Minimal Indoor Studio Setup

I've done some reading but I am still not sure of the right setup for me. Now that upgraded my camera I want to start doing studio work at home with a 1 light home setup that is also portable. I am new to the lighting..indoor shoot so something simple please. My space in not huge..a small room my basement.

I think I need the following but can anyone recommend some actual products/brands. I plan to use the my 430exii flash until i can upgrade to an 600.


Backdrop
Backdrop stand
Light Modifier (softbox, umbrella?)
Reflector (what about something to hold the reflector when I have no help)
Can the 5DM3 work wirelessly with the 430exii?

Thanks in advance.

Your on the right track and I believe the 5D MK3 has wireless flash commander according to the dpreview specifications page, you should double check your manual for specifics.

For a reflector holder I use this: http://www.amazon.com …anfrotto+reflec​tor+holder

You will need to basic light stands one for your flash and one for the reflector.

For starting out I would suggest an umbrella, they are inexpensive and very good at spreading light and great for a starting setup. Softboxes are great but if you only have one light and one reflector it can be a bit harder to get a decent amount of light on the background. If you are doing low key portraits that not an issue but if you want to shoot on a white background a softbox will make it harder to get the background evenly lit.

If your question is whether you can trigger your flash from the camera (stock), I don't believe so. There isn't anything built in (radio) that will trigger your flash.

You will need to optically trigger it with another flash, use a cord or radio trigger.

Gart

The 5DIII does not have a popup flash so it can not optically control your 430EXII. It has no built-in radio transmitter either. You will need something like the Yongnuo YN622 radio triggers for wireless off camera control. They will allow you to control the 430 through the 5d's flash control menu system. Once you obtain a 600EX-RT you can continue to use it with your 430 as long as you have a 622 under each remote flash. If you want to take advantage of the built-in wireless receiver in the 600EX-RT you will need a Canon ST-E3-RT transmitter or one of the similar RT protocol models from Yongnuo or Shanny. Please be aware that at this time there is no RT protocol stand alone receiver that would allow these transmitters to work with anything other than the Canon or Yongnuo 600's. Yongnuo has announced such a model in the design stage but it may be many months before we actually see it on the market.

To heck with optical triggers, get a set of YN622Cs and call it good. They are awesome.
Buy at least one descent light stand for your light, a cheap one for your foam core reflective fill and a clamp to clamp the foam core to the cheap light stand
Get a softbox that has a grid for an option
Get a 3ft X 3ft piece of foam core
To answer the back drop question we need to know the size of the room.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …e_ttl_wireless_​flash.html
http://www.adorama.com …IHIxfKhwcMCFZSI​fgodihcAYg
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Pony_Spring_A_​Clamp.html

windpig wrote in post #17410130
light stand for your light, a cheap one for your foam core reflective fill and a clamp to clamp the foam core to the cheap light stand

a cheap light stand with a clamp holding a piece of foamcore...a mostly USELESS tool because you cannot position and AIM the reflector so that it does the most good

the term 'clamp' can mean many things...the OP might even think something like this is what was meant by the above post

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Pony_Spring_A_​Clamp.html

but that doesn't necessarily mean it is the best 'clamp' for the purpose in mind! I'm not necessarily endorsing this particular product, but use it only as an example of how one uses a reflector holder...

https://11main.com …6GfakKSQwtHg&kp​id=2650365

to clamp and aim the reflector so it bounces light to the subject

mrfixitx wrote in post #17409092
Your on the right track and I believe the 5D MK3 has wireless flash commander according to the dpreview specifications page, you should double check your manual for specifics.

For a reflector holder I use this: http://www.amazon.com …anfrotto+reflec​tor+holder

You will need to basic light stands one for your flash and one for the reflector.

For starting out I would suggest an umbrella, they are inexpensive and very good at spreading light and great for a starting setup. Softboxes are great but if you only have one light and one reflector it can be a bit harder to get a decent amount of light on the background. If you are doing low key portraits that not an issue but if you want to shoot on a white background a softbox will make it harder to get the background evenly lit.

Yes I want the option to shoot on a white background. I was leaning towards a soft box so that is good to know.

Thanks for the reflector stand link!

Gart wrote in post #17409244
If your question is whether you can trigger your flash from the camera (stock), I don't believe so. There isn't anything built in (radio) that will trigger your flash.

You will need to optically trigger it with another flash, use a cord or radio trigger.

Gart

My 60D can set off my flash wirelessly. I can NOT control it by changing settings but it can trigger the flash.

So to clarify the mk3 cannot trigger the flash but the 60D can?

It's the built in flash on the 60d that triggers the 430ex II. The mk3 has no built in flash, hence it cannot trigger the 430ex II.

Plus one here for the YN 622c's.
Cheap, reliable and simple to use.

Wilt wrote in post #17410265
a cheap light stand with a clamp holding a piece of foamcore...a mostly USELESS tool because you cannot position and AIM the reflector so that it does the most good

[/U]

Hi Wilt

I've had no problem getting nice fill using the method I'm suggesting. It's no different than using tall flats. Is it perfect, no, but is it cheap, yes. The important part of doing it is being able to feather your light enough towards the foam core, but I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. I guess I was remiss in not suggesting where the lightstand clamped foamcore would get placed, but I figured that went without saying.

barfbaggs wrote in post #17410369
It's the built in flash on the 60d that triggers the 430ex II. The mk3 has no built in flash, hence it cannot trigger the 430ex II.

Plus one here for the YN 622c's.
Cheap, reliable and simple to use.

Oh ok. That makes sense. Thanks!