Basic lighting accessories?

So I want to try my hand at doing some proper flash photography, maybe making a small studio in my home, but I have no idea where to start! I currently have one Canon 430 ex ii and have been very happy with it for general shots, so will probably be adding another the the collection at some point soon along with an IR transmitter.

So being a beginner with flash photography in terms of studio work, what sort of equipment should I be looking at acquiring? In terms of soft boxes, backdrops etc? It will mainly be used for portrait photography and maybe product photography.

In terms of budget I'm not sure what I want to spend yet, so middle of the road in terms of pricing would be good unless there are products out there that are worth spending the extra penny on!

Thanks

Start off with a single stand, a shoot through (or convertible) umbrella and a swivel bracket to connect the flash/umbrella to the stand. Add an inexpensive reflector. The add a second flash when you have got the feel for the first one. Dont worry about buying any softboxes or beauty dishes or other gear until you get a feel for the single flash.

Brelly wrote in post #16449058
So I want to try my hand at doing some proper flash photography, maybe making a small studio in my home, but I have no idea where to start! I currently have one Canon 430 ex ii and have been very happy with it for general shots, so will probably be adding another the the collection at some point soon along with an IR transmitter.

So being a beginner with flash photography in terms of studio work, what sort of equipment should I be looking at acquiring? In terms of soft boxes, backdrops etc? It will mainly be used for portrait photography and maybe product photography.

In terms of budget I'm not sure what I want to spend yet, so middle of the road in terms of pricing would be good unless there are products out there that are worth spending the extra penny on!

Thanks

In the case of a novice, the best "accessories" would be lessons in photographic lighting to acquire the knowledge of what to purchase. Effective lighting can be fiendishly complex. The best step is to first learn the rudiments of lighting, rather than to purchase equipment that will not help.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16449074
Start off with a single stand, a shoot through (or convertible) umbrella and a swivel bracket to connect the flash/umbrella to the stand. Add an inexpensive reflector. The add a second flash when you have got the feel for the first one. Dont worry about buying any softboxes or beauty dishes or other gear until you get a feel for the single flash.

Right okay, good advice. Would you care to list any examples of what I'm looking for? Like I said...I have no idea what I'm looking for!

DC Fan wrote in post #16449088
In the case of a novice, the best "accessories" would be lessons in photographic lighting to acquire the knowledge of what to purchase. Effective lighting can be fiendishly complex. The best step is to first learn the rudiments of lighting, rather than to purchase equipment that will not help.

Good advice again, but I'm afraid I'm more of a hands on learner and would much rather get something basic to learn with, than trying to take everything in and then go out and try it! I've tried watching videos/reading books and it just doesn't stick, I need to do it along with the video otherwise it never sticks with me, which is a pain!

Okay since you are in the UK the sources wont likely be the same, but here are the items.

Shoot through 40ish inch. http://www.amazon.com …umbrellas+for+p​hotography

Or perhaps the convertible model http://www.amazon.com …umbrellas+for+p​hotography

Bracket, lots of models available brand isnt all that important. http://www.amazon.com …eywords=umbrell​as+bracket

Any stand you like, probably not shorter than 8ft. For a single speedlight you dont really need anything too heavy.

Reflector, again brand isnt terribly important with any of these, but the more you pay the better the build is likely to be.

http://www.amazon.com …eflectors+for+p​hotography

Then read this thread. Its about using a single speedlite https://photography-on-the.net …ead.php?t=12066​40&page=78

not going to flatly disagree with you gonzo, but if i recall from my formal education, we jumped right into multiple flash set-ups. I think so long as one takes the time to see what each individual flash does, going ahead with more than one flash is a good place to start.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16449152
Okay since you are in the UK the sources wont likely be the same, but here are the items.

Shoot through 40ish inch. http://www.amazon.com …umbrellas+for+p​hotography

Or perhaps the convertible model http://www.amazon.com …umbrellas+for+p​hotography

Bracket, lots of models available brand isnt all that important. http://www.amazon.com …eywords=umbrell​as+bracket

Any stand you like, probably not shorter than 8ft. For a single speedlight you dont really need anything too heavy.

