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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
expanding lighting arsenal

Jenn M
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Apr 19, 2007, 12:04 PM

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expanding lighting arsenal	Can't Post

I see I've missed a few posts... where does the time go?! I have some reading to do.

My latest obsession has been off camera lighting. I swear there are too many options! I really need to master flash. I keep reading and reading and reading, but there is nothing like real world experience. I'm fine exposing for ambient background light (such as during church formals) but I need to balance my on-camera flash to match - I don't want my subjects under-exposed (with blur and soft images) but I also don't want that miner's helmet look of direct flash.

Does anyone have any good recommendations - reading materials, online support, training DVDs - for learning how to properly use flash - balancing fill with ambient light? I'm talking about basics - not creative effects. I find lots of info on creating creative effects. But I need basic knowledge first. Just when I think I have it down, I try it with less than desireable results.

Specifically I want to learn manual functions for both on-camera lighting and off camera. Stops up and down, 1/4 power, compensation... I read these things with vague understanding and I don't like it. I want to KNOW what the heck I'm doing. I hate that feeling of 'winging' it.

Scott Brooks
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Apr 19, 2007, 4:03 PM

Post #2 of 15 (1062 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

http://www.strobist.com

Jenn ... this might be the best place to go for a lot of flash information. That and Planet Neil.

Jenn M
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Apr 19, 2007, 4:13 PM

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Re: [Sparky] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes, thanks! Been there, read that. Smile

Still I feel like I need more...

Really, what I need is someone to SHOW me. That's my best way of learning. sigh

Scott Brooks
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Apr 19, 2007, 4:17 PM

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There were a couple of very excellent threads in DWF last year. Jamie Wexler had changed over to use strobes at receptions. You might try emailing Jamie and asking him some of your basic questions.

I think if I worked in some huge halls or venues it might be something I was more intersted in, but for now it's just my 580 and a slow shutter speed. Laugh

Brackish
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Apr 19, 2007, 8:50 PM

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In Reply To

I see I've missed a few posts... where does the time go?!

Haven't been following VU lately? I noticed you haven't been posting.

Jenn M
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Apr 19, 2007, 8:57 PM

Post #6 of 15 (1029 views)
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Re: [Brackish] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've just been swamped. Between finishing up videos and reading up on photography stuff, I barely have time to sit back for some light reading. Besides, Brian has been up to his old tricks, fighting with people and I don't want to get involved. He's nuts.

Hey, by the way, thanks for the link to popphoto.com I dig it.

StillMotion
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Apr 20, 2007, 11:34 AM

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Re: [Jenn M] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

I would check out the gary fong lightspehere, it is great for using with an on or off camera flash and it comes with an instructional DVD to give you more info on how it works. I would agree with what you said earlier though, experience is your best route. There are so many technical things when you start reading that it can actually make your shooting worse as you get so bogged down with it all. With real world experience, it does come very quickly. Its too bad your so far away or we would be more than happy to help out and have you come along for a shoot.

If you want to check out our gallery, a good 30-40% of our portfolio shots were done with an onboard flash and lightsphere and I don't think there is one on there you would know is shot with a flash, which is of course your objective.

Patrick
www.still-motion.ca

Jenn M
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Apr 20, 2007, 8:33 PM

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Thanks Patrick

I have both the Cloudy and the Clear LS and I been pleased w/ the results in a moderately sized room, but we are going to be working in some huge reception venues and cathedrals and for formals, especially, I want to consider using additional lighting.

The one annoying thing about the LS is keeping the top on! We tried velcro, but it still tumbles across the floor. It also sucks up power in these huges cave-like venues. But tomorrow, I'm going to pull it out and give it a go again... I'll be shooting in a large dark castle.

Jenn M
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Apr 20, 2007, 8:55 PM

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Re: [StillMotion] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wow, dude... I poked around your site, which is great, BTW. Pretty, pretty pictures.... I've seen some of them before...are you on the DWF?

Also, it's uncanny - our packages are known as:
Essentials
Complete
Deluxe

Wow,great minds think alike!
Spooky

StillMotion
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Apr 20, 2007, 9:33 PM

Post #10 of 15 (979 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Jenn,

Thanks for the compliment, although I do mostly video so I only shot a small portion of the photos. We have 2-3 photographers not including myself and I think two of them use DWF, so some of the shots may have been around there.

I'm off to try and find yoru site now to do some poking around.

Patrick

Jenn M
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Apr 20, 2007, 10:04 PM

Post #11 of 15 (975 views)
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Re: [StillMotion] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

Oh no, eeek. Our site doesn't compare to yours. We are actually in the process of redesigning. And we HAVE to get a better photo gallery. Problem is, many of the images I have available were shot during video jobs or 'on assignment' for another company and I may not use them for online samples. I mean, I could use the ones from our video jobs, but I don't want to pi$$ anybody off, so we removed them voluntarily. No one had said anything, but I felt dishonest posting them as though it were our job.

