small portable studio

[Terri400D]

Hi all,
I was looking into getting a small studio set up, one that I would be able to take into peoples homes to use. I already have a 430ex flash and cybersyncs would it be best to get another flashgun, or would it be best to use a continuous light and the 430 as fill or would it be best to get a studio set up.
Can anyone recommend any good set ups, for the UK I am on a tight budget.

Also backdrops do you take backdrops into houses, if so what ones do you use? I was looking into lastolite ones but am worried they may be too big for some home?

any help/advice is appreciated

Thanks

Terri
xxx

[Terri400D]

Is there no1 with experience of doing portraits in homes??

[bobbyz]

If budget is main concern, then why not start with simple cheap manual hot shoe flashes with umbrellas?

[cvt01]

Pick up a used canon flash on the ebay for cheap (~$100) or a vivitar 285 ~$90 new.
You will need a lightstand, second trigger, umbrella and umbrella bracket.
I'm against continous lights, not enough power, hot, bulky. It may not be easy to balance the flash light with the continous.
For backdrop take a look at this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=303021&is=REG
This is for up to 3/4 shots, is foldable it has a dark grey and light grey side so one side can provide a low key background (even no detail black) the other can be blown out to be white. And of course any color is possible with geled background lights. A small lightstand to hang it on may be needed.

[steveathome]

Hi all,
I was looking into getting a small studio set up, one that I would be able to take into peoples homes to use. I already have a 430ex flash and cybersyncs would it be best to get another flashgun, or would it be best to use a continuous light and the 430 as fill or would it be best to get a studio set up.
Can anyone recommend any good set ups, for the UK I am on a tight budget.

Also backdrops do you take backdrops into houses, if so what ones do you use? I was looking into lastolite ones but am worried they may be too big for some home?

any help/advice is appreciated

Thanks

Terri
xxx

IMHO continuous light is a no no, and you will not successfully be able to use your current flash as fill with continuous. The colour balance will differ greatly between the two.
The reason I am against Continuous is that its hot and can be uncomfortable for your subject, and isn't half as bright as it looks.
I was shooting in the high Iso's to achieve a decent aperture / depth of field, my continuous light kit was soon given away.

Many here use flashguns successfully, however my opinion is that they are quite expensive per unit, you have no modeling light, there is normally a considerable delay in recharging between shots, and you could be constantly replacing / recharging batteries.

Its definitely a workable solution, but if its a small portable studio you want, then you wouldn't go far wrong in getting the D-Lite 2 to go kit. You will get two 200ws flash heads, with two ridged stands, two soft-boxes and the required leads. Ready to go out of the box, along with two suitable carry cases for the whole kit.

Personally, I can thoroughly recommend it.

As regards backgrounds, as you are in the UK I can recommend the following suppliers:

http://www.jackthehat.co.uk/
&
http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/productslist~categoryid~155~sub~Backgrounds+%26+Su pports~selection~23.html (http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/productslist%7Ecategoryid%7E155%7Esub%7EBackground s+%26+Supports%7Eselection%7E23.html)
&
http://www.studiokitdirect.com/

All the above based on my past purchases.
Good luck.