i am looking a lighting setup what do you recommend?

skater911 wrote in post #12381892
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.

Don't mean to be rude but I just took a look at your signature and all I can do is shake my head. Color me with envy! Forgive me, but I'm going to assume you can afford more than a couple speedlites and knock-off triggers . Although, granted you're as unfamiliar with flash as you said, it probably wouldn't hurt to be sensible and start out with a budget system so that you can learn the fundamentals and get a taste for off camera flash before you dive into a system of studio lights, grips and modifiers!

I'm fairly new to small flash and studio lighting myself but would like to think that my learning curve has been dramatically accelerated/influenced by my friends (pro photogs) and so many of the members right here on the forum. I'd honestly recommend starting out with a couple YN-560's and some RF-603's. Looking back though, one thing I wouldn't cheese out on if I could do it again is the equipment you use to mount your lights. Whether you start out with speedlites or some heavy monolights, spend the money and get yourself some decent light stands. Just like building a race car, you don't drop a 1000HP motor into a chassis with a weak transmission and flimsy suspension.

As for light modifiers, A convertible umbrella is always a good place to start! Not only can you shoot-through to diffuse the light, you can also throw the black cover on and bounce the light out of the umbrella. After shooting with and without a light modifier you'll learn very quick the difference in the quality of light whether shooting bare light, diffused and/or bouncing the light.

One thing you should know about the YN-560 is that it can throw just as much light as Canon's 580EX II although it does NOT include eTTL. For me personally, this doesn't matter at all because 99% of the time I'm using my flash in Manual. Lots to consider but don't be afraid to ask!

skater911 wrote in post #12388771
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.

I would say yes to those lights.

Backdrops I would say go for a background kit and a medium Gray or White paper to start.

The white background is only going to appear white if you light it.


Don't get distracted by too much kit.

Background kit, lighting kit and reflector. Then start shooting and take it from there.

http://www.zarias.com …torial-part-1-gear-space/

Sylvester XxX wrote in post #12395973
I would say yes to those lights.

Backdrops I would say go for a background kit and a medium Gray or White paper to start.

The white background is only going to appear white if you light it.


Don't get distracted by too much kit.

Background kit, lighting kit and reflector. Then start shooting and take it from there.

http://www.zarias.com …torial-part-1-gear-space/

How do you recommend that I light it up, I was thinking about the strobes in front at different angles. Is this a correct assumption with placement?

Aressem wrote in post #12389584
Don't mean to be rude but I just took a look at your signature and all I can do is shake my head. Color me with envy! Forgive me, but I'm going to assume you can afford more than a couple speedlites and knock-off triggers . Although, granted you're as unfamiliar with flash as you said, it probably wouldn't hurt to be sensible and start out with a budget system so that you can learn the fundamentals and get a taste for off camera flash before you dive into a system of studio lights, grips and modifiers!

I'm fairly new to small flash and studio lighting myself but would like to think that my learning curve has been dramatically accelerated/influenced by my friends (pro photogs) and so many of the members right here on the forum. I'd honestly recommend starting out with a couple YN-560's and some RF-603's. Looking back though, one thing I wouldn't cheese out on if I could do it again is the equipment you use to mount your lights. Whether you start out with speedlites or some heavy monolights, spend the money and get yourself some decent light stands. Just like building a race car, you don't drop a 1000HP motor into a chassis with a weak transmission and flimsy suspension.

As for light modifiers, A convertible umbrella is always a good place to start! Not only can you shoot-through to diffuse the light, you can also throw the black cover on and bounce the light out of the umbrella. After shooting with and without a light modifier you'll learn very quick the difference in the quality of light whether shooting bare light, diffused and/or bouncing the light.

One thing you should know about the YN-560 is that it can throw just as much light as Canon's 580EX II although it does NOT include eTTL. For me personally, this doesn't matter at all because 99% of the time I'm using my flash in Manual. Lots to consider but don't be afraid to ask!

Yeah at this point I am trying to cut down on my spending and I am still really learning about lighting so I don't want to jump into spending 2k in lights.

Ok new question, I think I know what I am going to get.

the elinchrom d-lite 4 to go kit; however, I want three lights. two for the subject and one for the background. The third light is out of my budget so I was thinking of using my 430exII for the background.

What do you think about that and if it would work how do I fire it since I will be using the skyport for the 2 d-lites?

I am going to get ultra white paper instead of muslin; but I have been reading a little about the woven material. (any good????)

Also, what would you recommend for an inexpensive, not cheap meaning crappy, light meter that won't break the bank.

Thanks for the help.

I use Alien Bees for portrait and indoor action photography. Great bang for the buck and gets the job done.

ehong33234 wrote in post #12406891
I use Alien Bees for portrait and indoor action photography. Great bang for the buck and gets the job done.

