portable studio-ish lighting

[kja]

I've decided to expand my offerings for portraits and need to start building a shopping list. My budget is about $500ish, $700 ceiling for now.

I have a couple of light stands, a reflector, two small umbrellas and two 580 Canon flashes. I also have Skyport trigger system, but only for one flash at the moment.

Goals:
- to be able to set up at someone's house or at a small location for families/groups of 4-6 people (small family, not extended)
- to be able to offer sport's teams/special groups individual photos (do not want a backdrop big enough for a big group right now)
- to be able to offer kindy & school individual photos

I know I need a backdrop and am thinking white or black to start...just not sure which. And not sure on the size etc.

I think a tripod would be helpful, but this may take my budget over. For this exercise I would be happy with something that would meet this specific need (I have asked about tripods before and have a great list for ones that will do the more active, outdoor type stuffs but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I am happy to have two tripods.)

Any and all input on what other bits and bobs I need would be appreciated.

[DAdeGroot]

For backdrops, white is more versatile as you can render it anything from white through to black depending on light placement and distance.
Black is black regardless.

You probably want to add two more receivers and another flash really. (i.e. two for subject, one for background - although more on background is useful too).

[kja]

Would you suggest soft boxes or shoot through umbrella type things, too? My umbrellas are the small (36" I think) ones your flash into and it reflects back.

Or am I good with flashes only?

[Borderfox]

This is what I use, a lastolite Hi-lite and an elinchrom D-lite 4 kit

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/Borderfox/IMG_1168.jpg

[zelseman]

I have heard that a grey backdrop is really more versatile than either white or black, but this is coming from someone with very limited experience.

[JustinLawrence]

I have heard that a grey backdrop is really more versatile than either white or black, but this is coming from someone with very limited experience.

Yes, gray backdrop can be overexposed to create a white backdrop or underexposed to create black. You need more flash power to get it white though, so i guess its a bit of a trade-off and depends if you can spare up to two flash guns (for cross lighting) just for backdrop?

[Damian75]

Lighting wise you will get more bang for the buck with strobes than speedlights but in the price range portable power may be out of range a kit like this would be a good starting point.

http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CF0514K1/

[mickeyjuice]

Would you suggest soft boxes or shoot through umbrella type things, too? My umbrellas are the small (36" I think) ones your flash into and it reflects back.

Or am I good with flashes only?

Kristen, I'd spend a couple of hours (well, or days :-) reading www.strobist.com - it's an invaluable repository of information.

[kja]

Thanks so far, Guys!

miccullen - been there, go there, read a lot ... overloads teeny brain sometimes ;)

[yogestee]

Kristin,, before you go out buying a back drop or two try environmental style portraits where you can see where your subject works, plays etc.. This puts the subject into perspective with his/her profession etc..

I have done some nice corporate photography without back drops using an office setting..

[kja]

Jurgen -

I do those all the time already ;) I'm wanting a backdrop to add another choice/option.

[yogestee]

Jurgen -

I do those all the time already ;) I'm wanting a backdrop to add another choice/option.

OK,,understood..

[M_ark]

This is what I use, a lastolite Hi-lite and an elinchrom D-lite 4 kit

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/Borderfox/IMG_1168.jpg

I really love seeing setups like this in the middle of someone's livingroom - it's great to know i'm not the only one prepared to sacrifice the functionality of a room for a "higher purpose"!