Basic Studio Equipmnet?

[J___]

hi,
i've always wanted a little portrait studio in my house since the day i started photography. since more and more of my friends are asking me to take there portraits, i'm deciding if i should set up a little portrait studio in one of my rooms. can you guys tell me what's needed to setup the most BASIC studio? and i would prefer something mobile so i can bring to other places. like 2 of those big lights with the white box, a backdrop. etc etc. and what about off camera flash? can the 2 big lights be used as flash too?

currently my ghetto setup is just a 500w halogen work light from home depot and a 2x2metre piece of triple velvet black cloth for backdrop. i just do custom white balance since the halogen is VERY yellow.
i get results like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Blinky2001/People/IMG_2072.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Blinky2001/People/IMG_2230.jpg

[chris.bailey]

Verrryyyy good. The Halogen creates a fairly hard light with defined cut offs (see the nose shadow on the first shot). Now if this is the effect you want then fine but most portrait photographers look for a kinder soft light that wraps around. You will also find it is hard to maintain colour balance and then is a tendency to burn out the highlights. They also get very hot.

I started my modest studio with a single 500 flash head made by Bowens , a large white reflector and a silver brolly. You can do a lot with that setup but the silver brolly lighting is still fairly hard edged. I then went with a second flash head and bought a white shoot through brolly and a softbox. That gives you loads of options for controlling lighting ratios and the facial shadows are nice and soft i.e.

http://www.pbase.com/chris_bailey/image/24713303.jpg

With a couple more white reflectors you then effectively have more light control but ultimately you will want control over background lighting, accent lighting i.e. hair lights etc and I now have a four light setup which I have stuck with for some time but it is amazing how much you can spend on bits and pieces such as grids and snoots. Having borrowed a Bowens Supersoft 600 the other weekend that is next on my shoppping list. It creates superbly soft shadows and nice round catchlights. This is a four light and reflector setup (mainlight with the Supersoft, reflector as a fill and then two background lights to burn it out and a hair light with a grid)

http://www.pbase.com/chris_bailey/image/34672799.jpg

[scottbergerphoto]

My Mobile Set Up:
1. 2-550EX's(one on camera, one on stand)
2. 1-420EX(background light)
3. 1-Lightstand with Multibracket
4. 1-White Umbrella
5. 1-Photoflex Gold/White LiteDisc
6. 24 AA Nimh batteries(12 in the flashes/12 backup)
The (2) 550's,(1) 420,a 10D, 24-70/2.8, batteries, CF cards, bulb duster, all fit into a LowePro Stealth Reporter. The light stand and umbrella fit into a tripod case.
Regards,
Scott

[J___]

chris:
nice portraits :) those are the kinda stuff i want. as u mentioned u started with a 500 bowens flash head? is that just a buld on a stand? does it come with a softbox? if it's a flash head does it illuminate the subject when ur not shooting then when u press the shutter an even stronger light (flash) is emiited? or is it just like a camera flash?
i did modeling before and i usually see 2 of those softboxes infront of me that are constantly illuminated, then when the pciture is taken a flash is emiited from them for even more light.
wanted something like that. to start off, one softbox light/flash thing, then add them as i progress in the future.

scott:
so u only use 3 of the canon flasses and no other light source?

could u guys be kind enough to post some links/pics of the softboxes, and lighting equipment ur talkin about? and the average price for a starter studio light set. im such a newb towards them!
thank you so much for all ur help!


i know it's gonna cost alot more than my $10 halogen bulb but it'll be worth it since i can shoot at ease without worrying about burning my house down!

[scottbergerphoto]

You asked about a portable/mobile set up. Three lights and a reflector is more then adequate for that. When I do studio work at home I use three SP Excalibur 3200's , a softbox, a reflector, a beauty disc, and if necessary some smaller flashes on Manual.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=129711&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=129717&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=129721&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=42102&is=REG
Scott

[J___]

ah so u would have one of the 3200 on a stand, then the softbox over it.
is the 3200 an omni light. or is it also a flash as well? and how do u set it to flash with ur camera? is there a remote that attaches to the camera?

