2X 580 EXII , Need help , have never shot studio.

[brownbugger]

I am a event photographer / photojournalist , I have never shot studio , I frequently use a 580exII with my 50D, I have a 5DII in my future which will serve as a primary body (with 24-70) & 50D (with 70-200) , So I also will be getting another 580exII.

I would like to get into doing some outdoor portraits & some quick studio stuff too. I would appreciate if someone could tell me the what would I get to need setup (brands, ideas) . I would ideally like to be carrying a quick setup , I would love to get wireless triggers for the flashes , softboxes for the flash's, stands to mount the flash's, etc.

I can also perhaps go in for another 580exII *as a backup flash for my photojournalism needs*.

[TheHoff]

Have you not seen Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.com/)?

Ignore his current fascination with big lights; there is a wealth of information for speedlite users (and he comes from a traditional photojournalism background).

[Big G]

Remote Triggers - I know a number (including myself) have bought the Yongnuo RF602 remote triggers. These seem to work well. Take a while to arrive as they come from China.

Stands - I bought some cheap Konig stands, they are light and easy to setup and extend to over 2m.

Softbox - I got a 2 in 1 1m umberella. That can be used for shoot through or with the silver it can be reversed.

I found the Scott Kelby series quite helpful when I was deciding. The link is here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5087030&postcount=1)

[Dermit]

My bread and butter is environment (outdoors)/on location portraits. Here is what I use 95% of the time... Three flashes (I have 580exII, 580ex, and 550ex). Three light stands, sand bags for each. Two umbrellas, one snoot. Four PWs to trigger (one on camera, one for each light). I bungee all the stands and umbrellas together for transport, very portable.

For one or two people in the shot I set up my main off-axis with 42 inch umbrella, my fill on axis with umbrella, and then I set up a kicker behind the subject(s) but off to one side slightly, the side opposite the main light, with a snoot for slight rim lighting/separation. I make sure to adjust the zoom on the two umbrella flashes to 24mm to fill the umbrellas. Then for the kicker I usually use 80-105mm zoom in the snoot to aim the light to a specific area (back/side of the head usually). Of course all lights are on manual and I set the spacing and power settings to get the look I want. Then in camera I typically underexpose the background slightly to help the subject 'pop'.

This is typical, but I vary from it from time to time, like when I need more flash power to overpower a strong sunlit area I may ditch the umbrellas and use bare flash. If you balance the key and fill right along with the ambient you can still get a nice soft light without the umbrellas, it's just a little trickier sometimes.

Here's an example of a shot I just did recently using my typical setup....

http://sales.pixelcraftphoto.com/p/petitta/_mg_2412-edit_4_758

...The sun had just set so most the light on the girl is from my flashes.

Here is another, this one I did not use a kicker because the lighter hair and darker background already had enough contrast..... so you gotta make the call what to use and when on a case by case...

http://sales.pixelcraftphoto.com/p/steenhoek_family/steenhoek_006016

Now if I had to buy gear all over again I would but one Canon flash (580exII) but all the others I would just buy cheapie flashes that had power control and zoom control. This is because most of the time in a two or more flash situation I am shooting in full manual mode on the flashes so no sense paying for all the ETTL capability.

[brownbugger]

Thanks for an insight into your seutp Dermit , I also loved the pictures on your website.
There is simply just too much information out there and a lot of contrasting views too. From what I can gather , I need 2x softboxes with respecitve stands ( undecided over brand , size of softbox) , and one umbrella with the stand (Unsure if this is still the best way to go with things) I will require a wireless transmitter on the camera & three wireless recivers on the three flashes (again multitude of brands to choose from makes for a difficult decision) Also some questions like ... do umbrellas give a much better light with 580exii flashes or do softboxes work better with them , sizes , shapes, brands !! Am I missing something else ?

I will have 3x 580exii , I would mostly be shooting outdoors , or indoors on location shoots. I would need portability , and the 580exii's being battery powerd aslo helps immensely.

Im looking to get 1 large softbox & 2 smaller softboxes or 1 large softbox & 1 smaller softbox & 1 umbrella

[Harleypugs]

If you plan on doing mostly off camera shooting, then there is no real reason to pay the higher prices for 580EXII's. I would look for a couple Nikon SB-28's....you can get almost 4 for the price of one 580 EX II....

[brownbugger]

If you plan on doing mostly off camera shooting, then there is no real reason to pay the higher prices for 580EXII's. I would look for a couple Nikon SB-28's....you can get almost 4 for the price of one 580 EX II....

I'd be having 3X 580exII irrespective of whether I shoot portraiture.