This week, the Oklahoma City SMUG met with Bill Richards of Okie Studios (note: PG-13+ link warning 
) at his new studio in Norman, OK. Our goal this time was to practice using off-camera light, both in studio and on-location. Bill generously lugged gear downtown, right on Main Street, and also arranged for a beautiful model and friend, Katie, to join us. Thank you, Bill, Katie, and Anthony Butler, who also helped out! You were awesome and we all learned a lot!
Bill set up the following equipment on-location and had the following to say about this gear:
- White Lightning 1600 watt / 640ws strobe
- Small round dish
- Cactus triggers (Bill doesn’t recommend these)
- Vagabond II Battery pack (Bill recommends the mini – it’s lighter)
Here are a few of the shots I took of Katie on location with my D700 / 24-70mm f/2.8 using Bill’s setup and triggers.
In the studio, we used the following equipment:
- Alien Bee 800 watt / 320ws (main light) with large octo softbox (so large that you can shoot right in front of it, and won’t cast a shadow)
- Alien Bee 400 watt (background light) with honeycomb and barn doors
- Both lights on about 1/2 power
- Cactus triggers
I got one image of Katie using available light in the studio:
Compare the difference using Bill’s lighting setup:
And my favorite:
Isn’t she gorgeous? Which is your favorite? Hope to see you at the next SMUG!
- HBA
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About Holly Baumann Photography
I am Holly Baumann Ambuehl, a commercial & portrait photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona. My blog posts include client work, photography tips, food, wine, travel, and personal posts. Please visit and comment often and let me know what you think!
Once, I was just an adventurous young soul with a camera that loved to travel, but over time, that passion evolved into a full-time business! There is no job I’d rather have!
People are usually nervous when they hire a photographer. They worry that the photographer will be cheesy, intrusive, or won’t “get” their projects. They may be nervous that the results won’t fully capture their vision, or be generally disappointing. I understand all of these things, so I will work hard to earn your trust. I will get to know you, ask questions and listen to your goals and expectations. We’ll plan outcomes together. On location, I’ll put you at ease; plus, we’ll have a lot of fun!
My clients benefit from my boutique service model. I don’t seek a large volume of photography jobs. Rather, I provide my undivided attention to one client at a time, which allows me to provide consultation as needed, fully research their project, and then deliver their images very quickly.
I am always honored when clients trust me to capture their vision. I hope we'll have an opportunity to collaborate, become friends, and hopefully, develop a long-term partnership. Let’s talk! – Holly
Bill set up the following equipment on-location and had the following to say about this gear:
And my favorite:
Isn’t she gorgeous? Which is your favorite? Hope to see you at the next SMUG!
