i am looking a lighting setup what do you recommend?

I am looking for a full lighting setup, I am thinking of setting a small studio in my office or garage mainly to take pictures of my young kids everyh now and then. I don't need the most expensive and just looking for something around middle of the road. I am not sure of everything that I will need. I want a white,black and another color back drop, wirless triggers, flashes, etc... what would you recommend? Thank you for input.

First tip, avoid kits that include everything, they are almost never quality. I would suggest you look at alien bee, or calumet genesis lights. You will want strobes, stands, triggers, light modifiers (probably shoot through or convertible umbrellas to start, maybe a softbox) and of course your backdrops and stands.

Perhaps a:
- single diffusion panel LightingMagic Kid/Group Panel
- two-three mecablitz or Canon Speedlite EX II
About the radio trigger you can see on the topic:
The New CACTUS V5's "Transceiver" Duo
if this radio trigger can handle your sync speed.
On this review Cactus V5 Duo Review they said can handle until 1/1000 ...

What is your budget?

Sylvester XxX wrote in post #12381207
What is your budget?

This is what it comes down to

Lichtwerk wrote in post #12381480
This is what it comes down to

This is a good question, I don't know. What would an average system cost? 400, 600? I don't have to buy everything at once so if it is a little more I can piece it together. This is one aspect of photography I don't know too much about.

Get another 430EX (or a cheaper Yongnuo or Vivitar), two stands and umbrellas, and some cheap radio triggers. Learn to use that and I think you will be happy. You can get into that for under $300 if you shop around and it will work great for you unless you are shooting an entire sports team outdoors.

DM1975 wrote in post #12381922
Get another 430EX (or a cheaper Yongnuo or Vivitar), two stands and umbrellas, and some cheap radio triggers. Learn to use that and I think you will be happy. You can get into that for under $300 if you shop around and it will work great for you unless you are shooting an entire sports team outdoors.

What triggers work with the 430 ex II?

skater911 wrote in post #12383291
What triggers work with the 430 ex II?

Learn how to use your flash in manual just like any studio lighting would be used and any radio trigger will do.

With kids the faster recycling speed of studio lights may be a better fit.

I would say Elinchrom D-Lite-it 4 To Go SETS

http://www.elinchrom.c​om …p_id=200&tab=se​ts#content

is a good start.

Bear in mind you may need to light the background independently of your subject depending on what you want.

Four studio lights become easy to justify in addition to your speedlite.

Studio strobes not Strobist Jury Rigs...

I would definitely select studio strobes rather than trying to jury-rig hot shoe flashes into pseudo portrait lights. Sure, you can get decent results with hot shoe flashes, however you can heat ice cubes to make tea and the tea comes out just fine. But, cooking ice cubes is not the most efficient way to make a cup of tea and shooting with hot shoe flashes is not the most efficient way to learn and work with portrait lighting...

There are a multitude of advantages of "real" studio strobes over the jury-rigged hotshoe flashes but, the most important advantage is that studio strobes are equipped with modeling lights allowing the photographer to see his lighting.

RPCrowe wrote in post #12387154
Sure, you can get decent results with hot shoe flashes, however you can heat ice cubes to make tea and the tea comes out just fine. But, cooking ice cubes is not the most efficient way to make a cup of tea and shooting with hot shoe flashes is not the most efficient way to learn and work with portrait lighting...

Nice analogy.

I completely agree with this, but on a budget an extra hit shoe flash and two umbrella brackets are really the only thing you would be buying that would not be able to work with studio lighting when you decide to upgrade, and if it gets you to learning faster then I don't see the harm in it. I am using hot shoe flashes now with wonderful results, and I plan on moving up to studio strobes within a month or two. I am glad I did what I did as it let me get some good experience I would not have had any other way, and I already have the light stands and umbrellas and some backdrops that I can use when I do decide on the studio strobes I want. Either way will work though.

I just shot a newborn session with 2x Yongnuo YN-560s and an umbrella and stand kit from Mpex, triggered by some cheapy Cowboy Studios Triggers. Worked out GREAT! Not a single misfire, quick recycle time (2-3 seconds tops), and great results! All for under $300.

gonzogolf wrote in post #12380150
First tip, avoid kits that include everything, they are almost never quality. I would suggest you look at alien bee, or calumet genesis lights. You will want strobes, stands, triggers, light modifiers (probably shoot through or convertible umbrellas to start, maybe a softbox) and of course your backdrops and stands.

What about the enlinchrom d-lite togo 4 kit? It looked promsing and got good reviews? Also, backdrops what do I get? I like the heavier duty (look like vinyl) back drops. Looking for basic colors like black, white maybe a dar gray. Thanks again for the info so far, there is just so much to learn.