How many light ....?

[QX56]

How many light should be good for studio light ? Iam looking at the Alienbees package .

Does the Busy bee(4 light) package is too much ....or the Digibees(2light)is not enough .

Thanks .

Edit : I also got 2 flash : 430EX and 580EX II .

[JBaz]

depends on what you are going to be using it for. What you plan on shooting dictates on what you really need. Low power, high power, WL vs. AB, and tons of accessories for light modification gives any photographer a limitless amount of possibilities and creativity. Also if you plan on shooting indoors or outdoors also has a big impact on equipment choice.

If you just want studio lights to just play around with at your leisure, then I would suggest getting one AB400, a simple 5-1 reflector or foamcore, and a medium sized transparent/white umbrella to start you off. I'd also recommend a Giottos LC 325 Light stand as someone else recommended it to me and it's great. Cost only $40 and its a nice heavy duty light stand and holds up even a big 11lb boom system. Get comfortable with that first and then add to the collection.

[QX56]

just for indoor portrait ...do you think 2 light setup that should be enough .

[JBaz]

Just get one light for now and a reflector. Using a reflector as a fill light will act like a 2nd light. It's cheap and invaluable tool when bouncing the main light or another fill light. If you want to do indoor portraits, I would get a medium softbox if you plan on just doing headshots or a medium octobox. Learn that before you go all out in getting more lights and setting up more complex shoots.

If you get two lights, use the 2nd light as a hair light and you can just use it as a harsh light. I generally use a 10-30 degree grid, depending on how far it will be from the subject, on a light boom directly overhead. It separates the subject from the background more.

[QX56]

OK ...thanks .