These are a few from a portrait sitting that I did this weekend. The conditions were not idea because the family had vaulted cielings, and it took more than a bit to get the lighting in a way that I was pleased with...and even there, it was a bit tricky at times. Having said that, the family was great, and I mostly got the shots the way I wanted to - though there are a few ideas, in retrospect, that I would now like to try.

James, you must have made the owners very happy. I like numbers 4 and 3.

These are great James, looks like a very sweet dog. How did you have your lights set up for these?

Hey Dee Dee,

I am currently using a 4 light set-up...all regular Canon flashes. I use two that I bounce off of the ceiling to push down shadows and give even fill to both sides of the body. I use two others which I generally either put off to one side or spread out depending on the effect I am trying to create. In this case, it was spread out.

Honestly, this was a very hard shoot for me. As I mentioned earlier, it was difficult to get the light even due to vaulted cielings and sky lights, I did not play with the light in a way that I would typically to create other types of effects. It was almost bright enough to do the entire thing without flash, and I considered shooting it natural light - except that the apertures would have been much wider than I wanted. LOL, I was just happy to get it lit mostly even. Having said that, I was satisfied with the photographs, and the family really seems to like them.

James