Suggestions on basement studio

[Steve B]

I do some portrait work, mainly unpaid family work, and have set up an area in the unfinished part of our basement for it. I am limited on space and the unfinished ceiling is right at 8 foot. Here is what I have now.



The backdrop is a 10x24 Superior Specialties muslin mounted on a Photoflex backdrop support. The side drops are regular bed sheets from Wally World hung with mug hooks and bulldog clamps. I have multiple backdrops and the side drops can be swapped out for black sheets when needed. I use 2 Paul Buff Einsteins for my main lights and an Alien Bee for a back drop light or other purposes as needed. Other than the obvious issue of unwanted color introduced by the unfinished ceiling do any of you with more studio experience have any suggestions on how I can optimize this space?

Thanks,

 

[Rick M]

I'm assuming you turn off the overhead light. What do you use for a hair light?

 

[FastGlass]

Looks like you have everything you need. If the ceiling throws off unwanted tones to the studio lighting than cover the ceilng with something that won't. It's not a big area so it shouldn't be that expensive to do.
Other than that the only thing I would add to the mix is another strobe as a hairlight or to light the backdrop.

 

[WhiteLight]

With lights you seem good to go, though you don't mention anything about the modifiers you have.
That would be very important for studio work

 

[Steve B]

With lights you seem good to go, though you don't mention anything about the modifiers you have.
That would be very important for studio work

Main modifiers are Paul Buff 51" Soft Silver PLM umbrellas with front diffusion fabrics. Going to add some softboxes in the near future. Have other reflectors and modifiers I use as needed. And, yes, I do turn off the overhead although it is a color balanced fluorescent bulb.

 

[gqtuazon]

Main modifiers are Paul Buff 51" Soft Silver PLM umbrellas with front diffusion fabrics. Going to add some softboxes in the near future. Have other reflectors and modifiers I use as needed. And, yes, I do turn off the overhead although it is a color balanced fluorescent bulb.

I don't think that the overhead light matters if you set ISO 100 1/160.

I think you are good to go and all you need are paying clients.


Sent from my iPhone.

 

[Rick M]

I'm thinking the overhead light cast on the background will enhance the wrinkles. I've found with my black background, I get better results and no wrinkles if the hair light is above and behind the subject pointing away from the background.