Have you been using the wrong fill?

[@gphotographybyg]

I like the vflat and the strip box. I'm gonna try that strip box the next chance I get. And of course, your off the cuff commentary is always entertaining.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks G! The great think about the reflector is it’s usually something everyone has.

[@silverdoggg]

The strip softbox yields the best fill imo you have absolute control over the amount and quality of light. If you build your shot correctly. Personally I like the look I get from a eyelighter clamshell.

[@JohnGress]

I was quite surprised at how the 7 inch reflector preserved the contrast, but the strip box may be preferable for those older clients.

[@inwardlens]

John, great video as always. I think your model’s outfit here provides a ton of fill already and that is a reason we don’t see a dramatic difference between no fill and the white card. It would be interesting if you did a follow up they showed the test with this same model wearing a dark top. For my taste I feel like a strategically placed white card is best. I often use either a California Sun Bounce or a curved eye lighter reflector depending on the look I’m after but also how small I need to pack.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Fernando. That is a very valid criticism and something I didn't consider on set.

[@pompobresciani9582]

Great video, thx John! To me strip box all the way! Second is the silver reflector!

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Pompo!

[@TheSunnySuttons]

Great news although I was looking forward to hearing your personal opinion as you have done before as other YTubers never do so I found when you did it was insightful and refreshing.

[@haqvor]

Great comparison! I don't have a clear winner except that I don't like the specular catch lights from the silver reflector and the small reflector. I like the fall off and the drama from the one without reflector and I would probably like to add a grid to it to further darken the cheeks. On the other hand the dark eyes needs something to bring them to life. The catch lights from the v-flat and the strip box looks good but I get a strange feeling that he is looking over my right shoulder on the one with the strip box. The one with the v-flat have a more natural shadow on the neck and looks more natural over all, for the rest of them it is obvious that a fill have been used. In the end I think that it depends on the purpose of the image but if it is up to me I'm leaning towards no fill or a white reflector.

[@JohnGress]

I never thought about using a grid this way, but it makes total sense, now you make me want to buy one!

[@leighdedhar]

Think I like your donut silver reflector and the strip box best

[@robertchmara8818]

I think same. I never use reflector in that way but is providing great results!

[@JohnGress]

I’ll probably use this combo too in the future. The strip box when I want soft shadows, the reflector when I want to maintain contrast and Vflat but I’m too lazy to set up the strip box 😉

[@kevinvu99]

Thank you for doing this experiment. I often wonder how a vflat would look since I dont own one. As always, it depends on what you're trying to achieve. I think for men, the silver reflector is a good balance between sculpting the jaw and still showing a little more light under the chin. So that's my choice. For women, I would go with the strip box since it doesn't create as much of racoon eyes, especially for beauty portrait. The vflat would be my second choice if I need to create a wider face.

[@JohnGress]

Interesting take away. I didn't think about the fill changing the width of the face, which is what I looked at in last weeks video about beauty dishes.

[@cesarebonazza]

Strip box

[@ActualCounterfactual]

I always used 3x silver reflectors and/or a v-flat under/around the person... but I have to admit the strip softbox looks better... so maybe time for me to buy even MORE gear ;-)

[@JohnGress]

Sorry to hear that, but it’s good to know that I don’t need a three panel reflector. 😉

[@dorothea5647]

Nice experiment again. I love moody photos, so the first photo without the fill i like the most. The last photo has a beautyfull catchlight and makes the eyes more a life. So it it makes it hard to choose now 🤔

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Dorothea!

[@MarkDuffyPhotography]

His lips are so nicely defined by the 7" reflector. I'm torn as don't like the catch light of that reflector, I'd maybe combine the strip box and 7" reflector haha like lighting a label of a whiskey glass, fill it and spot the sections 😂🤣

[@JohnGress]

Ha! We'll at least the 7" alone is an easy heal job.

[@kuau714]

Great video John, quick question which computer holder are you using with your STUDIO TITAN stand and also which Ball Head ? Thanks

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! I believe what I have is this studiotitanamerica.com/collections/shop-accessories/products/copy-of-studio-camera-stand-small-accessory-shelf-sta-01-397-a but I am not sure what the arm is that I am using. This is the tripod head amzn.to/3DWZgWw

[@riffraff778]

The silver reflector works best.

[@lisamacophoto]

strip box

[@Neopulse00]

I like the strip softbox for fill more personally.

[@KimPDnextdoor]

I tried using all of the matters which John mentioned and my personal flavor was to use U shape (curved) silver reflector. :)

[@GB-AK]

I like the strip box.

