Boston POTN Meet

rhomsy wrote in post #12295416
Thanks Brendan. The 4050cs is serious. I feel like I could extend the boom and use it for doing pull-ups. I will get the wheels, but my "studio" has such a low ceiling, that I wonder if it the added height from the wheels might cause a problem for me.

Yeah actually that should be a concern. It probably adds between 6-8". So maybe not a great choice.

So as I mentioned, I purchased an AB800 and an AB1600 from BrandonSi here on PotN. I'm scheduled to receive them tomorrow via FedEx (woot) so I'm pretty anxious for that.

However, the reality is I think I purchased way more than I need. I know it's not a "bad" thing exactly, I guess I'm just second guessing my purchase. I do that. But the other side of me is convinced these will offer a lot of room for me to grow.

My wallet is crying right now, because I still need power, better stands and a set of modifiers. I'm looking at about $450 for all this... on top of the $ I spent already.

Did I do the right thing, or was it dumb to make this investment?

CiM_Photography wrote in post #12301834
So as I mentioned, I purchased an AB800 and an AB1600 from BrandonSi here on PotN. I'm scheduled to receive them tomorrow via FedEx (woot) so I'm pretty anxious for that.

However, the reality is I think I purchased way more than I need. I know it's not a "bad" thing exactly, I guess I'm just second guessing my purchase. I do that. But the other side of me is convinced these will offer a lot of room for me to grow.

My wallet is crying right now, because I still need power, better stands and a set of modifiers. I'm looking at about $450 for all this... on top of the $ I spent already.

Did I do the right thing, or was it dumb to make this investment?

You won't regret the investment. You'll get a job sometimes unexpected and you'll be completely ready for it. Anyways, if you ever need to borrow my Vag2 let me know.

Thanks Scott - your offer is appreciated.

CiM_Photography wrote in post #12301834
So as I mentioned, I purchased an AB800 and an AB1600 from BrandonSi here on PotN. I'm scheduled to receive them tomorrow via FedEx (woot) so I'm pretty anxious for that.

However, the reality is I think I purchased way more than I need. I know it's not a "bad" thing exactly, I guess I'm just second guessing my purchase. I do that. But the other side of me is convinced these will offer a lot of room for me to grow.

My wallet is crying right now, because I still need power, better stands and a set of modifiers. I'm looking at about $450 for all this... on top of the $ I spent already.

Did I do the right thing, or was it dumb to make this investment?

This is just my personal opinion.

I personally would invest in more glass, better quality glass. You have the speedlites, which can do a lot if used properly. But the glass is universal.

Regardless, the lights will be fun. Did you get any modifiers for it yet?

.02

*grumble*

No modifiers yet - I'll just be going with some Steve Kaeser type brolly-boxes (45") for now, but that means I need more rugged stands. I don't trust my current ones for that size.

I really want to step up my wedding portraiture. I feel like I've got the hang of the wedding day in general - I need to add variety for the wedding party itself. I'm great with candids during the day, but when I get to the formals it starts getting stale.

Hmm. For the price of the AB's, modifiers, stands and battery... I could pickup a 135L. Though I was thinking of just going with a 100mm 2.0 (USM) to get started.

Well i'm certainly not trying to talk you out of the lights. I'm sure they will be useful.

My opinion, especially for weddings is to skip the 135L. The price makes it attractive, but i'd save a bit more and pick up a 70-200L MKI. So much more useful on a wedding.

Again, just my opinion.

B has some very wise suggestions ^^^ someone quote that for truth

And I highly value your opinion, since you are almost exactly what I aspire to be. Yeah, yeah - "don't feed his ego" and all that, but it's the truth. I look at your work and am just in awe of it. I say "almost exactly" since there are some back end differences between our lives, what with you being single and me having a wife and two kids.

But on the job, my goal is to get to the quality and sheer awe of the images and moments that you have captured. I know I've got my work cut out for me to get from where I am, to where I want to be. But I also know that I need the proper equipment - and there's so much of it that I don't know what the best progression is.

CiM_Photography wrote in post #12302681
And I highly value your opinion, since you are almost exactly what I aspire to be. Yeah, yeah - "don't feed his ego" and all that, but it's the truth. I look at your work and am just in awe of it. I say "almost exactly" since there are some back end differences between our lives, what with you being single and me having a wife and two kids.

