Recommendation for Portable Light Rig for Group / Band promo shots [price not ...

[CanonXTuser]

. . . necessarily a barrier. I'm not looking to spend money unecessarily or just for bragging rights either but what's most important to me is 1) quality of light and 2) ease of use.

i would love to stay under $1,000 for a two to three light rig [whether that be flash, strobes or always on lighting (sorry, forgot the name)], but don't have a problem doing several thousand to get quality and ease of use. It would be worth the investment to me to ensure I can get "total pro" results as seen in mainstream mags and ads.

Need for shooting individual and group shots - bands, models and "scenes" for posters, covers, calendars and other merch. uses and editorial use [local zine and web zine spreads].

So far, I've only shot available light / low light event and promo photography.

I know this is a popular question so it would be great to have a sticky where people list there rig and example shots that illustrate the capabilities and "looks" they get from their rig.

That's what I would like to see. People posting pics that best illustrate the "look" / "style" / "best shots" they get from their rig and listing the light gear used, including wires or remotes and reflectors, barndoors, etc. and the overall cost of the rig.

[CanonXTuser]

Bump.

[Adamjp11]

I am in the same exact boat. I really want to find some good portable lighting to bring on location with me for shooting Bands.

[Longwatcher]

a pair (or four) of AB1600's with a vagabond battery for each pair.

Also get softboxes and umbrellas for each as the few bands/dance troops I have done required all three at different times. I actually used AB400 and softboxes in the studio, but on stage I needed the AB1600 to reach out with enough power. In one case I went with just the straight on 7"reflector to gain that extra stop or two of power and just lived with the harsher shadows.

Keep the lights on the stands for quick and easy transport (use the bulb cap to protect the flash tube though) and if using softboxes find one that is easy to set up or can be transported in your vehicle already setup (unless you have the time).

Almost forgot - for ease of use I recomend getting an AB radio remote set to go with them as you can control the power of the lights from one position without wires with those (note If possible I would wait until they come out with the new ones - I hope). Pocket Wizards and radio triggers will set the lights off, but you have to adjust the power at the light with those.

Any more portable then that and you might as well stick with a couple of 580EX and an ST-E2.

There are better lights, but I know those work.

Just my opinion and somewhat limited experience,

[CanonXTuser]

Bump. Come on guys. How about some complete package recommendations / lists of the recommended kit you use and shots.

The following are the type of shots I am looking to be able to replicate:

http://myspace-229.vo.llnwd.net/00226/92/25/226235229_l.jpg

http://a144.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/25/l_0bbd91793424a5084d529464cd9e5877.jpg

http://myspace-499.vo.llnwd.net/01009/99/41/1009121499_l.jpg

http://myspace-802.vo.llnwd.net/01297/20/80/1297920802_l.jpg

[René Damkot]

Some good portable studio flashes are made by Profoto, Hensel, and Lumedyne.

[sspellman]

The essential items for location promo/fashion work would be:

3 Alien Bee AB800 Strobes
4' large Photoflex Softbox
2' med Softbox
light travel stands
1 AB Vagabond Battery Pack
Gels, barndoors
Pocket Wizard wireless
Case
total cost about $1300

to that basic kit I added-
1 ABR800 ring light
1 more AB800
5' Photoflex Octabox
HD studio stands
1 more AB Vagabond
Cases
Photoflex 4 by 8 diffusion pannel
Upgrades add another $1200

You can always go hogwild with background and other photo props.

That is my setup and used for all my pics on www.scottspellman.com

[CanonXTuser]

Wow! Thanks for the detailed replies Longwatcher and SSpellman.

Are those the rigs you guys/gals ??? are using?

Anyone else can share the rig they would use to do promo/group shots like the current pro examples above?

[René Damkot]

1 Lumedyne with CTO filter in umbrella (http://www.moonglade.net/rene/060520_ON_MBB/source/rhd20060520on_mbb0017.htm), Lumedynes (http://www.moonglade.net/rene/ON_web/PopVsPoets1Portret/source/rhd20041006on_pvp131.html), 550EX/580EX bounced (http://www.moonglade.net/rene/060916Feverdream/source/rhd_20060916fedr0394.htm).

