Basic Studio Lighting

yogestee wrote in post #12270215
Respectfully, when a new piece of equipment is purchased, whether it be a camera, lens, flash etc, it's a good idea to go through a process of testing to see where its limitations lie..

Yup! And that's exactly why I'm getting the lighting three months before I'll need it. My dog is going to get really sick of my camera by the end of those three months.

PeaceFire wrote in post #12270641
Yup! And that's exactly why I'm getting the lighting three months before I'll need it. My dog is going to get really sick of my camera by the end of those three months.

You also might find folks to volunteer to be your experimentation models in exchange for a CD of photos in exchange. It will provide an wider variety of subjects to learn how to better flatter with posing and light placement.

Wilt wrote in post #12272272
You also might find folks to volunteer to be your experimentation models in exchange for a CD of photos in exchange. It will provide an wider variety of subjects to learn how to better flatter with posing and light placement.

Interesting.... any thoughts on how?

PeaceFire wrote in post #12269957
I'm was getting down to debating between the Gensis and Alienbee. Any advice on these two? I'd probably pick up a YN-560 to use with my umbrella when the 430 isn't available.

This one is under $300: http://www.calumetphot​o.com …200_soft_box_ki​t/cf0502k2

200 ws is what my quantum puts out and it's not really powerful. I use it for outdoor shots while combining ambient light and it works up to about ten feet away using f8.

Edit - That is using ISO of 100-200

shankarhokie wrote in post #12272433
Interesting.... any thoughts on how?

See if you can post a flyer at a hair syling shop, stating the terms of the offer to a limited number of shop clients, showing Before and After a haistyling change by the shop. Just one of many similar ways of getting to a wide range of people willing to lend an hour of their time in exchange for your getting practice!

PeaceFire wrote in post #12269901
I've been shooting for 3 years. Portraits and weddings. And as stated in my original post, I was getting by just fine using mostly ambient light because my studio has a TON of natural light (and entire wall is windows plus two windows on another wall. This new studio is a lot darker hence the need for more lighting. And, again, if you'd read my post you'd know that I was looking to get these lights now before opening my studio in July.

With all due respect, the purpose of a studio is to control light. If your previous studio was relying on "ton of natural light" then I would say, most of this light is not controlled. The purpose of having a studio is to have controlled light. And from your original post, everything doesn't make sense. You were able to purchase a 580ex and 430ex which is more than $500 even when purchased used. And you want to purchase an entire boatload of studio strobes for $300 or less.

And you said you were comfortable shooting with ISO 400 and 800 - with strobes???? Save your money first and practice with one light in a controlled environment. I would say, use your speedlights and buy some cheap ebay triggers and buy a light meter and practice.

If you don't know how to measure light - then your shots will be inconsistent. Shooting ambient and shooting strobes are totally different photography.

Umm.. not to sound rude, but you currently have only 2 flashes (580 + 430) and you are wanting your assistant to shoot a wedding with the 430 while you take the 580 to another wedding? What happens if one of them breaks down (it will happen)?

Sounds like you need to prioritize your purchases and get some additional backup equipment for the weddings and use a combination of everything for the studio before you start buying all this studio stuff.

That said, if you decide you absolutely have to have the studio stuff, look into Flashpoints from Adorama. They are cheap (you can get one for under $100) and built in an aluminum body. I have 9 of them and actually prefer them to the ABs for their build quality. I have not had a consistency issue with them, but I never did any scientific testing either.

Have you considered continuous lighting, such as color-balanced fluorescents or even LEDs? If a significant part of your shooting is infants and animals, a continuous source is much less likely to startle and frighten your subject, compared to a strobe. It also eliminates the need for modeling lights (or guesswork!) - when the fluorescents are on, what you see through the viewfinder is exactly what you get in your final shot.

PeaceFire wrote in post #12268064
Until now I've been using my on-camera 580 EX II and a 430 EX II with an umbrella when I needed extra light. However, my old studio had a ton of natural light so added light wasn't always needed. The new studio is a bit darker and the area I will use to shoot has hardly any window lighting at all and I just don't feel my current set-up will work. Plus, I use the 430 EX II as an on-camera flash for my assistant at weddings and I'd prefer to save it for that use exclusively if I can.

...

