Setting up a new studio

[mblanton]

I plan to begin setting up a new studion in July/August of this year. I have some experience with studio lighting (white lightening 1600's) unfortunately they are out of my price range. I have $1000.00 to spend and I need to purchase lighting, backgrounds (probably roll paper to start), and a accurate flash meter. How can I make all this fit into my budget?

Mike

[snibbetsj]

Well, you can get an Alien Bees (www.alienbees.com (http://www.alienbees.com)) digibee 2 light setup for $599. They're made by the same company that make the white lightning.


A Savage portable background stand from B&H is $100. I have one and I really like it. Background paper is about 50-60 a roll.

So you actually can get started for under a $1000. I'd look for a flashmeter also unless you already have one.

[Toogy]

Sorry to semi-hijack this thread, but is the Digibee 2 light setup enough to use for on-location event portraits (full body) or larger wedding parties? Or is it geared for mainly head shots and stuff?

[snibbetsj]

I upgraded the Digibee from the 400 to 800 model. I've shot groups of 10 with no problem with the 2 light setup and they're very easy to use for location photos. If you get their battery system then you'll even be self-contained.

[mblanton]

I am planning to do headshots, full-length, and small group shots. I looked at the Alien Bees site and really liked there lights. I was thinking about getting a B1600 with 30 x 60 inch softbox as my main light and a B800 with 32 inch silver/white umbrella as my fill light. I probably won't be able to purchase a background light to start. Like I said earlier, I want to use roll paper to begin with and then buy some painted backgrounds. I don't have a flashmeter yet. What is everyone else using?

When I get my equipment I want to start building a portfolio as soon as possible and have business cards printed. I was thinking about price point and wondered if anyone could suggest a starting point or tell me what they are currently doing.

I can't wait to get started.

MIke

P.S. I just checked the prices on the lighting equipment and here is what I came up with:

B1600 AlienBees B1600-Alien Green $359.95 ea. 1 $359.95
B800 AlienBees B800-Alien Green $279.95 ea. 1 $279.95
LS3050 10-foot General Purpose Stand $39.95 ea. 1 $39.95
LS3900 13-foot Heavy Duty Stand $69.95 ea. 1 $69.95
SB3060 Giant Softbox (with LGSR) $139.95 ea. 1 $139.95
U32SW 32” Silver/White Umbrella $19.95 ea. 1 $19.95

Order Subtotal: $909.70 Minus your 10 percent accessory discount of $26.98
Accessory discounts are based on number of lights in cart.
Lights are ineligible for discount.
Click here to change shipping options.
Tennessee deliveries subject to $83.59 sales tax.
Orders will be confirmed via email.

Order Discount: - $26.98
UPS Gnd Residential [42066] Shipping: $20.91
Grand Total: $903.63

This is quite a bit more than I can spend on just the lighting, so how much power (watt/seconds) do I really need.

I also looked at light meters and found two that I like. 1. Sekonic L-358 @ $249.00 and 2. Konica Minolta Auto Meter VF @ $219.00

[snibbetsj]

I'd go with 2 800's myself, that's really a pretty decent amount of light and will save you a few bucks. You can always add another light or upgrade later.

I use the Sekonic L358 and so do a lot of other folks. It works great and it's actually under $200 at B&H when you add it to your cart.

[mblanton]

I would love to see some samples taken with 2 800's. Is it hard to keep a white backgound white without a background light? Can someone that uses these direct me to their gallery? As for the Sekonic L358 that is cool. I am going to order it when I get back from vacation.

Mike

[Persian-Rice]

I have a studio provided to me, so for a few more years I dont need to build one. However, based on my studio studies, I will give you one major tip. When it comes to lighting, you really get what you pay for. I would buy better equipment and build, don't buy cheap and then replace everything. In the long haul it's going to cost more and for the time being, you can achieve better shots, more control etc etc.

[mblanton]

I was talking with some friends from the UK and they say not to bother buying a flashmeter. This idea sounds really strange to me, probably because of my strong film background. They say they use the histogram to adjust exposure. They also don't recommend roll paper as a background.

Rice,

You said to buy better equipment and build, but you did not recommend anything. Give me some idea of what direction to go with the budget I have to work with. Oh, I still think I want a flashmeter.

Mike

[Persian-Rice]

That's the thing, with some seriously high end stuff, you cant fit it into your budget, not even close, you need to get things separately and save. That's my preference, some people, maybe you, don't want to spend loads and loads of money and lighting equipment, so an alienbees set is fine. They aren't bad at all, actually pretty good.

Roll paper is fine, I would get a meter, I don't know what they are talking about. I use a meter all the time, I rarely shoot 35mm or DSLR in studio though, mostly digital or film large-format. A meter is important in studio, especially if you have a prosumer camera. I have a hard time with metering the set the way I want to with TTL metering, even with the 1D, although it is easier then a D series meter. The lack of spot and multiple spot meter can be a pain. I think a meter is a good tool, my prefernce, other may disagree. If you are shooting with a model, all you need is to tell them to wait 10 mintues for you to get things right, just get a meter and set up before you shoot.

Cheers

[aam1234]

When it comes to lighting, you really get what you pay for. I would buy better equipment and build, don't buy cheap and then replace everything. In the long haul it's going to cost more and for the time being, you can achieve better shots, more control etc etc.

Very true. And it applies to everything not just lighting equipment. My father always says: It's cheaper to buy more expensive items.

Persian-Rice, could you please rank some of the brands in the market. Like the high-end, middle range, and lower-end.

Thanks

[mblanton]

As a teenager I worked for a studio photographer and collector as a part-time job. He used white lightning ultra 1600's exclusively. He also kept some older wl monolights around as a backup. For my 16th (1987) birthday he arranged a model shoot for me as a gift. I had full control of the lighting/background setup and got to shoot a Nikon F3 HP with Nikkor 85mm 1.8. I still remember that day and probably will forever...it's just one of the reasons that I fell in love with photography. If I ever get a scanner I would love to share a few of the prints I made from that shoot.

I wish that I had unlimited funds and could build my dream studio, which by the way would be big enough to pull a eighteen wheeler into, but I don't. I realize that high-end equipment is well worth the money. Who wouldn't want to own a Canon 1Ds mkII, 300mm 2.8, and the best studio lighting on the planet. I love photography, and I would love to do photography full-time as a profession, but I have to be realistic, and accept the fact that it may never come to be. My first camera was a kodak 126, I built a pin-hole camera in the boy scouts, and mowed enough grass to purchase a minolta x-370 when I was 16, so I could join the year book staff at school. I worked as a sports stringer for the local newspaper for a few years. I did all these things because I am very passionate about photography. I want to buy some studio lighting equipment for my own enjoyment, because I love photography, and while I'd love to have some really high-end equipment, I'd gladly use whatever I could get my hands on right now. Hopefully in a couple of months I will raise enough money to by a basic set and be able to start working on some nice headshots or intimate portraits.

Time to get off my soap box.

Thanks for listening,

Mike

[snibbetsj]

Here's a couple of shots with 2 AB800 and shoor though umbrella on right and reflected umbrella on left. Really could use another light for the background although I could've used one light on background and a reflector for fill. Still learning myself :D . Start small and work up!:) :)


http://www.pbase.com/image/43642779.jpg


http://www.pbase.com/image/43642782.jpg

[aam1234]

Nice photos Jeff.

Wishing you all the best Mike. Let us know what you end up with.