Buying a studio lighting kit is a great way to take your photographs to the professional level. Most kits come equipped with the staples of studio lighting: a big light with a stand to light a large area, a soft box to diffuse the main light, a smaller light with an umbrella to reflect the light back on to the subject and a hair light to separate the subject from the backdrop.
Instructions
Preparing
1. Prepare your studio space by removing any unnecessary items. You are going to set up stands with long cords that you will have to work around. Keep your workspace free of clutter.
2. Set up your poser so that it is a few feet in front of your backdrop. Put your main light about three feet away from where your subject will be, at a 45 degree angle. Attach your soft box to the main light and notice how the light spreads evenly over your space.
3. Put your smaller light source behind the camera at eye level with your subject. Attach the umbrella and adjust so that you can see the light reflecting in your subject's eyes.
4. Use the hair light if you need to separate the subject from the background. It belongs off to the side of your subject pointing toward the top of the hair. This adds a halo effect that draws your attention to your subject.
5. Take several test shots with a family member or friend volunteer. Adjust your lights according to the height of your subjects. If you have hot lights turn them off between takes, to cool things down.
Tags: your subject, main light, hair light, light with, separate subject, separate subject from, smaller light
