How to create a Hollywood-style portrait

Lead: How to shoot Hollywood-style works? Quite simply, you need a good composition and a good lighting. Let's have a look!

Here I shoot with a 50mm f/ 1.4 lens and an aperture of f/2, because I want to make the background out of focus as much as possible. In order to use the large aperture of f/2 in broad daylight, and to use the shutter speed below 1/250s to match the synchronous shutter of the shed flash, it is necessary to use the reducing mirror.

50 mm lens focal length f/2, 1/250 seconds ISO 200 exposure compensation +/-0

Use equipment

Nikon D3s

50 mm f/ 1.4 nikkor lens

ProFi to d 1 Air 500 single lamp

Profoto 1 inch? 4-inch strip cover

Profoto wireless flash trigger and controller

Signal reducing mirror

Because we shot in the shadow of the building, the light at the scene is quite dim, so we need to emphasize the lighting effect a little. There are many changes in the composition of the photos we take, from full-body photos to close-ups, so the soft mask should be able to take the whole body of the model, but the two sides of the model should not be too bright. So Proforo's strip cover is the best here. When installed in front of the D 1 Air 500 shed lamp system, it can generate continuous and stable strong light, which can easily make up for the reduced brightness of the reducing mirror. Adjusting the output of D 1 will slightly change the lighting effect and produce soft accent light, while maintaining the natural lighting feeling. In addition, I need to balance the strong light reflected above the glass. The makeup light on the model is provided by living light.

Profoto's remote control device has a patented function, which can directly adjust the settings of each lamp holder where the camera is located. This function is very convenient and can save you a lot of time. Profoto's products are the most complex, durable and accurate flash system products I have ever tested.

I shot with a 50mm lens at different distances, but in the end I prefer this close-up photo, which looks more romantic. Under the large aperture of f/2, the scenery in the background becomes blurred.

Other options

You can also switch to a cheaper single lamp system and strip cover. Photoflex, AlienBees and Wescott all have good products, and the prices are relatively cheap. Although the wireless control system is useful, it is not necessary.