Lighting for portraits

[kojow]

Greetings,

Does anyone have some good ideas for portrait lighting to take individual and group pictures? (i.e. for school pictures) I am new to the professional side of photography so any advice would be good. Does the S2 handle one type of lights better than others? Do digital cameras handle lights differently than a regular camera? Someone recommended that I use 2 lights at 45degree angles plus a pot light in the middle to take away the shadows. Is this a good idea or is there a better and cheaper way?

Thanks,

-Kojow

[PauHana]

Kojow;

For general, no brainer lighting, buy two photo umbrellas. Place one closer to the subject and the other back by the camera. This creates a main and a fill light. Soft lighting that can't be messed up too bad. This should get you by until you get some more experience.

[bebop1065]

Kojow,

I bought a Lowel Omni and a Tota w/umbrella reflector. I'm new to this also and was on a tight budget when I bought these. You can see from the attached picture of me that the light from my left side is strong. That is the Omni w/o a umbrella reflector. I'd probably buy another Tota with an umbrella if I didn't see some studio strobes with modelling lamps in my future. These lights are hot and tend to fatigue subjects posing in the light unless your light balances are already set by previous test shots.

That's about all you get from this budding amatuer. :^)

Take care,
Bebop1065