Too much crap

Currently I am using 2 speedlites with softboxes, stands, and a reflector for location shooting. Couples, and bridal portraits. Whenever we are moving from spot to spot on a particular location it's such a pain in the ass to transport everything. My assistant/pack mule will generally grab both lights leaving me with camera, gearbag, reflector and whatever else needs to be carried.

On top of that a good gust of wind will lay the lights down hard, even with my 5lb weight sacks.

I'm wondering about alternitives. I don't see umbrellas being really any easier than my current boxes. Have never tried the Gary fong stuff, but I am considering it. Anyone use his stuff for ocf outdoors? Any other modifiers to recommend?

Beauty dish?

People run absolutely beautiful one-light beauty dish shots.
Very portable, and less susceptible to windy times!


One light beauty dish thread!!!!!
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=581576

I've seen a lot of people bash the Fong stuff, but I have a Lightsphere that saved my butt once. I really hadn't used my 580EXII much at all since buying it over a year prior... I really am more of a fast glass user and figured I'd be using my 5d2 and a 50mm/1.4 and a 70-200/2.8. Luckily, I went to the wedding rehearsal the night before and discovered that I wouldn't have nearly enough light to do so. So I did the crash course on flash photography and did a lot of practicing (basically shot the rehearsal -- two takes) and ended up settling on using my 40d/17-50/2.8 with the speedlight on it, and the 5d2 with the 50/1.4. I was having a hard time balancing it out, and ended up throwing on the Lightshpere I'd never used and was getting much better, in fact great, results. I was able to worry more about the comp and exposing for the right dof using the light sphere. Having used AWB as the church used flourescent and incandescent lighting as well, I had to back off the warmth about 300-400k in post. (Def shoot raw so you can make colour balance changes, etc...)Otherwise I was so glad I had it. It threw a LOT more light than the little slip on diffusers.

Logicus wrote in post #14361452
I've seen a lot of people bash the Fong stuff, but I have a Lightsphere that saved my butt once. I really hadn't used my 580EXII much at all since buying it over a year prior... I really am more of a fast glass user and figured I'd be using my 5d2 and a 50mm/1.4 and a 70-200/2.8. Luckily, I went to the wedding rehearsal the night before and discovered that I wouldn't have nearly enough light to do so. So I did the crash course on flash photography and did a lot of practicing (basically shot the rehearsal -- two takes) and ended up settling on using my 40d/17-50/2.8 with the speedlight on it, and the 5d2 with the 50/1.4. I was having a hard time balancing it out, and ended up throwing on the Lightshpere I'd never used and was getting much better, in fact great, results. I was able to worry more about the comp and exposing for the right dof using the light sphere. Having used AWB as the church used flourescent and incandescent lighting as well, I had to back off the warmth about 300-400k in post. (Def shoot raw so you can make colour balance changes, etc...)Otherwise I was so glad I had it. It threw a LOT more light than the little slip on diffusers.

Good thing you went to the rehersal. Most (including me) don't.
I'm not worried about lighting the ceremony or reception. Once I setup light in the reception they remain fairly static the whole night.

Actually the more I think about it I may try a fong and on camera flash around the reception so scratch my first comment.

Still unsure about them outdoors for ocf.

There are a few options. Umbrellas LOVE to fly even in the smallest gust of wind. Yesterday I used on camera flash pointing behind me and I had my assistant holding a reflector a few feet behind me point at the subject. I was happy with the results. Pretty mobile and cheap solution. Of course there were times when I used it as a reflector too

Kechar wrote in post #14361387
Beauty dish?

People run absolutely beautiful one-light beauty dish shots.
Very portable, and less susceptible to windy times!


One light beauty dish thread!!!!!
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=581576

I don't see much difference between lugging a softbox.
What are the advantages of a beauty dish vs softbox? From a shooting standpoint, not a transporting.

the difference will depend on size softbox, but the BD has more contrast, and with a grid has more control over a standard 36x24 softbox. The BD may be less likely to catch wind, but it can still go over. I'd use a single light for couples/bridal, unless that involves a larger group than just the 2 of them. If you're outdoors, I don't see how shooting light into the fong sphere is beneficial or efficient. I'd rather diffuse the light with the wide angle grid on the flash and point it at the subject than bounce it off the clouds.

Well...
Catch lights, for one, it's a different kind of light (so the technical expert would argue).
You can make it as soft or as hard as you like without much hastle (sock it).

I know you said "not transporting" but your whole first post was on transporting.
I can easily have the light on my stand, BD on my light, toss it on my shoulder and go.

I use all kinds of modifiers so i'm not partial to any, but when I think of portability, and nice light I think beauty dish...so simple and it's not a kite, or as much of one.

Some people swear by them...I just use it when I feel it needs to be used.

Kechar wrote in post #14361959
Well...
Catch lights, for one, it's a different kind of light (so the technical expert would argue).
You can make it as soft or as hard as you like without much hastle (sock it).

I know you said "not transporting" but your whole first post was on transporting.
I can easily have the light on my stand, BD on my light, toss it on my shoulder and go.

I use all kinds of modifiers so i'm not partial to any, but when I think of portability, and nice light I think beauty dish...so simple and it's not a kite, or as much of one.

Some people swear by them...I just use it when I feel it needs to be used.

I meant it doesn't seem any easier to transport, but doesn't seem any harder either. So if they do a better job then softboxes I may be interested in trying one out.

Why not get beefier stands which roll? I don't do weddings, mostly portraits. being handicapped I can't grab too much stuff and walk. But I can easily manage two stands with lights attached and just roll them in most places. No need for sand bags either unless I am using my 40" grip arm.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Wheeled_Light_​Stand.html

My wedding friend has similar stands with profoto beauty dish.

michael Lee wrote in post #14361571
Actually the more I think about it I may try a fong and on camera flash around the reception so scratch my first comment.

Still unsure about them outdoors for ocf.

wow, all the bashing of gary fong diffusers and someone is recommending them!
But even if I was persuaded I would buy an imitation knock-off on ebay such as the Lambency Cloud diffuser - looks just like an official gary fong lightsphere but less than $10

watt100 wrote in post #14362807
wow, all the bashing of gary fong diffusers and someone is recommending them!
But even if I was persuaded I would buy an imitation knock-off on ebay such as the Lambency Cloud diffuser - looks just like an official gary fong lightsphere but less than $10

Why are people knocking them? Have never used one so I don't know. I don't want them for outdoors, but for indoors with a speedlite mounted to the camera and having a few other lights off camera in strategic places. I think it would work well. If I'm understanding their purpose correctly.

I'm not sure which softboxes you have, but I make a speedlight bracketfor exactly this reason. It allows me to quickly collaps the softbox and fold it down on the stand while moving around.

I would generally only use one large modifier though, I can look after that by myself if needed.

Fong diffusers can be pretty cool off camera inside if you have something to bounce off. Outside it won't have much effect unless its really close to the subject.