1 or 2?

[cccc]

I'm prepared to buy some off camera lighting now. Nothing crazy, but something I can build on.

I will be doing light portrait work along with a little more indoor photography of staged homes.

My question is, should I spring for two lights now, or just get one umbrella, stand, reciever etc. for the time being and buy another reciever and light later on? I will be using my 430ex for my first light. Also, Pocketwizards and equivalent priced system are currently out of my budget and far from practical for my uses.

Question 1)
What sort transponder/reciever setup should I start with?

Question 2)
Should I stay away from lighttstands above 8 feet?

Question 3)
What is the best way to expose an interior (night or day) and what will the range be like with my little 430?

Question 3b)
Should I spring for a more powerful light now, or wait and see my results?

Thanks guys. The knowledge here far exceeds most places on the web.

[ootsk]

I mostly do portrait work. That said, I feel you are better off USING one light first. Get a softbox or large umbrella. Use one for the first few portraits, vary the angle, distance, feathering, etc. and learn what/how it works. You'd be surprised at the results, and you'll be learning a ton. Then I'd get a reflector next. Then a hairlight. THEN I'd include another light. If you can get a deal by buying two lights, then it's probably worth it, but I'd refrain from using the second light for a while.

2)I've started with PW's, so I can't answer this one.

3)The best way is to make it natural looking. Blend the ambient light with a color-balanced flash source. Not sure about your 430.

4)Not sure why tall lightstands would be bad. I use 10ft ones for receptions to get the light as high as needed..less chance of shadows from others getting in the way of the bride/groom.

5)I've got the AB800 and only once have wished it were stronger. The majority of the time though, for normal studio portraits, it's on less than 1/4th power. Remember, the closer the light source, the softer it is..so set it low and get it close.

[nuffi]

I just spent a bunch of time figuring out what lights I wanted to start with. Decided taht I'd get the Elinchrom 400/400 kit, but when I'd learnt they'd been discontinued I decided to dig a little deeper into the pockets and get the BX/Ri 500/500 kit instead of the dLites they have. If I end up needing more, I can get more Elinchroms and everything will just fit together. And the remote stuff is compatible with their Style RX pro rigs if I decide I need more power or the extra functionality.

It comes as a pair of lights with stands, 2 sogtboxes and stands the remote rig, plus carry bags.

The value of these kits was great, and it means then when a single light gets too limiting (and one light definitely would!) I already have a second in my bag.