Starter Portrait Lighting

[flyfishnj]

I've sold my wife that I needed to buy all this equipment so I can get better and more pictures of the kids ... The next thing that I sold her on was that we don't have to pay for a portrait photographer to come in if I bought some portable studio lighting and backdrops. The last bill was $600.

Here's my dilema: What kind of lighting/configuration should I purchase? I'm torn between 3 options;

1) Tungsten lights - Beginner kit would cost $225 3 lights, 2 stands, 1 boom, 2 umbrellas, case (Smith Victor KT900)

2) Monolight - 2 monolights and 1 stand and umbrella $250 (SP Studio starter kit)

3) Flash units - Need to purchase 1 550ex, umbrellas, stands, $450 - already have a 420ex

As you can tell, I'm looking at the entry level kits. I figure I will practice with the kids and maybe start to shoot the neighbor's. I plan on getting a chroma key background so I minimize the cost of muslin.

I'm leaning towards option 1 for ease of setting up the shot and the cost is minimal. Option 2 looks attractive because I can "grow" into it and use outside if needed. Option 3 I like because it takes up the least amount of space (If it ends up in the corner not being used, she is likely to bust my chops about it)

Any comments or advice is appreciated

John

[DaveG]

Don't buy tungsten lights, ESPECIALLY if you are planning on photographing children. They are very hot and very dangerous. If a little kid was ever to reach up and touch one - or knock one over, then you'd have a very serious burn &/or fire on your hands.

From a photography aspect these lights are surprisingly weak. And if you ever plan on using film with these lights (rather than digital) you will also have a colour temperture problem.

We had tunsten lights at university and other than for keeping the Friday afternoon pizza hot they had no use at all. A small inexpensive monolight would be a lot more powerful and much safer than tunsten lights; but I have to say that they are pretty much useless for that hot pizza duty.

[Vegas Poboy]

Backing what Dave said stay away from Tungsten lights and people!!!! These are very hot lamps and mostly used today for product shots due to the heat they emit.
When doing studio work I prefer mono lights, you can adjust each lamp to the proper f/stop and they have a modeling mode where you can see your model and not burn them up. Depending on what you want to spend a basic two light setup can get you started plus getting a fill card for fill lighting. You must also consider what type of lighting effects you're trying to create...High Key or Low key and many more. I would pick up a book on lighting and see the different setups and see which one you like the best before making a purchase.
Backdrops are alot of fun to play with, I made mine out of PVC until I generate more $$ and experimented with shower curtians, sheets and different types of cloth for simple head shots. Also if you purchase the gray or black paper and use colored gels on the backdrop lights it has some great results.
Read alot more on lighting before spending, trade ins in this line of work s_ _ ks. :)
good luck

[Cordell]

I would have to say to a small degree that I agree about avoiding the tugnsten lights. I say small degree because I do not agree that they are super hot. To touch most units this may be true. But to the model, they are not all that bad. However, the output of tungsten is nothing compared to a good flash.

Tungsten can work with capturing kid shots too. The issue with kids around is a matter of controlling the situation and using good quality stands that don't tip over at every touch. I would think you would want good stands anyway.

Now your lighting option for a beginner unit can be the 550EX with a battery pack (for faster recycle time since you're capturing kids), or one mono light and a reflector. The advantage of the 550EX and the 420EX and umbrellas is more portability. Of course the mono light and reflector can be portable too, but not as much.

Personally, I think you should start with the mono light and reflector. A good small/beginner mono light like the Alien Bees 400 can be had for the same price as a 550EX. This is considering you already have the 420EX for walk around everyday use. You will be amazed at what you can do with one light and a reflector.

As for chroma key and digital backgrounds, you are looking at a little more work to make the shots look as believable as they should.

good luck

[Gibmeister]

Vegas Poboy,

You mentioned getting a book on studio lighting to help with the purchase and set up of a beginning studio. Do you know of any good books that show the different types of setups and the equipment required? Thanks

Gib

[fotog]

If I were to start over I could do well with one strobe (white lightning) and a reflector or two (white foam core). Grow from there. Add to that a Minolta VF flash/light meter and you can do great things. White Lightnings are good units, the company offers awesome service and ebay has good deals.
Bill
coronadophoto.com

[Gibmeister]

OK Let's say I have $500 to start out with to put together a small studio that I can add onto as money becomes available. I want to be able to shoot some portraits and some still life shots (vases, flowers and maybe some wine bottles). Any help on where I could start?

[ilya]

flyfishnj wrote
I've sold my wife

...So how much did you get :D ?

flyfishnj wrote
and maybe start to shoot the neighbor's

Man, you live on the edge.



Anyway, I've also been trying to figure out which setup is best to shoot the kids (or neighbors with) for a couple of months now. See the below thread.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19098#106197

[Vegas Poboy]

Gibmeister wrote:
Vegas Poboy,

You mentioned getting a book on studio lighting to help with the purchase and set up of a beginning studio. Do you know of any good books that show the different types of setups and the equipment required? Thanks

Gib
Right now I'm using the Lighting Cookbook & Corrective Lighting & Posing. Both books covers different types of lighting and how to set up studio lights.
Also research old Shutterbug articles they have some simple but great setups from time to time. Go to amazon.com or to a bookstore and review books before you purchase.

[WestFalcon]

If I were you, I'd get an alien bee flash , light stand and an umbrella. You would be surprised at the quality from such a simple unit. Great for kids and about a $350 investment. You can add a light later if you think you need it.

[flyfishnj]

Everybody - thanks for your replies and discussion. The person that I sold my wife to returned her ; )

The pizza comment reminded me how hot studio lights can be. I'm leaning towards the monolight now. I like the idea of one light and a reflector. Can I use my 420ex on or off my cam to fire a monolight? That would make me wireless and I would have 2 lights then.

[scottbergerphoto]

flyfishnj wrote:
Everybody - thanks for your replies and discussion. The person that I sold my wife to returned her ; )

The pizza comment reminded me how hot studio lights can be. I'm leaning towards the monolight now. I like the idea of one light and a reflector. Can I use my 420ex on or off my cam to fire a monolight? That would make me wireless and I would have 2 lights then.
The 420EX has no manual settings so you would have to use it in ETTL. ETTL has a pre flash that would set off the slave on most monolights at the wrong time. To make this work, you need to attach a digital slave with a PC to monoplug cord to the monolight. The digital slave(eg. Wein Digital series) won't fire on the preflash. I tried this with my G2 and a monolight and wasn't happy with the results. The ETTL didn't seem to like the added flash. You could use a speedlight like the 550EX set on manual and set both speedlight and monolight with a flash meter. In my opinion, if you are going into studio lighting get a minimum of three monolights (Main, Fill, Background or Hair) and a flash meter. You can get reasonably priced kits from SP-Excalibur that come with stands, umbrellas, strobe bulb, modeling light. I have 3 6400's and added a softbox attachment and a couple of Photoflex reflectors. I'm very happy with the results.
Scott