Learning Flash

[nomad358]

I was using a 70-200, so I was probably 10 or 15 feet away. I started with a Westcot Mini Apollo softbox, but found it to be cutting the light way too much, it was silhouetting her even with +3 dialed into the flash, so I ended up taking that off and using a Sto Fen. I was also using a Manfrotto flash bracket I just purchased. I tried shooting a few in portrait, but found it very cumbersome with the bracket because of the way it juts out to the side of the camera, that thing is a beast and Im not entirely sure I like it. The added weight between that and the 70-200 2.8 was wearing me out! But your right, I agree that a 3/4 portrait would def have worked better here.

Thanks for everyones comments!

Try taking your flash off the camera and off the flash bracket and completely off the same axis as the lens. Buy a cheap light stand and a hotshoe umbrella adapter and use the flash with your Sto Fen. Place the light stand at about a 45 degree angle inward and 45 degrees downwards toward your model or subject. Set your flash at about 1/8th power and start with a setting of about F5.6, s125, ISO 100. If that doesn't work, adjust your aperture ONLY.
Here is an example I did with the exact same setup I just described. It's not diificult to do, it just needs some know-how. Hope that helps! Good Luck!