-I have about $300 to spend but would prefer to keep it around $250 or even less if possible. I'd love to get two AlienBees B800s with two foldable softboxes, but it's just not in the budget. Though I think I'll be able to upgrade in a year so this kit only needs to last that long.

If you really only have $300, perhaps you should stick with the two speedlights until you have more money or more direction in terms of your studio photography?

Softboxes have less spill than umbrellas. That's what makes them attractive in studios - you don't have light bouncing everywhere.

As for light recommendations, I can recommend Adorama Flashpoints. Cheap, built well, and good enough. A step up from that would be Calumet Genesis, which use the Elinchrom mount so you can jump straight into Elinchrom and keep your modifiers whenever you upgrade, or ABs.

airshaq20 wrote in post #12273176
And from your original post, everything doesn't make sense. You were able to purchase a 580ex and 430ex which is more than $500 even when purchased used. And you want to purchase an entire boatload of studio strobes for $300 or less.

It would make more sense if you knew the details. The 580EX and the 430EX were both purchased during my free-wheeling non-house owning days three years ago. This was also back when I had another job that not only paid me well, but brought in pretty royalty checks on a semi-regular basis. But all that is over now. I switched to doing photography full time (and went from an almost 6-figure salary to... not anywhere near 6-figures), and we just purchased a house (which is where my new studio will be located). When you go from having $20,000 in your checking account one day to having it be almost empty the next that can make one a bit more frugal. So I've decided to pay for this off income alone, and not dip into my savings. And, well, I've only booked one last session here before the move, hence the $300 to fund this venture. I *could* spend more to, but right now my financial focus is more on fixing up the house since so little of my work is actually done in a studio (babies and boudoirs only).

And for anyone who cares, I came up with a starter solution that will run me only $200-250. I spent a lot of time chatting with a friend/mentor of mine on lighting. She's been in the business for years and came up with a great starter kit for me and is going to help me learn the ropes.

-2x Yonguo Speedlight (still debating between the 460II, 560, and 468, which one is truly the best bang for your buck)

-Yonguo RF-602 w/extra receivers

-Westcott 43-Inch Umbrella/Stand Kit

Rounded out with the umbrella, stand, and Speedlights I already have.

It's very basic, but I'm told it'll work!

Curtiss Bryant wrote in post #12273290
Umm.. not to sound rude, but you currently have only 2 flashes (580 + 430) and you are wanting your assistant to shoot a wedding with the 430 while you take the 580 to another wedding? What happens if one of them breaks down (it will happen)?

Sounds like you need to prioritize your purchases and get some additional backup equipment for the weddings and use a combination of everything for the studio before you start buying all this studio stuff.

I'm confused about where you got this from. If I said wedding, I didn't mean it. We're double booked with portraits right now. Once this summer double booked with weddings but that's what equipment rental is for.

For portraits I'm really not that concerned with a flash failing. I really can't imagine an on-location portrait situation that I've been in where not having a flash was that big of a deal. It's such a slow paced, controllable situation that you can just adjust what you're doing to work with what you have. Btw, these are all engagements we're talking about.

Wilt wrote in post #12272581
See if you can post a flyer at a hair syling shop, stating the terms of the offer to a limited number of shop clients, showing Before and After a haistyling change by the shop. Just one of many similar ways of getting to a wide range of people willing to lend an hour of their time in exchange for your getting practice!

This is a very good idea! I hadn't even considered this! I was also going to introduce myself to the local florists and DJs and offer to take their portraits or some product pictures as a way to start networking with them. So hopefully I'll have plenty of subjects to choose from.

nathancarter wrote in post #12273347
Have you considered continuous lighting, such as color-balanced fluorescents or even LEDs? If a significant part of your shooting is infants and animals, a continuous source is much less likely to startle and frighten your subject, compared to a strobe. It also eliminates the need for modeling lights (or guesswork!) - when the fluorescents are on, what you see through the viewfinder is exactly what you get in your final shot.

While less startling my research led me to believe that continuous lighting for newborns isn't the greatest because the light is very, very bright and can keep them awake. Also for boudoirs it would create the pin-hole eye look which is something I'd prefer to avoid. Though I did seriously consider it in the beginning and was leaning that direction for the longest time!

I would say save up a lot more. I $300 budget won'y even buy a speed light let alone a decent strobe and box. That's just not a realistic budget for studio lighting. All equipment is very overpriced especially lighting.