Studio equipment? 300D

[GIrven]

I'm new to this form of photography.

As I'm a keen amature, meaning I don't do this as a leaving but enjoy it as a hobby. But I do hope one day to be good enough to be a professional. I love portraits and pictorial images. I'm still feeling my feet and need to ask a few Noob questions.

I have absolutely nothing in the way of studio equipment so this advise is most welcome. I use a Canon EOS 300D and looking to upgrade soon, perhaps the 20D. Until then I use the built in flash which is good at times and poor most of the time. So I'm guessing what I might or might not need?

Point me in the right direction or tell me what I need to buy would be great.

Will need to be portable as will most likely do most of it on location.

I hoping to do Portrait, family, portfolio model work.

Can't spend a huge fortune but would rather buy something in the UK?

[scottbergerphoto]

If you want something portable, you have to decide first if you want to go with a set of speed lights like 3 550EX's which I use a part of a portable portrait kit or studio lights. The speedlites are small, easy to carry in a bag, mount to light stands and can be controlled by wireless ETTL. Here is an example of what you can do with 3 550EX's an umbrella/light stand and a background:
http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/ayana_bailey

If you decide to go with studio lights, which is a better choice if you plan on doing alot of studio work, due to their more powerful output and range of accessory light modifiers, there are two brands that I would reccomend for a beginner:
1. Alien Bees
2. SP Excalibur
You also have to get a flash meter to set up your lights, ratios, and camera aperture. I reccommend the Sekonic L358.
There are some books I reccommend in the EOS Flash Sticky.
Good Luck,
Scott

[WestFalcon]

Another vote for alien bees....You will have to get an adapter for your hot shoe so that you can plug in an Alien Bee unit. The others will go off from the built in slave unit on the other Alien Bees...start with two and get some good books on lighting.

[GIrven]

Alien Bees << Can you get these in the UK?

[paulhillion]

Here is an example of what you can do with 3 550EX's an umbrella/light stand and a background:
http://www.pbase.com/scottbergerphoto/ayana_bailey

I like those photo's Scott, she has a great smile!

If you don't mind I have a couple of questions....

At present I have the 580EX & a 420EX, now to get results such as your examples above do you think I should invest in a second 420EX and have them working as 2 slaves with the 580 as the master? I don't know what price the Alien Bees sell for but I'm guessing buying an additional 420EX would prove to be the cheaper option. Plus as I'm a beginner at this, practising with the 3 flash units would be a easier learning curve?

Also regarding the background, I was thinking about just buying a plain white double bed sheet & dying it a colour of my choosing, a light brown maybe? Would that work out ok or should I invest in a purpose made background which retail I think for approx £150 with a stand?

Advice as always most welcome!

Thanks.