Which ones do you use? I was looking into getting AB800's

I mainly want something I can use in my "one car garage" converted "studio" but also outdoors, I guess with the Vagabon II battery pack. I am looking at a minimum of a two light setup. What are your thoughts?

skater911 wrote in post #12406819
Ok new question, I think I know what I am going to get.

the elinchrom d-lite 4 to go kit; however, I want three lights. two for the subject and one for the background. The third light is out of my budget so I was thinking of using my 430exII for the background.

What do you think about that and if it would work how do I fire it since I will be using the skyport for the 2 d-lites?

I am going to get ultra white paper instead of muslin; but I have been reading a little about the woven material. (any good????)

Also, what would you recommend for an inexpensive, not cheap meaning crappy, light meter that won't break the bank.

Thanks for the help.

Talking about background material, I have several muslins and seamless paper, and for a large all white backdrop I have used a large painters drop cloth, but I feel seamless paper would have been much much better on the white background as even with over exposing the background I had wrinkles and dark spots I did not want. Probably not an issue with a small portrait as much, but this was a rather large one.

DM1975 wrote in post #12406899
Which ones do you use? I was looking into getting AB800's

I mainly want something I can use in my "one car garage" converted "studio" but also outdoors, I guess with the Vagabon II battery pack. I am looking at a minimum of a two light setup. What are your thoughts?

I use an ab400, ab800, and their abr800. I first started off with the two minus the ring flash and mainly used them for rim/key lights. I don't overpower them either, mostly shoot at 1/4-1/2 power. They truly get the job done for me and a big plus is that they have modeling lamps which show you how the scene will be lit to a good degree of accuracy. Speedlites are portable but the light quality imho is not as good and they also don't have the modeling lamps. Alien bees service is also OUTSTANDING.

Here's a shot from a recent setup I did.

In regards to the vagabond II, it's a great product and a must have for field shooting. I just made my own portable power unit though for about 1/3 of the price using a pure sine wave inverter, battery and some wires.

I think they've got a new lithium powered portable unit that is half the weight... Worth looking into.

ehong33234 wrote in post #12406936
I use an ab400, ab800, and their abr800. I first started off with the two minus the ring flash and mainly used them for rim/key lights. I don't overpower them either, mostly shoot at 1/4-1/2 power. They truly get the job done for me and a big plus is that they have modeling lamps which show you how the scene will be lit to a good degree of accuracy. Speedlites are portable but the light quality imho is not as good and they also don't have the modeling lamps. Alien bees service is also OUTSTANDING.

Here's a shot from a recent setup I did.

Thanks for the info. I love my speedlites, mainly because it was a cheap way for me to begin to learn lighting, but I always had upgrading to Alien Bees in mind as I could afford it. I am to the point that I can get good results with my Speedlites, so I am now in the market for that upgrade. On getting two to use as a key and fill, would it be better to get an 800 and a 400? Or two 800's? I also have bookends and reflector disks to use. What would be your thoughts on this? Thanks.

I was in the same situation as you and I am glad I made the jump into AB strobes. As for which models to get, I think it depends on your style. I tend to shoot wide open for softer shots with nice bokeh so I don't blast the lights and therefore don't need all that power. If you like to shoot stopped down and especially for outdoors to overpower the sun, perhaps the 800's are a better fit. I was mostly cash crunching going into it all so that's why I opted for the 400 and 800.

Alien Bees has a student discount program too in case you or someone you know has a student ID. Also, try shipping to a business address (not residential) as shipping is MUCH cheaper.

ehong33234 wrote in post #12407096
I was in the same situation as you and I am glad I made the jump into AB strobes. As for which models to get, I think it depends on your style. I tend to shoot wide open for softer shots with nice bokeh so I don't blast the lights and therefore don't need all that power. If you like to shoot stopped down and especially for outdoors to overpower the sun, perhaps the 800's are a better fit. I was mostly cash crunching going into it all so that's why I opted for the 400 and 800.

Alien Bees has a student discount program too in case you or someone you know has a student ID. Also, try shipping to a business address (not residential) as shipping is MUCH cheaper.

Thanks for the info on that. I just so happen to be a student.

skater911 wrote in post #12406819
Ok new question, I think I know what I am going to get.

the elinchrom d-lite 4 to go kit; however, I want three lights. two for the subject and one for the background. The third light is out of my budget so I was thinking of using my 430exII for the background.

About using 2 monolight and 1 Speedlite i think that perhaps is necessary some gel on the flash for match the different color temperature.*

skater911 wrote in post #12406819
What do you think about that and if it would work how do I fire it since I will be using the skyport for the 2 d-lites?

You should buy a receiver:
ELS Universal SPEED

skater911 wrote in post #12406819
Also, what would you recommend for an inexpensive, not cheap meaning crappy, light meter that won't break the bank.

Sekonic L-308s
or better
Sekonic L-358

Note:
However the color temperature always change based on the power used even using products with the same brands.
Profoto vs. White Lightning vs Elinchrom Tests

d-lite-it or alien bees, you will be inside get AC powered strobes,
or the adorama flash points, i hear good things about.