Result from Rollei 3.5F, planar

It's a lovely camera.

Terrible lighting.

Direct viewfinder or through-the-lens?

Terrible lighting.

And buy a backdrop too.

Lighting, back drop... all depends on what look you are looking for.

Lighting, back drop... all depends on what look you are looking for.

And some fake tan on her arse. Gravy mix even

Shiny cheeks and nose are hardly ever a good look, unless you're trying to show someone that's recently worked up a sweat.

 

Was the lighting a single on-camera speedlight with one of those protruding diffuser snouts on it, by any chance?

 

Get a softbox, or at least a big square of white foam core.

3.5F Model 1, 2, or 3?

Wouldn't this have been a square format 6x6 shot?

Yes, 6x6 cropped. I like tan lines, so I didn't lay on the makeup. This was one Lowel-light, as I recall. Maybe out of an umbrella. Cramped quarters. That probably is sweat on her face. In a small space, the light was too close to her. And those Lowel things are hot.

If you use a large soft box, do you not need to add strength to the highlights with a low-power flash or a bare bulb?

If you use a large soft box, do you not need to add strength to the highlights with a low-power flash or a bare bulb?

Only if you want to bring back the sweaty look.

They don't call large matt-reflector lights with a central bulb cover 'beauty dishes' for nothing.

It would be courteous to mark your thread subject with the "NSFW" acronym. I just opened it on a large monitor in an open-plan office. Thanks. Edited June 9, 2022 by Colin O