@kathyespaillat3686 Not at the moment, but I'd be happy to make one.

@@kathyespaillat3686 Thank you so much for watching my video❤. Here is a list of the items that were featured. If you have any questions or need some advice, please feel free to reach out. ►►►ITEMS FEATURED IN TODAYS VIDEO◄◄◄ Impact Heavy-Duty Light Stand - amzn.to/3w8lIuj​ Godox MS300 Flash - amzn.to/3OtRVmh​ Godox Umbrella with Diffuser Cover - amzn.to/3Up5nvr​

@shahreensiraznamrata1873 Thank you so much for watching my video❤. Here is a list of the items that were featured. If you have any questions or need some advice, please feel free to reach out. ►►►ITEMS FEATURED IN TODAYS VIDEO◄◄◄ Impact Heavy-Duty Light Stand - amzn.to/3w8lIuj​ Godox MS300 Flash - amzn.to/3OtRVmh​ Godox Umbrella with Diffuser Cover - amzn.to/3Up5nvr​

@@richardomar6820 glad I could help!

The black bar is a result of your camera and flash being out of sync. At 7:34 in the video, I explain shutter speed and sync speed. It appears that the sync speed of your camera is 1/160 or below. Just keep your shutter speed below that and you won't see the black bar. As far a the flash being too bright at wide open apertures like 5.0, 4.0, 2.8 for example, that just means your flash is too bright. Simply adjust the flash power down until your image looks good. I recommend you pick up a light meter. This will really help you understand how to set your light and camera up to work together. There is a link to a light meter I recomend in the description section of this video. I hope that helps. If you have any other questions please let me know.

Rebecca, Thanks for the great questions and yes it all totally made sense. The first thing we need to do is pick out your light. The MS300 is a great budget friendly light that would work if you're planning on only shooting in the studio. So if you're only ever going to shoot smash cake photography inside, then grab 3 of them and you should be just fine. But I shoot a ton of families, senior portraits, headshots and smash cake, outdoors and for that the MS300 just won't do. First off it has no battery so you can't use it outside. Second, while it's powerful enough for shooting indoors, it is no match for the midday sun. It simply doesn't have enough power to overpower or match the sunlight on bright days. Third it doesn't have high speed sync. Meaning your camera will only synchronize with your flash at shutter speeds lower than 1/200th of a second. With the ad600 or flashpoint evolve 600 (same lights sold under two different names) it has high speed sync allowing you to use shutter speeds of up to 1/8000th of a second. This makes getting a proper exposure on sunny much easier. That's why I went with the Evolve 600 with high speed sync over the MS300. it's a bit more but well worth it. As for light modifiers, the first one is a 7 foot umbrella for smash cake. It's big size is perfect for mimicking the window light you're already used to shooting with. Plus it gives off some really soft light. Then if you plan on doing any portraits like headshots, high school seniors, or small families outdoors, you will need a 35in softbox. One that collapses and is easy to travel with. Now as far as your trigger is concerned you can control a ton of flashes at the same time with one of those. It has 5 groups A through E and you can put an unlimited number of flashes in each group. The best part is that your trigger can control both godox and flashpoint flashes together at the same time. Last but not least let's talk constant lights. None of the lights we mentioned here today are constant lights. The all have a modeling light that could be used as a constant light, but it would be the same as trying to light a picture with a table lamp. The modeling light is just there to help your camera find focus in dark environments. But to be honest I don't think constant lights are the best way to go for portraits or smash cake. The higher powered constant lights are really expensive and not very practical. The more budget friendly ones tend to be under powered, especially if you want to make the light softer with any light modifiers. The modifiers really gobble up the light. So there's my two cents. I hope I answered all of questions. If not, feel free to reach out again. :) Here are the links to all of the items I mentioned: Flashpoint Evolve 600 - amzn.to/3wQDovx (this is the same light as the Godox ad600 but this one comes with a free travel case and a reflector dish) Godox MS300 Flash - amzn.to/3OtRVmh Impact 7' Parabolic Umbrella amzn.to/3uDRpeL 7-Foot Parabolic Umbrella Front Diffuser amzn.to/3T16WPl 35 in Softbox with grid- amzn.to/4bK9LLi Have a great night, Daniel

