TOP TIPS SHOOTING COMPOSITES
FLASH AND EXPOSURE
When using studio flash for portraits like this we need to set our camera to manual
exposure and take in-camera metering out of the equation, as the camera can’t meter
for the flash. Instead, we begin by using a ball-park exposure setting - like 1/200 sec,
f/11, ISO 100. Then we take a test shot or use a light meter and adjust either the flash
power or the aperture until we hit upon a correctly exposed flash-lit portrait.
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SET THE EXPOSURE
The exposure needs to
stay consistent throughout
for this project, so Manual
mode is your best bet. We set
shutter speed at 1/200 second,
aperture f/11 and ISO 100. This
is a reliable stock exposure
setting when shooting with
studio flash, and it gives us
enough depth of field to
achieve sharpness across the
entire face of our giggly model.04
LIGHT FROM ABOVE
The key light to the
left of the camera here
is positioned so that the
shadows on the blocks and
the face fall down and to the
right. A downwards angle to
the lighting looks more natural
to the eye, as we’re used to
seeing daylight falling from
above - this holds true even
when the subject is flat on
the floor.