Pain in the a$$ to focus..

Bob, I shoot "portraits" of my kids (2yr and 4 month old) on my 4x5 (sometimes). While I currently use strobes which makes things much easier, I remember trying I a couple times with tungsten hot lights. I found it was impossible to focus with the child in place so I tried various techniques (a doll, etc.). Eventually, I found the best way to do it was to focus on a ruler or tape measure pointed toward the camera in the exact spot where the subject will be. This usually required use of a music stand to get the ruler to the same height as where the subject will be, because if I laid the ruler on the floor/empty chair and then tilted the camera back up to frame the image, I would invariably get into some Scheimpflug/DOF weirdness which messed up the focus. Otherwise, my results were pretty good. Hope this helps.

This one was easy...

OK, this shot of Allison (who went to that great litter box in the sky a long time ago) was shot - no kidding - on with a 6X9 rollfilm holder in a 4X5 reducing back on a 5X7 camera! I used one 600 watt quartz light in a 24" white umbrella. She actually sat still for not one, but 2 whole rolls of film!!!

She was a great cat...

Bob she's gorgeous and just like a long haired version of mine. I could never live without a cat regardless of all their Independence and know they are the real boss.