please recommend a simple lighting /backdrop setup - detailed use/purpose inside..

[fastdiablo]

i have a 3rd story loft area that measures about 9' wide by 18' deep. i want to hang a backdrop (about 8' wide i suppose) and get a lighting setup for shooting bodyscapes, dim/moody nudes and high contrast b&w body portrait stuff. I have no lighting or flash experience, but shoot with a 40D and a the lenses in my signature if that helps.

i want to save footprint space, so big stands might not work well for hanging the backdrop (i want the backdrop very close to the wall or on the wall), but a couple lights can probably fit in my area with like 24" stand footprints (otherwise it will get crowded).

so, for this type of photography, i've always used continuous lighting (household lamps dimmed down) and a tripod (for the camera), so I don't think flash makes sense (but I'm a noob so I know i can be wrong). fyi, the air conditioning in the house is stellar, so i don't know if heat will be a problem with continuous lighting?

can anyone recommend a wall mount background system (or floor system with small footprint so I'm really close to the wall).

am i on the right track lookng for a continuous lighting system? do studio lights have dimmers? how do i control the light to keep things high-contrast and moody? i don't want that bright Sears Portrait Studio look.....

at this point i'm thinking a black velour backdrop that will cover the floor as well as the wall in conjunction with a softbox for the primary source, and a reflector to aid and bounce for mood. am I on track?

thanks very much for any help, guidance and recommendations! (links to products and packages/kits would be great too)

Thanks in advanced for all your experienced replies!
:D

[erphotography]

ooohhh I would love to know this as well. I know NOTHING about "studio lighting" but want to buy a portable backdrop stand and backdrop (saw some on ebay), but then I have NO idea what to light it with.I plan on using it for baby photos (my newborn), and in a pinch (rain) at a wedding reception for family photos.....
so I add my inquiry to the above one, and would be beyond greatful for a "basic" (spoon fed) description of what you would buy (that is dummy proof to use)...

[Jim M]

The question isn't so much how much light you have, but how you control that light. In terms of exposure, if you want a two stop difference between highlights and shadows, it doesn't matter if those two stops are f/5.6 vs. f/2.8 or f/22 vs. f/11.

Most studio flash units have adjustable light output - some more than others.

I hang my paper rolls from home made brackets that supports a pipe between them. Mine attaches to the ceiling, but it could easily attach to the wall. (I guess I can use present tense since it is still in place with a roll on it, but I haven't used it since the room filled up with junk several years ago.)

[sleibrand]

In terms of a backdrop, you can mount directly to the wall so it doesn't take up any floor space. I've used the J shaped hooks used to hang bicycles, two of them about 9.5 feet apart and a piece of metal pipe about 10 feet long.

In your case, I'd put the hooks about 6" from the wall on each side. You can use 9' rolls of seamless paper, just cut it down to 3"-4" shorter than the distance between the hooks.

The hooks and pipe should set you back less than $20, rolls of seamless are about $40 each.

For lighting, I really prefer strobes over continuous light. For the very dark, contrasty lighting, start with one strobe and a reflector for some fill (to control the darkness of the shadows). Use a roll of black seamless, position the subject as far from the background as you can and put the lights as close to the subject as you can.