Lex

[Chris Saper]

Jane,

Before you change all your variables, put the light in a different place. It's too much in front of the subject, which gives the studio lighting effect. Move it farther to the side, so that your light direction is much more oblique, and have it high enough to be at about 45 degrees to your subject.

I have never used strobes or gel, so can't help you in that regard; you'll get different results when the light shines into the umbrella, reflecting back on to the subject, from the reults you'll get letting the light shine through the (translucent) umbrella.

Once you have solved the light direction and placement, then you can experimant with shadow quality, etc. There are a few ways you can alter the color temp - play with the different white points in your camera - or make the alteration in Photoshop - filters. But ultimately you'll end up relying on your decisions about the colors you choose to paint.