In what spots would I need 3 lights? I don't have a very big space so I'm not sure where I would put 3 and the 7' umbrellas

@rebeccaallen7342 When it comes to lighting, being able to light your set in sections gives you the most flexibility and creative control. Usually, you would need a main light, a fill light for the shadows, and a hair light. Lighting in this way gives you a three-dimensional look to the photos. It's why some photos look more professional than others. But if space is limited, just get the one light and the seven foot umbrella. That one light will be enough to serve as the main light and spill some nice light on the background. Don't worry about the 7 foot size because you will be running the width of the umbrella up and down (floor to ceili, g), not side to side (wall to wall). I use that same light set up when I photograph infants, and I am shooting in a space that is 12x14. But if space is really, really tight, here's what you do. Put your set along the back wall and then hang white seamless paper in the corners of the room that are behind where you will be when taking the photos. Then take your light, set it about 3-4 ft away from the corner, and point the head into the corner. You've just created a huge light source out of the corner and didn't take up a lot of floor space. The goal is to make your light as big as possible because the larger the light, the softer and more flattering it will be. I hope this helps, Daniel

I just did a quick search and it looks like the sync speed is 1/200. But I would check that in the online manual for the D5100, which can be found here downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/23/D5100.html I hope this helps, and I hope you have a great evening.

@sdovale6226 I'm so sorry for the late response. Somehow, I wasn't notified that you'd left a comment. At this point, I'm sure that you no longer need the list, but I am a man of my word, so here it is ►►►ITEMS FEATURED IN TODAYS VIDEO◄◄◄ Impact Heavy-Duty Light Stand - amzn.to/3w8lIuj​ Godox MS300 Flash - amzn.to/3OtRVmh​ Godox Umbrella with Diffuser Cover - amzn.to/3Up5nvr​ Again, I'm super sorry for the late response. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll make sure to get back to you a lot sooner. -Daniel

You definitely need to build that thick skin if you're gonna do this for a living. Lol

I'm a huge fan of both Flashpoint and Godox. You can't beat the price point, functionality, or the build quality.

I'm always happy to share my camera settings, but they vary wildly depending on where and how I take each image. So unless you are standing right next to me on the day I'm taking the image, my camera settings won't really apply. So, instead, here is a link to a video that walks you through how I set up my lights and camera for a shoot kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9JnqN2Bzb-zj6c.htmlsi=jq1vNzUrrQasH_A5 After watching this, you will know everything you need to know to come up with your own camera settings for every shoot. Thanks for the great question, and I hope you have a great night.

Of course. Happy to help! As far as size goes I never go below 7 feet wide on my backdrops. Kate Backdrops sells some cute / affordable 7 wide by 5 tall backdrops make from a wrinkle free fabric that I love. But sometimes the 7 ft version can make it harder to photograph the baby. The baby will crawl of the backdrop. So I usually recommend up grading to the wide by 6.5 tall version if it's in your budget. Here is a link* to some fun Kate backdrops on Amazon. amzn.to/3wuR12Z * full disclosure it is an affiliate link and a small commission from each sale goes toward supporting this channel. Anyway I hope this helps. and good luck on your upcoming smash cake session. Oh! I almost forgot! I will be doing free cake smash image reviews. So after the session you can submit your image to me and I will do a KZfaq video where I give feedback and helpful tips on how to take your images to the next level. If you're interested in doing that you can submit your images here forms.gle/Zevv2eGUzXW5YFA66 Anyway, thank your for the great question and I hope you have a great day!

@@troutmanphoto thanks so much for some awesome knowledge sharing here on youtube and being very responsive. Do I need to buy a seperate floor piece if I go with 7ft wide × 6.5 ft tall?

