Portable studio for under $1000?

Is it possible? Looking to do some newborn photography.

2 Strobe Lights with soft boxes and stands
Backdrop stand and 3-5 backdrops
Beanbags
Small variety of props

Would eventually add to my collection of props but what I would like to do is get enough stuff that I can go to someone's house and set up there. I have a couple friends having babies next year who are interested in being my "practice" shoots. When we move in 4 years I would like to find a place that has room for a studio so I can do this from my home and branch out into different kinds of photography like portraits for more than babies and family stuff.

My first real issue is I do mostly wildlife photography and I am clueless when it comes to lighting. The photographer that did my newborn shoot used 2 alien bee strobes in soft boxes but that is all I know. Do they need their own power source? What costs are there outside of what I have listed there?

Thanks!

...of course its possible: but I would suggest that being clueless when it comes to lighting is a bigger issue than getting gear for under $1000.

If you are going to be adding light: you need an understanding of how light works. My suggestion is to start with a cheap flash like one of the yongnuo's, a light stand, an umbrella, and cheap triggers. BuyOne Light from Zack Arias. Read the strobist blog. That will cost you less than $200.00.

Start practicing. Pop over to the critique section and post images for critique. Learn how to use light one light at a time. Once you've got a basic command of off-camera lighting, you can start to figure out what gear is best for you to move forward with.

Very true. I tend to sort of jump into things and then learn as I go...but with lighting techniques I feel like I really need to do some reading and practicing.

Your businesses model is long on ambition and short on experience and practical e. Get a cheap flash a stand, a softbox or umbrella and work a bit before you turn pro.

Jensgt wrote in post #17230229
Very true. I tend to sort of jump into things and then learn as I go...but with lighting techniques I feel like I really need to do some reading and practicing.

...you can do that and it might work for you: but you also might end up wasting a lot of money you can't afford to waste. Lighting is a lot of maths. I occasionally use a lot of off-camera lights: and on the fly I'm moving a light stand forward a metre, closing down my aperture and upping my ISO without missing a beat. It requires a different way of thinking than with using natural light. Without that base level of understanding you will end up taking pictures that will have "something wrong" with them that you will be unable to fix in the field.

Thanks for the input guys...by no means was I planning to go "pro" right away. I have a friend having a baby in January and another in June and I figured I could do some work for them and go from there. I want to make sure I know what I am doing before I'd ever start doing work for people I don't know personally.

Jensgt wrote in post #17230258
Thanks for the input guys...by no means was I planning to go "pro" right away. I have a friend having a baby in January and another in June and I figured I could do some work for them and go from there. I want to make sure I know what I am doing before I'd ever start doing work for people I don't know personally.

...I gotta say, I love your flickr feed, and don't think you'd have much trouble adapting to using lights, just start with a single light first, and practice lots.

One of my best purchases related to camera gear was to buy a mannequin or one of those heads they use to train hairdressers on. Its like having a model 24/7. You can test all sorts of lighting and instant feedback without having to wait for a model or friend to have some free time.

the flying moose wrote in post #17230402
One of my best purchases related to camera gear was to buy a mannequin or one of those heads they use to train hairdressers on. Its like having a model 24/7. You can test all sorts of lighting and instant feedback without having to wait for a model or friend to have some free time.

That's actually a great idea! I always struggle to find practice models..

I bought a cheap set of lights on e-bay, and they do the job for the moment.. I believe they're called Falcon Eyes. These plug into the mains, but I'm sure you I could buy a power pack, if I wanted to use them outside (which I don't to be honest). Very cheap, but ok for now. I also use cactus triggers, and have a couple of speedlights. You could easily get all this for under £1,000

The first question I'd ask is are you going to always have access to a power outlet?

If the answer is no, then you'll either want speedlights or you'll need to budget money for an extra battery. I can see speedlights having a few advantages, but in the long run, I think "studio" lights would win out. Speedlights are small and portable and you can turn them down really low, but you're dealing with longer recycle times and a lot of rechargeables to keep track of.

Adorama has some low cost monolights and a battery. I think for $500 you could get two lights and a battery. $300 should be able to get you two lights that are around 150w/s, IIRC. You'll still need stands, triggers, and modifiers though. And of course there are other brands to look at, but then the price starts going up. Alien Bees are a popular budget strobe, but I think for the price there's other option out there that would suit you better.

If I were to shot babies (and I wont I have made that clear to my wife). I would get to YN flashes and a big softbox to start with. Get a bracket to put both lights in the box. Cheap YN triggers and 16 batteries. I shoot 3 hour long studio sessions with my YN's popping 1 at full power the other at around half and have yet to have to change batteries during the shoot. Everyone talks about needing tons of batteries, but if your doing a single couple hours shoot per day your fine. If I was running a full time studio and pushed 10 people a day through then thats another story.

beano wrote in post #17230546
That's actually a great idea! I always struggle to find practice models..

I was the same way. I'd see or read about something and want to try it out. I have a hard enough time finding model to do real shoots with, let alone just messing around with lighting.

Hell if you can afford it get some Elinchrom lights and have at it. You don't have to learn with cheap crap if you don't want to. Buy what you can afford IMO.

YN flashes are really good, at least the 560 iii's are, their built in radio triggers work flawlessly. They are plenty powerful for what you are doing & you'll get more than a few hundred shots out of your rechargeable batteries (you can always sling on a power pack if needed). No need for pricy monos. get some sturdy stands & softboxs don't need to be to big for babies. I have a few Chinese ones (Newer & Godox), the quality if good for the price. I think the price for two stands, flashes and boxes was under €250 delivered. Add in a large 5 in 1 reflector and you are good to go.

banquetbear wrote in post #17230289
...I gotta say, I love your flickr feed, and don't think you'd have much trouble adapting to using lights, just start with a single light first, and practice lots.

Thanks for that. Means a lot

And thanks to everybody else with the very helpful advice!!! I like the mannequin idea and that's actually convenient because my mom has some, she sells clothes on eBay.