But on the job, my goal is to get to the quality and sheer awe of the images and moments that you have captured. I know I've got my work cut out for me to get from where I am, to where I want to be. But I also know that I need the proper equipment - and there's so much of it that I don't know what the best progression is.

Hey Jeremy, thanks for the compliments. I hope i don't have that much of an EGO! I feel that i'm pretty modest, except when in the lighting forum, because they are a bunch of knuckleheads. Myself included

I can assure you though, the grass is always greener. You don't see me posting the bad side of things, insane brides and their parents threatening us with legal action, bad reviews etc... it's not all fun and games. Not suggesting you think it is, but just in case someone else may think that.

But in any case, i'd personally bulk up on speedlites and glass at first. With those cheap triggers you can use them off camera instead of studio strobes. You don't need to be overpowering the sun or anything.

My personal lens choice for weddings is the 35L, 70-200 2.8, 85L and occassionally the 14L all on a FF. Everyone is different. The 24-70 is a great all around lens, but i've owned 4 copies and all 4 have never lived up to the quality when viewing at 100%. That's not to say it's not a good lens, it's a great utility lens, no doubt. In fact we still have 2 for the fact that it's a very handy length.

Knowing that you have the 24-70, i'd personally next go to a 70-200 2.8. Then you'll have long covered, 24-70 covers the wide, maybe an ultra wide for some interior shots? The Sigma 12-24 on the 5D is spectacular and won't break the bank.

Picking up a secondary 580 speelite would be high on my list as well.

Hopefully that helps.

It all helps, and I really appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge. No, I don't think you have an ego, but my old boss withheld compliments constantly for fear of feeding my ego and therefore increasing my perceived (actual) value to the company. His words stuck with me for some reason.

My main problem is lack of direction. I know what I want to do, I just don't know how to get there. And your advice is really the only kind of "If I were you, this is what I'd do" that I have received. It means a lot for a small guy like me - so thanks.

I am going into that direction now. I am loosing the motivation and direction as to what I am doing. I am setting up shoots from now up till September. All of these shoots are with models. At the same time, I am getting side track with other things. Wish I can get that light shining my way once in a while to guide me through it.

As for lighting gears, I really shouldn't put my .02 in at all. I have the ****tiest lighting equipment. Now that I am looking more into the Alienbee, I can't even justify the cost of it to my wife.
All these shoots with models, I'm not getting a single $ out of this, and I have to put out $$ for it.
HAHA.......I think I should reconsider my options on being a photographer.

Morto wrote in post #12303923
I am going into that direction now. I am loosing the motivation and direction as to what I am doing. I am setting up shoots from now up till September. All of these shoots are with models. At the same time, I am getting side track with other things. Wish I can get that light shining my way once in a while to guide me through it.

As for lighting gears, I really shouldn't put my .02 in at all. I have the ****tiest lighting equipment. Now that I am looking more into the Alienbee, I can't even justify the cost of it to my wife.
All these shoots with models, I'm not getting a single $ out of this, and I have to put out $$ for it.
HAHA.......I think I should reconsider my options on being a photographer.

not much money in car and model photog unless you get contacts

portrait work does get some money, especially if you look over at craigslist

Down, i went to look for that couch. No dice. Darn. 8 The Fenway we couldn't seem to find. Oh well.

I'll write more later, but I've gotta jet - client meeting at Starbucks on Commerce Way in Woburn. Time to show my work!

Long story short, I'm glad Brendan put in his .02. My wife doesn't control finances - she lets me do it. So I sort of have free reign over what I purchase for the business. Trouble is, nobody is challenging my purchases except me so it's allowing me to fall into this rut of "oooh, shiney! do want!" instead of actually being able to immediately turn the purchase into a driving factor of my business.

I think the AB's are going up for sale as soon as I get them in hand tomorrow. I know that I'll be wanting them again in the future, but the timing isn't quite right. I'm not filling an immediate need, and I'm certainly not going to use them to their maximum capabilities anytime soon. I don't know what I'll end up getting with that money, but I've been needing a longer lens for some time now.

70-200? No, too spendy right now. But maybe a 100 f/2 to fill the slot until next tax season.