[scottbergerphoto]

The Excaliburs are an example of a Monolight. The flash head and electronics are in one unit that gets plugged into an outlet. There are also more expensive Head + Pack units in which the flash head and electronics are separate. They are much more expensive(Bowens, Balcar, Speedtron, Novatron). These are two types of strobe units. Most photographers today use strobes over continuous lighting due to the heat, fire hazard, and for film cameras the variety of tungsten film is limited. You can use daylight film with contunuous lighting if you correct it with filters, but you lose alot of light. That isn't an issue with digital as you just choose your white balance.

The softbox attaches to the monolight via a speed ring that is usually included with the softbox or available as an accessory item.

You have options as to how you trigger the flash units. You can use a PC Cord on one and set the others on Slave Mode or use a wireless set up like Pocket Wizard Plus in which a transmitter goes in the camera hot shoe and the receiver plugs into the flash unit.
Regards,
Scott

[chris.bailey]

chris:
nice portraits :) those are the kinda stuff i want. as u mentioned u started with a 500 bowens flash head? is that just a buld on a stand? does it come with a softbox? if it's a flash head does it illuminate the subject when ur not shooting then when u press the shutter an even stronger light (flash) is emiited? or is it just like a camera flash?
i did modeling before and i usually see 2 of those softboxes infront of me that are constantly illuminated, then when the pciture is taken a flash is emiited from them for even more light.
wanted something like that. to start off, one softbox light/flash thing, then add them as i progress in the future.

scott:
so u only use 3 of the canon flasses and no other light source?

could u guys be kind enough to post some links/pics of the softboxes, and lighting equipment ur talkin about? and the average price for a starter studio light set. im such a newb towards them!
thank you so much for all ur help!


i know it's gonna cost alot more than my $10 halogen bulb but it'll be worth it since i can shoot at ease without worrying about burning my house down!

I now have four of these flash heads

http://www.bowens.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=35&osCsid=a9797c2d646 0147021b500247e78857f

There are several other good flash heads about but also some rubbish. TheBowens are built to last and the DX models are controllable in 1/10 stop increments.

I also have a couple of these softboxes

http://www.bowens.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=64&osCsid=a9797c2d646 0147021b500247e78857f

The Bowens are expensive but as in many things you get what you pay for.

http://www.bowens.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=59&osCsid=a9797c2d646 0147021b500247e78857f is the Supersoft 600 which I have now got on order.

Get decent lighting stands, most of mine are Manfrotto and are brilliant.

Most studio flash units include a modelling light. On the Bowens heads you can set this to be proportional to the final flash output. In multi light setups this gives you a visual cue as to where the light is falling and any dark areas. when you press the trigger the modelling light goes out and the flash fires. A flash meter though becomes essential. A studio setup is all about making light do what you want it to i.e. it is a about light control. The portrait of my wife I posted was setup with a lighting ratio of 2:1 between the short lit side of her face and the long reflected light side. the background though is lit about 4 stops brighter so as to really burn it off. i also setup a hair light and metered this to the same as the bright side. the more lights the more complex it gets. I really would start with one or two and build from there, given the shots you got with a hot light, you should do wonders with a couple of decent flash heads.

[FlipsidE]

I'm curious. I wouldn't really be into taking professional studio photos as of yet, so I don't think I'd need quite that much equipment nor do I really want to spend that much money.

Can you get starter kits for starter studios for $200 or so?

FlipsidE

[J___]

those lights cost quite cheap here in shanghai. of course it's not the same brand and definately not as good quality but it gets the same results (or similiar) and a light/stand/largesoftbox cost around $30 USD

[advdesigns]

FlipsidE: I'm selling my InterFit Tungsten Kit on Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3846680219