If I had to buy a new set of strobes, I'd go with a Profoto B2 for power, or a new Lumedyne for portability.

For some more opinions on the Lumedynes look here (http://www.dg28.com/lightingkit.html) (look in the 'technique' section for shots.)

[Longwatcher]

Wow! Thanks for the detailed replies Longwatcher and SSpellman.

Are those the rigs you guys/gals ??? are using?

Anyone else can share the rig they would use to do promo/group shots like the current pro examples above?

Yes, mostly.
I have 2 each AB400, 800, and 1600 and work with those. I also use the AB RR1 set, but have had to repair the transmitter twice and need to get a second, but am kind of holding out for the upgrade system.

I suspect all but image #2 above could be done with natural (or already existing light) at high ISO or at most a bounced on-camera flash. #2 would require at least 3 lights (One low and behind the group, the other two in main and fill positions)

One of the few band shots I have online
http://www.longwatcher.com/images/20061210_StudioLighting201/Portrait%20Group.jpg

And a composite I did for a dancer recently
http://www.longwatcher.com/images/20061210_StudioLighting201/Dancer_02.jpg

The band shot and the foreground shot of the dancer where done in the studio with AB400 and softboxes as main and fill. The background shot for the dancers required AB1600's with just the 7" reflector to get (it has been desaturated and edited for effect). I was not allowed to place lights on the stage (to avoid interference) so got what I got.

So between the two, it shows some of the extremes.

Most of my on-stage live performance shots of bands have been taken with a 550EX flash on camera and are okay, but I like being able to control the lighting and can't do a lot during a live performance. In either case I still feel I need practice for groups, but seem to be getting more requests so I must be getting better.

[CanonXTuser]

1 Lumedyne with CTO filter in umbrella (http://www.moonglade.net/%7Erene/060520_ON_MBB/source/rhd20060520on_mbb0017.htm), Lumedynes (http://www.moonglade.net/%7Erene/ON_web/PopVsPoets1Portret/source/rhd20041006on_pvp131.html), 550EX/580EX bounced (http://www.moonglade.net/%7Erene/060916Feverdream/source/rhd_20060916fedr0394.htm).

If I had to buy a new set of strobes, I'd go with a Profoto B2 for power, or a new Lumedyne for portability.

For some more opinions on the Lumedynes look here (http://www.dg28.com/lightingkit.html) (look in the 'technique' section for shots.)

I really like the first lumedyne shot. I think that has the nicest light of the three. That was just with one lumedyne?

[Wilt]

. . . necessarily a barrier. I'm not looking to spend money unecessarily or just for bragging rights either but what's most important to me is 1) quality of light and 2) ease of use.

i would love to stay under $1,000 for a two to three light rig [whether that be flash, strobes or always on lighting (sorry, forgot the name)], but don't have a problem doing several thousand to get quality and ease of use. It would be worth the investment to me to ensure I can get "total pro" results as seen in mainstream mags and ads.

It is verrrrry difficult to find 'quality, professional' for even TWO lights at under $1000! You might find two good lights with stands, modifiers, etc. for about $1300-1500. There was a thread on POTN where someone seeking to work professionally tried to keep the budget below $1000 and was so pinched that even $300 more was out of the question. (Rots'o'Ruck!)

By 'quality, professional' I am referring to lights with features that would be useful for a working pro in all shooting circumstances. (The less expensive lights with 100w or even 150w modelling lights are overwhelmed by strong ambient light and become quickly useless, so these are not for 'all shooting circumstances'. Yes, there are people earning money with those lights, but they shoot in a mostly controllable range of circumstances.)

[René Damkot]

I really like the first lumedyne shot. I think that has the nicest light of the three. That was just with one lumedyne?

Yup. 1 Lumedyne bounced off a white umbrella.

The second shot isn't supposed to have 'nice' lighting, but rather a kinda 'boxing ring feel'. I'ld never put up light like that to get a nice shot, but I tried to get a 'gritty, kickboxing poster' look...

