I shot a casting for an upcoming advertising campaign on monday. The basic premise for the campaign was a young family (mom, dad, 2 children). The client needed portraits of the “parents” as well as action shots of the kids jumping on a trampoline, everything on a white background.

In the studio I had free pickings of the rental gear they had available, so I went for a huge 7-foot umbrella, mostly because I’d never gotten the chance to use one so far and I always like to try out new stuff when I can. For the background I used another two Profoto heads and shot them into large reflective umbrellas for an even illumination. As for the 7-footer, I have to say it’s almost disturbing how you don’t have to know anything about lighting and still get a great light from it… as long as you put it up in roughly the right direction you get a decent beauty light. Maybe not too defined and lacking a little attitude, but a great soft light nonetheless!

For this shoot it was perfect anyway, since I had to photograph women and men as well as kids. The kids also had to be shot jumping on a trampoline which would have been harder to light with a more directional light source.

Shot on the Nikon D700 with the 24-70 2.8 and triggered the lights with PocketWizards. The PocketWizards I only bought recently and I have to say, they may be expensive but they simply work, no questions asked. Shot more than 3000 images (exactly 3333 in fact) and I got two misfires which may or may not have been the PWs’ fault… impressive.

Had fun as well of course: (left to right, me, my assistant Tom and Sandra (casting agency rep))