AND unfortunately the 2 photo-only gigs we shot so far were... well, hard to come by good shots. It sucks, really. We had to take a giant step backwards to take a few steps forward - shooting some lo-budget gigs with 2 couples who weren't even going to hire a professional photog. So they took our job less seriously than we did. sigh

I look forward to getting more soon, though!
Oh, and we don't have our packages spelled out on the site, just in case you were curious.

StillMotion
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Apr 20, 2007, 11:28 PM

Post #12 of 15 (968 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

I like the name change, fits really well with both sides. I couldnt get any video sample to load though so I need to try it out on the other computer later.

Gotta love those PS galleries, they are great to get your shots up right away.

Why would you feel bad putting up shots in which you were the videographer? Unless the photo had exclusive rights in their contract, I wouldn't think it would be unethical or offensive. Some of my best stuff was when I was just doing video and took some shots for the covers and what not. As long as I talked to their photographer about takign the shots, I think I should be able to show them off when they are done. For several of the weddings, they even liked their gallery of 15-20 shots we provided as the videographer over what their photgrapher provided, and I'm sure that didn't get us any friends in the long run.

Why no packages on the site? Still deciding how many photo vs video work you want to take on?

I'll check back soon with the other comp, hopefully it lets me view some samples.

Patrick

Jenn M
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Apr 21, 2007, 11:14 AM

Post #13 of 15 (947 views)
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Re: [StillMotion] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

We keep changing our mind about how to list packages on the website. We don't want to give too much info b/c we want them to contact us, but we don't want to discourage them either, so we want to give just enough info to intrigue them. B/c we are trying to get more leads right now (esp. for photography) we want more people to contact us. Used to be that we didn't have time to entertain every inquiry so we 'pre-screened' by listing our pricing.

Once we have better samples (photo) that we can put online, we'll feel more confident posting our pricing.

Also, it's difficult right now b/c we are stuck in a transition period - trying to become better known for photography, not just videography, so we don't want them to consider us JUST for video, since that's what we are more well known for.

As far as why we don't post those images, we still have quite a few weddings booked w/ other photographers and I just don't want to make the day anymore difficult than it needs to be. I don't need more of a cold-shoulder than we are already getting from some. And having heard negative things from both brides and other pros over the years regarding the subject (a vendor posting images or other info that was misleading - as if it were their job when it wasn't) we decided to remove any images that were obtained on our video-only jobs. (But if some of these photographers don't stop being pissy, I may change my mind. Cool

)

Also, the company I shot for last week said that I may use them as in-studio samples, but not online or for my company's promotional materials. That's fine... as long as they call me to do a few more jobs in the near future (before I make it big on my own - ha ha Wink

) I 'll agree.

Today, however, I am second shooting for someone who said I CAN use the images on my site, so that's cool. I always knew I liked this guy! He's more down-to-earth.

By the way, do you book many video-only jobs, seeing how your company offers both services?

StillMotion
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Apr 21, 2007, 11:25 AM

Post #14 of 15 (944 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey,

I was just on your site checking out your demos as you were writing this. I really like your samples. I absolutely love the shot with the reflection of the church in the window of the limo. It looks like you two really like the hands opening with the rings as well :)

I'm assuming you get a lot of referral work from your videos. If so, I have found that can be one of the best ways to get some of your earlier photo bookings. If you have some great shots in your studio or meeting place, when they come to see video, they almost always ask us about photo as well.

In terms of our bookings, probably about 60% book both, maybe 40% of those actually came in looking for both, 25% get photo only and the rest are video only. However, and I posted this in the members forum- couples seem to be willing to spend much more on a combo package than they are on both services separately. For example, we say couples book a $8k combo package frequently, not nearly as many people come in and pay $4k for one service. So, I would keep that in mind when doing your combo packages.

Good luck with your shoot today.

Patrick

Jenn M
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Apr 21, 2007, 11:38 AM

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Re: [StillMotion] expanding lighting arsenal [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks!

The problem we are running into with many situations where the couples are coming to us for video is that they think the video will 'suffer' if we are splitting our time and attention between the video and the photo simultaneously. Also, many couples who can afford to pay for our video services can and do pay waaaay more for other popular, more well-known photographers in the area. So consequently they are comparing our photography to some of the top dogs and even I admit, right now, it doesn't compare, so they dismiss the idea of having us shoot stills.

We've had our best luck w/ couples who came to us with the opinion that the video takes priority over the photos, so therefore, they aren't looking to spend a lot on the photography and/or they don't want 'elaborate' photoraphy coverage - just the basics.

My goal is to even it out more - make them feel that the photo and video are both great quality, which, again, will happen as we get more and better samples.