off the shoulder on the same side as the main.

[craigsexton]

Thanks guys.

I shot this grouping of girls last week. I ended up setting it up "cross lit" with a fill/seperater behind them along with a hair light. The results are looking good as I'm just now getting to post processing work.

I would have loved to set it up as a typical studio portrait lighting setup (main off to one side, fill behind camera, kicker light and hair light). But with 49 girls doing up to 6 different costumes each, and then broken out into 9 different smaller groups with all individual and group shots its nearly impossible to use a standard setup and make sure you've always got everyone lit. Of course there's still a small danger that some may not be lit evenly due to light drop off but that's where PS comes in. Also, the kicker and hair light in a strip box overhead greatly softened the "double shadow". After this year, and its my second doing this but this year its doubled in number of girls, I couldn't even begin to imagine having to adjust the lights per shot. I shot for 7.5 hours and in between groups had maybe 15 minutes. But inbetween girls I had 15 seconds.

Anyways, I'll post some of the shots later this week after I get thru the post processing and ordering.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Craig

[Danlphot]

The set up I use is a large umbrella about three feet on either side of the camera about ten feet off the floor. I feather them to the sides just enough to even the light out the light. Never had a problem with double shadows. Flat lighting is the way to go with this kind of job. Parents just want a good record of their kids doing a "dancey" pose in their expensive costumes.

Dan

[Harry]

Originally Posted by Danlphot

The set up I use is a large umbrella about three feet on either side of the camera about ten feet off the floor. I feather them to the sides just enough to even the light out the light. Never had a problem with double shadows. Flat lighting is the way to go with this kind of job. Parents just want a good record of their kids doing a "dancey" pose in their expensive costumes.

Dan

X2 Dan. Light it just like you would a large group shot, or like formals in the Church.

[Benji]

I just finished about 90 dance school girls. Fill behind the camera @ f/5.6, a softbox main at f/8.0 at the "normal" portrait location, hair light above and behind them @ f/5.6, background light above and behind aimed at the background @ f/7.1. For the groups I pulled the main back toward the camera and powered it up so it was still at f/8.0.

Benji