@@Shalin.S.Shah. Yes you do. Even if you purchased a 10x10 background to use as the backdrop and the floor, you still wouldn't want to smash a cake on it because the frosting color will stain your backdrop. So I use a roll of seamless paper or a cheap vinyl backdrop with wood, stone or grass printed on it. The paper you can trough away when finished and the vinyl doesn't stain for the most part. Here are some links to the types of floors I recommend. Vinyl floors amzn.to/3TeQGu8 Seamless paper amzn.to/3uO76Qz I hope this helps and have a great day, Daniel

This happens a lot. most of them really don't like the feeling of frosting. Check out this video for some tips on how to get around that kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nd9ojJSUptLboXU.html

Mumma smashed the cake instead Thanks for the link. 🔗

I'm glad you found your way back to photography after 25 years. It gets in your blood and spoils you for any other type of job. I would be very happy to do some videos on editing. So keep an eye on the channel in the next week or so, and I should have something posted. Have a great night, Daniel

Thanks! It works like a charm!

Thank you so much. I'm glad you liked it!

Thank you so much!

It's always better to have more time than less. Add that extra hour, and if after several smash cake shoots it becomes obvious you don't need the extra time, then simply adjust. I can tell you from experience it is really hard to be creative and have fun when watching the clock. I hope this helps, Daniel

Thanks for watching! Here is the list. ►►►ITEMS FEATURED IN TODAYS VIDEO◄◄◄ Impact Heavy-Duty Light Stand - amzn.to/3w8lIuj​ Godox MS300 Flash - amzn.to/3OtRVmh​ Godox Umbrella with Diffuser Cover - amzn.to/3Up5nvr​ *Prices quoted in video we sourced at the time of filming. The prices may have shifted slightly up or down since.

Thanks for watching! Here is the list. ►►►ITEMS FEATURED IN TODAYS VIDEO◄◄◄ Impact Heavy-Duty Light Stand - amzn.to/3w8lIuj​ Godox MS300 Flash - amzn.to/3OtRVmh​ Godox Umbrella with Diffuser Cover - amzn.to/3Up5nvr​ *Prices quoted in video we sourced at the time of filming. The prices may have shifted slightly up or down since.

Thanks for watching! Here is the list. ►►►ITEMS FEATURED IN TODAYS VIDEO◄◄◄ Impact Heavy-Duty Light Stand - amzn.to/3w8lIuj​ Godox MS300 Flash - amzn.to/3OtRVmh​ Godox Umbrella with Diffuser Cover - amzn.to/3Up5nvr​ *Prices quoted in video we sourced at the time of filming. The prices may have shifted slightly up or down since.

With this setup, I would start by imagining that you set a clock. The baby is at 12 o'clock, and you are at 6 o'clock. Put the light at at 4 o'clock. Then set your cameras iso. I recommend iso 100. After that choose an aperture I like f4.0. Now, this light doesn't have high-speed sync, so keep your shutter speed at 1/200 or slower. Now turn on the light and radio trigger and use the trigger to put your light in manual mode (M). Then increase the power on the light until your image looks properly exposed. That should get you started. But the best way to learn is to practice and experiment. I hope this helps and have a great day, Daniel

@@troutmanphoto Thank you so much

►►►ITEMS FEATURED IN TODAYS VIDEO◄◄◄ Impact Heavy-Duty Light Stand - amzn.to/3w8lIuj​ Godox MS300 Flash - amzn.to/3OtRVmh​ Godox Umbrella with Diffuser Cover - amzn.to/3Up5nvr​ *Prices quoted in video we sourced at the time of filming. The prices may have shifted slightly up or down since.

Here is the shopping list. ►►►ITEMS FEATURED IN TODAYS VIDEO◄◄◄ Impact Heavy-Duty Light Stand - amzn.to/3w8lIuj​ Godox MS300 Flash - amzn.to/3OtRVmh​ Godox Umbrella with Diffuser Cover - amzn.to/3Up5nvr​ *Prices quoted in video we sourced at the time of filming. The prices may have shifted slightly up or down If you have any questions about the items on the list, please feel free to let me know. Thank you so much for your comment, and I hope you have a great day.

That's a really tough question. Everybody's financial situations are so different. I would start by figuring out how much the smash cake sets cost to build on average and then never charge less than that for a session fee. Also don't forget to ad extra for your time. I wish I had an exact answer for you but it just depends on your market, how much time you put into the project, and how much you spend on you sets. This really is a great question and I promise to try and make a video on this topic. Thank you for the great question and I hope you have a great day.

