[Ginnypenny]

Does anyone know how to place your lights when shooting a model that is laying down?  I will be shooting from a high angle with her head toward the bottom of the frame.  I can't put my lights in a traditional way on the same side as I am because it will throw her eyes into shadow, right?

[Marian Murdoch]

How will she be lying down? On her back, on her side?

[Ginnypenny]

she will be laying down.

[Marian Murdoch]

Um.....  Reread my post please, after you had some more coffee..... 

[Travis Minnig]

I can't put my lights in a traditional way on the same side as I am

What do you mean the same side as you are on?  The only thing that should happen is the light should be lowered.  I am not certain who said it, but I think it was one of Monte Zucker's teachings.  Pretend there is a pole sticking out of the subject's head that is attached to the main light.  Wherever the light looks good in a 2/3 view while sitting on a stool; that is the exact same spot to place it for a profile, a standing photo, a laying down photo, anything.  Wherever the light is best, is where it should be.  Just remember that the light direction is relative to the client's face, not you.  Am I making any sense?  You can create the exact same lighting pattern regardless of where the subject is looking or how high or low they are in relation to the camera.  That is what you need to do.  You are not working with the sun (or some other fixed light source), the light can move around to accomodate you now, not the other way around.

Of course, some poses may require slight changes in lighting to keep from making it look distorted, but then that should be more controlled with lens selection and shooting angle, I think.

I hope that answers your question.  Basically, if the model is on the ground and looking down at the floor, the light will have to be set as low to the ground as possible and then just above her head and off to one side.  So back to the original statement; if the light were connected to her head when she were sitting, it would move with her when she layed down on the floor.  If you can't get enough light in her eyes from there, have her tilt her head up slightly until you get it.

Travis

[Travis Minnig]

Hmm, I just got thinking about what you said and I am going to venture a guess.  I am thinking you are talking about her laying on her back, while you stand over her on a chair or ladder or something; is this right?  If so, the light will be pointing somewhat towards you, I guess.  The real key here is that the light direction should always be set relative to the subject.  The more extreme the angle though, the more chance of lens flare; keep an eye open for it and gobo your lens if you need to.

[Ginnypenny]

Um.....  Reread my post please, after you had some more coffee..... 

Oh, for heaven's sake.  What happened was I posted "she will be laying on her back" and I got an error message so I waited to repost and when I did I wrote something different. 

Travis got what I was trying to explain in his second post.  So if she is laying on her back I would position the lights so they are still coming down at her face in a 45 degree angle (approximately).  I guess I could try a really flat light and do the light almost directly above her and then fill it to the side.... or try a butterfly pattern...  I guess this is something I am going to have to practice.  I was hoping someone had done this and had some tips.

[Travis Minnig]

Let me see if I can be of any more help...

There is no need to think you are limited to flat and/or butterfly lighting.  In fact, you have virtually as many options with main lighting patterns as you do with the subject in any other position.

Here are a couple lighting diagrams:  the first is a top and side view of a subject sitting, and the next is the top and side view of the subject laying on his/her back and the camera over them shooting down.

Imagine if you took the entire setup with a subject standing against a wall and rotated the entire room 90 deg until the person was in a laying position.  That is all you need to do.  I am sorry I don't have any good examples, but all the same principles apply; nothing changes because the subject is laying down.

[Ginnypenny]

oooh thanks Travis.  I guess I was trying to make it more complicated than it was. 
I was thinking flat light would be easier because it's less hard to mess up.  I would like a little more of a glamour effect so I may try the butterfly lighting anyway.