Help...strobe or continuous light??

[jacchess]

Any feedback appreciated.......My wife and I are going to do our 1st portrait session for a small dance studio....and feel we need to obtain appropriate lighting to help insure quality shots for our client. I've done some research and the debate between strobe and continuous lighting seems to almost be a matter of preference. We have the Rebel XT and must think very economical. As we must purchase lighting backdrops and stands prior to shoot. I've found many lighting kits from $100 to $400 dollars. Shots will mostly be individuals, but will include group shots from 5 to as many as 25 dancers. Thanks!

[DaveG]

Any feedback appreciated.......My wife and I are going to do our 1st portrait session for a small dance studio....and feel we need to obtain appropriate lighting to help insure quality shots for our client. I've done some research and the debate between strobe and continuous lighting seems to almost be a matter of preference. We have the Rebel XT and must think very economical. As we must purchase lighting backdrops and stands prior to shoot. I've found many lighting kits from $100 to $400 dollars. Shots will mostly be individuals, but will include group shots from 5 to as many as 25 dancers. Thanks!

I think that I'd look at this first portrait shot as the first step towards many. The gear that you buy for this should be thought of as an investment, not something that can be covered by the profit from just this one assignment.

My suggestion for gear would be at least two monolights, probably Alien Bees and I'd have a look at their kits with stands and umbrellas. They don't have to be incredibly powerful for portraits but you'll need all the power you can get for the groups. Strobes are MUCH more powerful than photofloods and except for the very newest ones those quartz-halogen light were an incredible fire/burn hazard. The newer constant light ones are still not powerful enough and are relatively expensive. The older, cheaper ones are no brighter and with the potential danger involved (what if a kid reaches up and touches one?) I wouldn't have one in the place.

If you go with the strobes then you'll also need a flash meter to set up lighting ratios, no if's and's or but's. But it'll get used EVERY time you set up a lighting ratio, and it too will be a tool for the next ten years.

I've potentially spent a lot more money than you anticipated but you mentioned quality and that's what this equipment will give you for the next decade. I mentioned saftey and that should go without saying. If the thousand dollar investment that this is going to require is too much, ask youself what you plan is if you can only get f4 (or ISO 1600) for that three row group shot, or how much insurance you have if something bad happens.

Besides if you don't buy the strobes now, you will within a year and you've taken half a step back with the investment in gear that won't do the job.

[MTalley]

Strobes, definitely. I'd be scared with a bunch of young dancers running around with a bunch of hot, top-heavy constant light sources around.

[jacchess]

Thank you David and Malcolm for your replies.

I too am leaning towards strobes.

What do you think of the following lighting? I found very "cheap" lighting kits at "http://www.owens-originals.com/"

ie: Smith Victor KF3U Complete Three Stobe Kit
-3 flashlight 45i AC Slave/Master Flash
-3 Synch Chords
-2 33 inch Black-Backed White Umbrellas
-3 Umbrella/Light Mounts
-3 Raven RS8 8ft Black Aluminum Light Stands
-1 Case
-1 Lighting Guide

$299.95

From what I've read David, lights are not something to "skimp" on, however given the extremely small budget we have, I was hoping to get opinions as to what I should select to help produce the desired lighting. The studio is very well lit with flourescent lighting and one of the 40ft walls has a rail and mirror for the dancers.

We only have the built in flash on camera.....and figured an auxillary speedlight wouldn't benefit under the circumstances. (Speedlight or other auxillary flash will probably be a must for the action shots they've asked us to do at the recital rehearsal.)

We really don't want to let the studio or the parents down. Earning money as photographers is a dream of ours and we don't want to let this opportunity slip by. We hope this will be the 1st in many shoots to help fund our true passion for nature shots and action sports photography.


Thanks!