On the modelling light comment made by Wilt: I couldn't agree more... That's exactely the biggest drawback of the Lumedyne set. That, and the limited f-stop range of the 'Classics' I have: 50, 100, 200 or 400 Ws. The newer 'Signature' series offer a 7 stop range IIRC...
But the modelling light on the Profoto B2/7B units is *a lot* better.
They are off course about twice or triple the weight and size....

[sboerup]

I don't know why people think they need 400ws or power to get the power they need. I have probably the most portable setup I can imagine, and the most cost effective. I have this equipment by choice as I could afford the Elinchrome lights if I wanted them (which I might be getting for my new studio soon).

Here is my uber-portable and uber-affordable rig. NOTE: All lights create what?? Light, thats all they do. Some do it differently, more consistently, more powerfully, but they all just make light. So, what I bought:
-1 old Metz 45 CL-3 ($100)
-The Al Jacobs Black Box ($180)
-Cable and adapters ($40)
-Bogen Stand ($100)
-2 PW Tranceivers ($335).

All this on one stand weighs about 8 pounds. The only downside is that you don't have much control over the lights, only full, 1/2 or 1/4 power. Of course you can move the distance but that will change the quality. I use them with either a 60" white shoot-thru or a small Photoflex softbox.

Those Metz units are rated at about 145ws or so, maybe even less and they can produce the power that I need. I did an engagement shoot over the weekend with 1 light, and at mid-day outside with no clouds, I could still overpower sunlight. ISO 100, f11 @ 4-5 feet or so. Now this doesn't give you much control, but it's all I needed.

Of course the AB and Vagabond make a great system, but it's not exactly light and I can't pick up the stand and run with it if I needed to, or move it around in a jiff. I had an AB800 and the Tronix battery, and it was a fantastic setup. I noticed that I never used it at even 3/4 or maybe 1/2 power a couple times. So, I realized that 160ws would do me fine. The battery was about 18lbs so it wasn't exactly portable or so. It would be if I had an assistant.

Trying to get a really professional system in all aspects of the rig is pretty much darn impossible under $1000. Sure you can get 1 AB or 2, get an umbrella and a Vagabond, but you are limited in your modifiers. You really need to be able to control the light to get what you need. Fortunately at this moment the 1 light does a great job.

[CanonXTuser]

Thanks guys. really detail posts and views make it really easy to compare.

AS for cost, I know $1,000 is really low ... I threw that out as a "just in case" benchmark, as in, just in case someone really knew of a system that could hit that.

My actual budget is up to $2,500 to $3,500 with the ideal sweet spot to be around $1,800 to $2,100.

AS mentioned, quality of light and ease of use is the main thing. I'm really to pay the $3,000 plus, to get it so I can spend more time thinking about the shot and not dealing with equipment.

[tipsy]

i regulaly do promo shoots for a bunch of magazines, and i meet many photos who love strobes and softboxes. however i'm not one. get a couple of pocket wizards or even some of the cheap remote flash triggers off ebay, and try positioning 1 or 2 flash guns on tripods around the studdio, using a stofen. you can get some really nice lighting and shadow effects with are especially good for ambient effects.
x

[Stackinchips]

I'd liek to bump to see more opinions/options... good thread

[awad]

I use a couple of b800's and an innovatronix battery.

if i was shooting a lot band promos, i'd probably get 2 b1600s and the alien bee ringflash.

[CanonXTuser]

Bump. Come on guys. How about some complete package recommendations / lists of the recommended kit you use and shots.

The following are the type of shots I am looking to be able to replicate:

http://myspace-229.vo.llnwd.net/00226/92/25/226235229_l.jpg

http://a144.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/25/l_0bbd91793424a5084d529464cd9e5877.jpg

http://myspace-499.vo.llnwd.net/01009/99/41/1009121499_l.jpg

http://myspace-802.vo.llnwd.net/01297/20/80/1297920802_l.jpg

seeing if any others can chime in.

[René Damkot]

I allready chimed in, but off course it's also quite a matter of "It's not what you've got, it's what you do with it" ;)
Some more shots I used the Lumedynes on (one as a bit of adding to the daylight, one in an improvised 'studio' seting):
http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/070410Bandshoot/source/image/rhd_20070410_hay_0015.jpg

http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/070410Bandshoot/source/image/rhd_20070410_hay_0241.jpg