recommendations are needed!

Getting into portrait style photography, shooting people a lot more so.

My camera set up is.

Canon 6D
430ex II Speedlite
50mm f1.4
60mm f1.8
17-40mm f4
mini LCD light panel, just to mess around with, mainly used as a flash light xD!

I need umbrellas/Stands/Refle​ctors. I am realizing more and more every shoot how vital these things are, especially when I've used my flash.

I also have portable lighting I made that can come with, so I may need a few umbrellas and few reflectors
I can make stands out of PVC, so I mainly need to be pointed in the direction of what type of stands work the best for mobility etc

I will be shooting 2 people together at MAX.
I will do some shoots that will have the person about 10-12 feet away tho. Full body style stuff.

I am 110% ok with DIY stuff, but I want the best outcome, with price in mind tho.

Thanks in advance for help, if I need to be more specific or post pics/samples of my lighting set ups and/or shoots I will be doing let me know!!

Honestly. Don't waste your time with DIY PVC light stands. No offense, it just doesn't make any sense when you can buy quality light stands for probably less than it will cost you to make. You don't want clients (who have likely worked with other photographers) wondering what the heck kind of make-shift operation you're running. Worse, imagine if one fell over and hit a model. Just spend the $$ and buy proper light stands .

Not sure what kind of advice you're looking for. Sounds like you already know you want to use umbrellas and reflectors. That's a good start. I would recommend convertible umbrellas so that you can bounce or shoot through. I own one and wish I had another. As for reflectors, I would suggest getting one of those 5 in 1's or something like that. Just make sure it can act as a scrim, as well. When shooting outdoors, you can use the scrim to diffuse the sun and act as an extra light source.


Umbrellas: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …es&sts=ma&Top+N​av-Search=

Light Stands: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ing/ci/19914/N/​4062040360

Reflectors: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …tors/ci/1327/N/​4062040412

Aressem wrote in post #16236231
Honestly. Don't waste your time with DIY PVC light stands. No offense, it just doesn't make any sense when you can buy quality light stands for probably less than it will cost you to make. You don't want clients (who have likely worked with other photographers) wondering what the heck kind of make-shift operation you're running. Worse, imagine if one fell over and hit a model. Just spend the $$ and buy proper light stands .

Not sure what kind of advice you're looking for. Sounds like you already know you want to use umbrellas and reflectors. That's a good start. I would recommend convertible umbrellas so that you can bounce or shoot through. I own one and wish I had another. As for reflectors, I would suggest getting one of those 5 in 1's or something like that. Just make sure it can act as a scrim, as well. When shooting outdoors, you can use the scrim to diffuse the sun and act as an extra light source.


Umbrellas: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …es&sts=ma&Top+N​av-Search=

Light Stands: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ing/ci/19914/N/​4062040360

Reflectors: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …tors/ci/1327/N/​4062040412

Yeah, my indoor lighting is makeshift and I hate it, will upgrade eventually but for now the things I made are very sturdy and we like 1/4 the price of real stands.

I mainly needed advice as to what products are best/ held in high regards.

I just don't wanna order things off the internet and they turn out to be garbage.

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #16236260
Yeah, my indoor lighting is makeshift and I hate it, will upgrade eventually but for now the things I made are very sturdy and we like 1/4 the price of real stands.

I mainly needed advice as to what products are best/ held in high regards.

I just don't wanna order things off the internet and they turn out to be garbage.

I still have a really hard time believing that you can make something as functional as this for $5. http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …6B_Light_Stand_​Black.html

That aside, I provided links. Click on them. Read the reviews.

Eh, you would have to have a boom arm and what as well but, yeah for the lighting I use I made pvc stands that will never fall or break for about 5 bucks including all adapters.

Either way, those are well priced I suppose, will have to see what I can find.

Thanks again for your time!

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #16236343
Eh, you would have to have a boom arm and what as well but, yeah for the lighting I use I made pvc stands that will never fall or break for about 5 bucks including all adapters.

Either way, those are well priced I suppose, will have to see what I can find.

Thanks again for your time!

Mind sharing photos of the gear you made?

Aressem wrote in post #16236346
Mind sharing photos of the gear you made?

yeah let me run up stairs and shoot some pics of it all, keep in mind, it may not be aesthetically pleasing but, it has done me well so far.

These are all shot in a pitch black room.
f4 250 iso 400


The white stuff is ripstop nylon.
I could get more-powerful lights, but this is mainly to work on my lighting/contrast skills at home when I am bored.


Not a bad set up for a bunch of pvc and like 10 dollar vanitys lol
btw, the bigger light rig is destroyed because my cat is a douche bag. It is suppose to be a giant soft box, but he ripped a lot of pieces out.
hah
All prototypes so far