Also it keeps your insurance agent happy

I'm happy to help. What kind of pictures will you be taking?

Love it. Nothing like letting an overbearing mom "HELP" from 20 feet away.

For the most veritilty, I would bump up one light to a 300 or 400 watt and use it for your main light. A 200w light doesn’t have enough power to be used in a larger softbox effectively. Technically, it can fill the larger soft box, but you'll have to use the light at a high power, which will cause the light to take more time to recycle. I own a couple of 200w lights, and at full power, they can take 1-3 seconds to recycle. Meanwhile, you're missing shots because the flash isn't ready. It's really frustrating. So use that larger light as the main, and because it has more wattage, you'll be able to run it at a lower power and avoid slow recycle times. For your hair light or kicker light, the 200w lights will do the trick because generally speaking you want your hair lights and kicker lights to not be as bright as the main. This means you can run them at a lower power, possibly avoiding slow recycle times. But if you really wanted to be safe, just buy 3x 300w or 400 w lights. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions and have a great evening.

@@troutmanphoto I see! Glad Ive only bought one so far. :-) thanks for the tips. PS: The walls of the room is painted light-blue. Will this affect my photoshoots? My ceiling is white.

Marketing is a bit of a bugger. It depends on where you are. Plus, it's not 1 or 2 big things. It's several small things that add up. But if I had to choose on, I'd say become an expert on SEO. That's the one thing that has kept me in clients consistently for the last 15 years.

Thanks for the kind words!

I love making these videos, and it makes it soo much better to know that people are enjoying them! Thanks for the comment.

Those things are pretty darn cool.

Rf 85

@@Photoswithpaige Agreed! An 85 is a thing of beauty.

Generally speaking, we don't smash a cake on a cloth background. Most of the time. I will use seamless paper as the floor or a vinyl backdrop as the floor so that when the kid smashes the cake, the frosting doesn't stain my more valuable cloth background. If you want to use your cloth background as both the background and the floor and you want to protect it from the frosting, what you need to do is go ahead and get yourself some plexiglass. They sell it at your home improvement stores in four by six sheets. As an added bonus, you will get a nice reflection of the child in the plexiglass That will give your photos a very polished look. In the next week or 2 I will be doing a video on this very topic and will be showing you how to use plexiglass in a smash cake session. So don't forget to subscribe and thanks for the great question.

how long do you make the strips for the banner and how many roughly would you need?

@kathyespaillat3686 it really depends on how long you want them to hang down. I think we decided that 6-8 inches was about the right length. Just make one, and if you need to make adjustments, it will be obvious. It really is a season to taste kind of deal. There is no wrong answer. :)

I will let my editor know. Thanks for the tip.

Most of my photographer friends crashed theirs into a lake/ocean in the first 6 months of owing one. So, no, they really don't last long😂. Thanks for the comment. I hope you have a great day!

You can either use plexi glass, a white 4x6 board used for backing showers, A 4 x6 white paneling used for walls, or white linoleum. They all have drawbacks, like only being one color. The exception is plexi glass. It can be whatever color that the paper underneath is. But be warned they are all impossible to store and keep in good condition. If you want to give it a go, you can find all of these items at a home improvement store. Hope that helps, Daniel

@@troutmanphoto thank you so much!! So, the plexi glass is inly can be used for one-two times? Also, you explain about one lighting and big octave box- will that be enough to light the baby with 2 parents?

@yuliyarivkina9301 The plexi can be reused several times. But eventually, you will have to replace it because it does scratch easily. Now for the light. Yes, one big Octagon or square softbox (5ft. or larger) will be enough to get you started. For bonus points, I would add a large reflector or a couple of v-flats to the opposite side of the light. Or you can set up next to a white or neutral colored wall and put the light on the side that is opposite the wall. This makes the wall your reflector.

@@troutmanphoto❤

@@troutmanphoto What is the appropriate depth size?

San Disk has been my brand since the late 90s.