Help Me Put Together a Portable Studio With Alien Bees For Pet Photography.

[Rick Anderson]

Here is the situation: I just contracted with a chain of pet groomers to go into their stores and setup a mobile studio in their (relatively small) break rooms. To date, 99% of my pet photography business has consisted of outdoor environmental shots and candids so I don't have any real studio equipment. My current lighting equipment is limited to two Speedlights (a 580EXII and a 430), a medium-sized reflector, a small diffusion panel, light stands, and umbrellas - all of which were great for the occasional outdoor fill-light situation. I realize that I can expand the Speedlight setup with but I am contemplating Alien Bees. I would like to get enough power to use outdoors with the Vagabond on occasion but the rig will primarily be used in a portable studio situation.

I have a relatively tight budget but want good stuff and I’m in a quandary about what to order.

Main and fill lights – I am debating between the AB400 or the AB 800s. The 400s may be perfect for a small mobile studio but are they too weak for the occasional outdoor use? Will 800s be too much for a small studio?

I’m also not sure about a hair (back) light, or if I even need one. I am thinking of possibly a cheap slave light such as the screw in strobe by AC Systems ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/50050-REG/SP_Systems_SP72_72_AC_Strobe.html ) Or, as an alternative, could I use one of the Speedlights in slave mode or can they even be triggered by the Alien Bees flash?

I don’t own a backdrop so I need to order a backdrop and stand, a backdrop light, and possibly a selection of gels to change the background color. I have no idea what direction to take here because I want to be versatile but not too terribly expensive. Should I go with a third Alien Bees here (possibly the AB400), or should I use a Speedlight (if possible), or another light?

Modifiers: I don’t even know where to begin here. I know I prefer the Photoflex softboxes but I’m not sure how to attach them to the Alien Bees – do I order a speedring from Photoflex? And I’m not sure a softbox is even the way to go – a lot of dog photographers say they prefer umbrellas.

Anyway, I would appreciate some suggestions on what I should order - backdrops, stands, lights, modifiers, etc. I know I’m getting a Sekonic 358 meter but that is all I know so far. Keeping in mind the type of photography - dogs primarily shot from a low-to-the-ground perspective - what would you order?


Thanks!

[TMR Design]

Hi Rick,

I'll let others chime in with recommendations for the kit and its components but I did want to answer your question about the speed ring.

The Alien Bees speed ring will work with all Photoflex softboxes, octaboxes and strip boxes. You can get the Photoflex ring but it's almost $20 more than the AB ring and there's no need for it based on what you want to do.

If you look on the AB site you'll see the speed ring and I believe it sells for ~$30.

[Rick Anderson]

So the ring from Alien Bees will work with the Photoflex box? This is so confusing!

[TMR Design]

So the ring from Alien Bees will work with the Photoflex box? This is so confusing!

Hi Rick,

I'm not sure why it's confusing. I just posted this:

The Alien Bees speed ring will work with all Photoflex softboxes, octaboxes and strip boxes

Did you miss that?

[Rick Anderson]

Yes, I got what you said. I'm not questioning your knowledge because you have done it and have first-hand experience, which is why I'm asking.

My reply should have been, "I thought I had read elsewhere that you had to buy the speedring from the maker of the softbox so it is good to know that the Alien Bees speedring will work with the Photoflex after all."

[TMR Design]

The AB ring will work with most brands of boxes and in general each manufacturer makes speed rings for almost all brands of strobes. You can go either way but if you're going to be using AB strobes I recommend using their ring. If you were not going to use Bees then you would buy a speedring from the manufacturer of the strobe or the appropriate ring for your strobe from the manufacturer of the boxes.

I didn't think you were questioning my knowledge :D
I just thought you missed the answer to your question.

[bobbyz]

I also use AB speed rings with photoflex SB, no problems like Robert already mentioned.

If I were doing something like this for money, I would not mix speedlights with AB. I would have more than 1 AB. I would think that AB400 would be more than enough for your case. Now for outdoors i mid sun, even Ab800 is not enough. But it all depends on what you plan to do with it.

[crazyseany]

I am just thinking outloud and probably giving more questions then answers.

if you have the budget go with 2 or 3 (especially if you want to gel the background) you don't necessarilly need the gel holders as I believe they come with clips to clip a gel to the reflector. you might be able to use the stands you already have to save a little more.


don't forget you have 2 years to upgrade the power if you need more. if you have a 400 and want to upgrade to a 1600 you pay the difference + $25.

maybe get the min. for your studio gig and add or upgrade to use outdoors at a later date.
(was going to say its almost winter but not in CA.)
use your softbox you have add a speedring and a couple of umbrellas......

[Rick Anderson]

I just ordered the following from Alien Bees: Two AB800s, a folding medium softbox with the softbox grid insert, a Vegabond power pack, an accessory mainframe, gels, and gel holders. I have several umbrellas, reflector holders and reflectors, so this should be a great start. I can add another light or so as needed.



*** I am still shopping around for light stands, a background stand that can be used for both paper and fabric, a light meter, and decent machine-washable muslums that can be changed with gel lighting. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[jgettis]

Might try a silver umbrella on them. I seem to remember reading somewhere that for photos of animals the silver ones work better because of the better highlights on the animals fur. John

[Rick Anderson]

Might try a silver umbrella on them. I seem to remember reading somewhere that for photos of animals the silver ones work better because of the better highlights on the animals fur. John

I also discovered that a while back. The gold works well on people because it warms the skin but the silver brings out the luster in the animal's fur. I guess I'll save my gold bounce umbrella for the Chinese Crested dogs since they don't have fur! :)

http://samaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/chinese-crested-dog-elwood.jpg

[crazyseany]

Heres another post that suggests some inexpensive background stands and muslin options.....

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=525362

[Rick Anderson]

Thank you. I found that thread in a search last night and have pretty much decided on the Photoflex system for the stand. It's moderately priced but appears to be sturdy enough. I'm still shopping around for muslins.