Reflector, again brand isnt terribly important with any of these, but the more you pay the better the build is likely to be.

http://www.amazon.com …eflectors+for+p​hotography

Awesome, thanks Gonzo! You always seem to pop up on threads I post and you're always really helpful, I appreciate it a lot! I shall have a look through and see what I want

gonzogolf wrote in post #16449163
Then read this thread. Its about using a single speedlite https://photography-on-the.net …ead.php?t=12066​40&page=78

okay, i forgot about reflectors. which is odd because i have a collection of white foam core.

hes gone wrote in post #16449188
=he's gone;16449188]okay, i forgot about reflectors. which is odd because i have a collection of white foam core.

I used to go that route, but they are so cheap these days for really nice units.

hes gone wrote in post #16449169
=he's gone;16449169]not going to flatly disagree with you gonzo, but if i recall from my formal education, we jumped right into multiple flash set-ups. I think so long as one takes the time to see what each individual flash does, going ahead with more than one flash is a good place to start.

I dont think there is anything wrong with going straight to a multi flash setup, especially in a formal educational setting. The main reason I suggested getting to know the single light first is that its a pretty minor investment to add the stand and umbrella and start learning the nature of light. These forums are littered with posts where people dove straight into full studio kits only to find they dont like it as much as they hoped, or they are totally overwhelmed. Not saying it would happen here, just that its easy enough to scale up a speedlite kit and add lights as needed.

When I got speedlites one of the first things I did was read Lighting 101 on Strobist the site. It's well written and easy to refer back to.

One mistake I made (and make, still) is thinking I need a piece of gear when it turns out I really didn't. I bought a different sized umbrellas and softboxes but these days my go to modifier is either a 60" Photek Softlighter II and/or a beauty dish.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16449220
I dont think there is anything wrong with going straight to a multi flash setup, especially in a formal educational setting. The main reason I suggested getting to know the single light first is that its a pretty minor investment to add the stand and umbrella and start learning the nature of light. These forums are littered with posts where people dove straight into full studio kits only to find they dont like it as much as they hoped, or they are totally overwhelmed. Not saying it would happen here, just that its easy enough to scale up a speedlite kit and add lights as needed.

good point. I'm probably overly cautious with my purchases and i guess i expect that if someone is ready to get started they have a good idea of what they are getting into.

Brelly, what kinds of subjects do you want to light up?

and give us an idea of what your budget might be?

I'm fresh off a purchase of a new 6D (read: gear poor) while at the same time trying to set up a home studio, but my goal is table top "product shots" and very simple head shot portraits/pics of 5 year olds.

Having some knowledge of what a real studio look like, I am setting up my basement with stuff i have scraped up around the house and things i have liberated from Mom's garage. You can do a whole lot with foam core, a roll of paper from the craft store and a few clamps.

once i have all the cheap stuff in place i hope to spend less than 500 bucks to get started.

hes gone wrote in post #16449297
=he's gone;16449297]good point. I'm probably overly cautious with my purchases and i guess i expect that if someone is ready to get started they have a good idea of what they are getting into.

Brelly, what kinds of subjects do you want to light up?

and give us an idea of what your budget might be?

I'm fresh off a purchase of a new 6D (read: gear poor) while at the same time trying to set up a home studio, but my goal is table top "product shots" and very simple head shot portraits/pics of 5 year olds.

Having some knowledge of what a real studio look like, I am setting up my basement with stuff i have scraped up around the house and things i have liberated from Mom's garage. You can do a whole lot with foam core, a roll of paper from the craft store and a few clamps.

once i have all the cheap stuff in place i hope to spend less than 500 bucks to get started.

It is going to be people and products basically. I want to get a handle on it no before having to jump in at the deep end, and also to show as part of a portfolio. At the moment it's more a hobby but something I want to get into for work, hopefully studying next year!

Like I said earlier, I'm not to sure on budget yet as I don't know how much these things cost, but say £500 as a round number and I'll see where it goes from there!

Goto strobist.com and read the 101 guide. It's got a great starter course as well as some recommendations on starter gear.