As was mentioned in another thread recently, studio portraiture with LF can be quite challenging, especially if the photographer doesn't have any assistance. I hope this thread will be a good place to talk about helpful techniques for being successful at LF studio portraiture.
I've recently done a little studio portraiture with an 8x10. For me, the biggest challenge was seeing the entire picture. It's so easy for something like a reflector to inch it's way into the picture without being noticeable from behind the camera. While this may not be a problem with super-bright screens and reflex viewers, it can be with older cameras, lenses that need to be stopped down to working aperture..... One thing that help is a whole page magnifier, a Fresnel. I set mine under the bellows of my Century so that it's easy to get to. For composing, I pull it out and place it up on the ground glass. Tilting it a bit can really lighten up specific edges. Once the composition is set, I put the magnifier away and grab a loupe.
One other thing I've learned is that I have to take my dark cloth system seriously. Getting rid of extraneous light really helps with viewing the ground glass, and if I'm fighting with the dark cloth, I'm not paying enough attention to the picture. I'm going to have to rig up something that is more secure and block more of the light.
The best thing, though, would be to have a couple of assistants. One to load the camera with film holders, and one to adjust lights....
How about you? What things have you done that have helped you with LF portraiture?
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