Lighting & back-drop equipment advice needed

[Janet1075]

I have a Canon EOS 30D, along with the 580 EXii flash. I also have a tripod with an automatic picture taker (as you can see I'm bad with the terminology). I want to set up an area in my apt to take photos from time to time. I plan to start off with a large black back-drop and some lights. I want to take a variety of pictures (newborns (both my friend and my sister in law are due in 2 weeks), parents with newborn, toddlers, a boxer (I'd really like to get the light hanging over his body so that part is in the light and part is shaded), friend shots, family portraits, etc) so I need the fabric to be large enough for a large group to stand on as well as sit/lay on.

So here are my questions (because I would really like to order my equipment this week):

What size of fabric should I get? Should I be looking for a specific type of material? Does one work better than another? Some people have suggested I just go to a fabric store and get a very thick piece of black fabric.

What kind of fabric holders should I get?

What kind of lighting should I get?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[crazyseany]

I was at joann fabrics with the wife the other day. a lot of people use muslin as a backdrop. they had black muslin for 7.99 a yard at 108 inches wide (9 ft)

the whole roll was 25 yards.....

so if you wanted 7 yards.... 9ftX21ft it would be 55.93- their 40 percent coupon in sudays paper.... equals 33.50

if you don't want to buy a backdrop stand you can always pin it to the wall with pushins (fill in holes with toothpaste since you rent... saw it on CSI)

or ebay sells stands that will come with a white and black background.... or some includes all that and "studio lights".... research before buying.

hope that helps a little.

someone somewhere suggested using black velvet (might need 2 bottles if dealing with kids and dogs) cause it obsorbs all the light.

also remember a gray background can become white or black depending on lighting


sean

[Janet1075]

Thanks for the response! I truly appreciate it. I am trying to do all the research possible before spending on something that isn't what I should be using. FYI - The boxer...I mean an actual person who does boxing. I've thought about the push pins but I am buying a co-op, plan to do a lot of work to it and I know myself, I will be putting the backdrop up and down all year long so I prefer to keep the walls undamaged. But toothpaste...I'll remember that for when I move out of where I'm living now. THANK YOU!

[crazyseany]

I just ordered a background stand from amvona.com off of ebay. I got the AS-015 that has 3 crossbars and also got white muslin from joanns.

if I remember will post how the stand is when I get it.... if you want to do a search type in background support. they have 3 ending everyday and 3 of the ones with one crossbar......

if you are looking for studio lights might want to check out the calumet genesis 200 2 light kit. $340 with stands and umbrellas.

I was thinking you are a little obsessive about your dog if you are preplanning how your gonna light it.... lol.... but now I see


sean

[Janet1075]

Thanks for all your help! $340 sounds within my budget. I'll find it online and check out the reviews. I'll do that for the 3 crossbars as well. All the best.