Lighting a tanning bed + model

**narual** · 11-04-2016, 01:20 PM

A friend of mine has asked me to fill in for his regular photographer. One of the projects he needs photos for is of a tanning salon. The gentleman running it needs photos of the beds on and off, with and without models.

I've never even been in a tanning salon. Any suggestions for lighting this stuff would be much appreciated. A quick google shows that the lighting in a lot of them is apparently an awful green tone.

**mikeSF** · 11-04-2016, 01:27 PM

assuming there are two different colors of light at play, the tanning bed (you'll want it on a low setting), and whatever overhead or room light. If you gel for the overhead and keep the bed light low, it may not interfere, or it will have its own color and look cool as an accent.
Ask if there are any marketing photos for the place and get a feel for what gels to bring.
HTH

**clackers** · 11-04-2016, 03:33 PM

Do your own lighting.

AquaDome · 11-04-2016, 05:44 PM

If your PhotoShop skills are adequate and the model will sit still, shoot the whole thing in normal light, then again with just the tanning bed light. You can assemble your own HDR of sorts by masking one over the other.
I have never shot a scene like this, but I would shoot as much as possible and adjust levels in LightRoom. Also, ask the client what they need it to look like so you know what you are working towards.

Blacknight659 · 11-04-2016, 09:47 PM

I would image stack it.

Camera on tripod
1. take a photo of the bed lights off, no model.
2. take a photo of the bed lights on, no model.
3. take a photo of the bed with the model, Lights On
4. take a photo of the bed with the model, Lights off.

Add or take away the steps here, but the idea is to layer them in PS and use layer masking to get light and adjust colors appropriately per element in the scene. If you have flash equipment, you should consider using that too.

falconeye · 11-05-2016, 05:20 AM

Do a Google image search on "tanning studio". My hit #18 shows a pretty good sample of what to achieve.

E.g., make sure you have a good balance of bench and ambient light, such that the bench gives nice reflections on the model's skin.

**narual** · 11-08-2016, 12:23 PM

Thanks for the great advice, folks. I'm teetering between taking the advice, or telling him I'm not available for the job. But then, they haven't given me a dollar figure yet.

p38arover · 11-08-2016, 02:43 PM

Now there's a gig you'll never get here in Australia. Commercial tanning beds/salons have been banned (at least in this State) in an attempt to reduce the incidence of skin cancer.

Blacknight659 · 11-09-2016, 06:42 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by narual

Thanks for the great advice, folks. I'm teetering between taking the advice, or telling him I'm not available for the job. But then, they haven't given me a dollar figure yet.

Just take the job... If you can't get to a bed to practice before hand, offer them a discount. I am sure if you arrive early and take your time changing settings, you will get it right. Then you can do this in the future, no problem.

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11-04-2016, 01:20 PM	#1
narual Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Bend (Notre Dame), Indiana Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,980	Lighting a tanning bed + model A friend of mine has asked me to fill in for his regular photographer. One of the projects he needs photos for is of a tanning salon. The gentleman running it needs photos of the beds on and off, with and without models. I've never even been in a tanning salon. Any suggestions for lighting this stuff would be much appreciated. A quick google shows that the lighting in a lot of them is apparently an awful green tone.

11-04-2016, 01:27 PM	#2
mikeSF Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,501	assuming there are two different colors of light at play, the tanning bed (you'll want it on a low setting), and whatever overhead or room light. If you gel for the overhead and keep the bed light low, it may not interfere, or it will have its own color and look cool as an accent. Ask if there are any marketing photos for the place and get a feel for what gels to bring. HTH

11-04-2016, 03:33 PM	#3
clackers Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 15,982	Do your own lighting.

11-04-2016, 05:44 PM	#4
AquaDome Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,475	If your PhotoShop skills are adequate and the model will sit still, shoot the whole thing in normal light, then again with just the tanning bed light. You can assemble your own HDR of sorts by masking one over the other. I have never shot a scene like this, but I would shoot as much as possible and adjust levels in LightRoom. Also, ask the client what they need it to look like so you know what you are working towards.

11-04-2016, 09:47 PM	#5
Blacknight659 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 731	I would image stack it. Camera on tripod 1. take a photo of the bed lights off, no model. 2. take a photo of the bed lights on, no model. 3. take a photo of the bed with the model, Lights On 4. take a photo of the bed with the model, Lights off. Add or take away the steps here, but the idea is to layer them in PS and use layer masking to get light and adjust colors appropriately per element in the scene. If you have flash equipment, you should consider using that too.

11-05-2016, 05:20 AM	#6
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Do a Google image search on "tanning studio". My hit #18 shows a pretty good sample of what to achieve. E.g., make sure you have a good balance of bench and ambient light, such that the bench gives nice reflections on the model's skin.

11-08-2016, 12:23 PM	#7
narual Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Bend (Notre Dame), Indiana Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,980 Original Poster	Thanks for the great advice, folks. I'm teetering between taking the advice, or telling him I'm not available for the job. But then, they haven't given me a dollar figure yet.

11-08-2016, 02:43 PM	#8
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	Now there's a gig you'll never get here in Australia. Commercial tanning beds/salons have been banned (at least in this State) in an attempt to reduce the incidence of skin cancer.

11-09-2016, 06:42 AM - 1 Like	#9
Blacknight659 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 731	Originally posted by narual Thanks for the great advice, folks. I'm teetering between taking the advice, or telling him I'm not available for the job. But then, they haven't given me a dollar figure yet. Just take the job... If you can't get to a bed to practice before hand, offer them a discount. I am sure if you arrive early and take your time changing settings, you will get it right. Then you can do this in the future, no problem.

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