[@DietrichLasa]

I like the 7-inch 'reflector' the best. It shapes the face nicely and lights up the neck area, but not too much (as in the last example), giving the overall expression a decent amount of drama.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Dietrich!

[@TheSunnySuttons]

Agreed 👍🏻

[@tbeiber09]

I really love your explanations, great stuff. Thanks! I guess I like the 7" reflector best but I don't see nearly as much difference in the qualities of the shadows as I thought I would, especially between the white and silver.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Tim. It’s always good to take a step back and see things from a clean perspective. I feel like a lot of times I just do stuff because that’s what I always did.

[@TheSunnySuttons]

Agreed. 👍🏻

[@franknurnberger1102]

A separate light for fill gives you more flexibility and precision than passive reflectors. Then - as always - it depends what you are after in a look. If you want to make the young handsome guy a bit tougher, go for a harder grid light and maybe try a point source for fill, if needed. If you want to make him look even more friendly and kind, go for soft light all aroung him. Just one question about your main light: have you considered to lower it a bit in order to get more of a catch-light in his eyes and avoid his amazing hair to cast shaddows?

[@JohnGress]

That is a good way to think about making certain choices to convey certain moods. Avoiding shadows from his hair was something I struggled with and worked to lessen on set. I was always trying to get the light as low as I could go. After looking at the side view in this video, I am fairly sure that is just barely out of of the shot.

[@franknurnberger1102]

@@JohnGress Dear John, I am a true fan of your work and see you as a great teacher! I apologise If my remark was too critical. Looking at the results side by side one does see a bit of a difference between the fill methods (especially on the brightness of the neck section) but it is rather subtle. Most important decision is to have fill or not have fill - beyond that you could get away with a bit of post-production if you - after the shoot - should think you do not have enough or too much fill. If there were legal restrictions on the number of lights and reflectors a photographer could use, the really good photographer could do most stuff with one light with a mid-sized softbox and a white foam-core board. Then, it would be a lot about placement of these items in order to get the right look. (Maybe special allowence for a hair-light) Thank god, we do not have these restrictions and we all make sure the manufacturers have a business and their employees can make a living by designing and producing all kinds of fancy gadgets😄 BTW: After havng watched so many of your videos, I have finally begun to buy stuff from your website! (About time) I have purchased your "One Light tutorial" and it is more than worth its money. Highest recommendations! Frank.

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much Frank! It was a valid question to ask. the first time I saw a photo from the shoot pop up on the screen i was surprised the hair shadows were so big but its to be expected. Good thing he wasn't wearing glasses! When the one light zombie apocalypse happens, remember you can always wrap aluminum foil around the the white foam core if you need more bounce!

[@lighthousephoto7143]

I like active fill though usually go for the most quick and convenient which ends up being a STU 🙈

[@tomleiningerphoto]

The strip softbox jumps out. If I am going to fill from one light, a white fill card usually works best for me.

[@peterthart531]

Assuming that one wants the fill, the V-flat is the least intrusive to what is happening in the eye. Of course you can PS that out if it bothers you like it does me. Once you add actual powered light from below it does start to have the other worldly effect. It all depends what you want.

[@louisbarr6913]

If a fill light won't make shadows on the key light side, assuming something like a 2/1 or higher key to fill stop-ratio, why modify the fill light to make it softer? I guess a softer light is usually a safer bet, especially in the setup you have above where the fill light is coming from below and hitting the shadow side of his face, but if everything's dialed in correctly in a Rembrandt or split lighting setup, what are the practical differences when changing the quality of a weaker fill light from soft to hard?

[@louisbarr6913]

Okay. The more I think about it the more I'm answering my own question. You can get unflattering shadows on the shadow side, a specular quality, smaller catch light in the eyes, and overall, a less even fill on the shadow side. I certainly know the pain of a harsh hair light messing up an otherwise perfectly lit shot.

[@TheGeocab]

I don't yet own a strip box. Do you have a recommendation on a good first size to buy? 12" x 36", x 48", x 56"? I know they all have their uses, but wondering if there's a certain size that's a good start? Currently I only have two modifiers, 36" and 48" octoboxes.

[@JohnGress]

I use the one by three strip boxes for hair lights, and for clamshell fill. When I use them as edge lights for headshots, they are fine but if I start shooting three-quarter or full length, then the edge highlights are really uneven. So for edge lights I would suggest 4-6’ stop boxes. But I would get the 1x3 first.

[@TheGeocab]

@@JohnGress thanks for the suggestion.