SHOOTING STEPS
1 SET UP THE FIRST STROBE To start, attach an octabox to a strobe light and mount to a boom arm stand. Position to the left of the model, and position the octabox in front of them (as pictured). Heighten the stand so the modifier is taller than your subject and angle the boom arm at a 45-degree angle.
2 SET UP BOTH LIGHTS Start by mounting the second strobe to a boom arm. Attach the beauty dish to the second light and place it on the right side of the studio, mirroring the position of the first light. Both modifiers should meet at the middle and slightly overlap. The beauty dish will act as a fill light.
3 TAKE TESTER SHOTS Begin by taking some tester shots. Start with your strobes on a low setting and your camera on a low ISO, and increase if the image is appearing too dark. These images were taken with an ISO of 125, shutter speed of 1/125 and an aperture of f7.1. Adjust your settings until you are satisfied with the results.
4 START SHOOTING Once you’re happy with the outcome of your tester shots, start shooting. Begin by taking basic headshots without too much movement. This will allow the model to get comfortable in front of the camera and will give you some time to further adjust your settings if needed.
5 EXPERIMENT This is when you can start getting creative and experimenting. Direct the model and explore how you want her/him to pose. Experiment with using styling and props. Play around with black and white effects and adjusting contrast on Capture One, if you are shooting tethered.
6 REPOSITION THE LIGHTS If you want to shoot your model sitting down, you can easily adjust this setup to suit any height. Simply lower both boom stands, keeping the ratio of space between the model and the lights the same as when she/he was standing.