Transportable Portrait lighting

Hi

I recently got back into photography after a 30 year break. I have no lighting at the moment, apart from a reflector & stand. I'd like to move more into portraiture & would like some lighting that I can take to locations such as a hotel, people's homes etc.

Can anyone recommend whether I should consider studio flash units or speedlights? Please assume that mains supply is generally not going to be an issue.

Thanks.

Heya,

If this is for indoors all the time, speedlites are totally fine. It really comes down to whether you are going to be outside in the sun, and how big your modifiers might be, when figuring out portable strobe vs speedlites. Granted, there's also budget. Speedlites are very budget friendly and have high output for indoor. Strobes cost a lot more when you take the wires off.

That said, you can get wired strobes that are inexpensive and high quality, with optional battery packs, or just be ok with wiring them to the wall at whatever location you go to.

Realistically, we need to know a few things:

1. Total budget for this (lights, accessories, modifiers, etc).
2. How many lights do you feel you need?
3. Where are you located (this matters for cost, warranty, availability, etc)?
4. Do you feel you need ETTL, HSS, etc, or are you ok with manual?
5. Do you need wireless lights, or are you ok with wiring them to an outlet on location?
6. Will you need to be able to use this outside in the sun?
7. What size modifiers are you looking to use?
8. Do you have a light meter, if not, do you want a light meter?
9. What kind of portraits? Full body? Couples? Just head shots? All? This matters for modifier size & distance.

Very best,

Thanks, lots of great questions!

Budget is not really an issue. I'll just get the best I can.

Two or three lights max.

Located in the British Isles.

Not sure what that means exactly , but I'd like auto exposure. With option for manual.

Not sure I understand wireless lights, you mean wireless triggered, or powered wirelessly? I'm fine with connecting to the mains on location with an option for some sort of portability at extra cost.

Don't think I will want this outdoors, I generally prefer natural light with reflectors.

Modifiers - not sure. But I suspect I would want something quite large.

I don't have a light meter but would be happy to get one. I used to use one "back in the day" with two studio flash units..

Portraits, head shots, half length & full length. Also character portraits such as a guy using a lathe etc. I'd like to also work with actor head shots.

Thanks for your help.

Orange Elephant wrote in post #17891488
Budget is not really an issue. I'll just get the best I can.

It's an issue. We can recommend a $1k setup. Or a $10k setup real fast. You said "best" and "budget is not an issue." We can spend $10,000 real fast. So, you might want to be realistic with a budget.

Very best,

Yes you are correct, sorry.

Budget US$3000.

Opinions from someone who does a LOT of flash/strobist portraiture on location.

1) Don't spend it all at once on your lights. You'll need grip gear and accessories too - triggers, light modifiers, light stands and boom, backdrop stands, backdrops and/or paper, clamps, sandbags, etc etc.

2) Learn to do manual flash power. In a studio setting, the automatic modes will lead to frustration, because the system will adjust the flash power based on what's in the frame - even minor changes in pose or camera position will affect the calculated exposure, so when you shoot a whole set, your exposures will be all over the place. Once you've dialed in your exposure to properly expose the skin, you don't want the camera to adjust the exposure when the model changes from a white shirt to a black shirt.
2a) Automatic flash settings (ETTL) are great for run-n-gun, on-camera flash, where you have one chance to get the shot and "pretty close" is good enough.

Having said that. With that budget, you can get quite a bit. You might even get a set of strobes and a set of Speedlights.

Speedlights pros/cons:
+ Generally less expensive than studio strobes
+ Lightweight, easy to carry and transport
+ Fast to set up
+ No cords to plug in
- NO MODELING LIGHT (this is a big one for portraiture, where precise positioning of light and shadow can make or break a portrait)
- Less powerful than studio strobes (generally won't matter unless you're outdoors)
- less variety in modifiers

Studio strobes pros/cons:
+ Modeling light
+ Lots of power, even the entry level ones are more powerful than Speedlights
+ Lots of variety in modifiers
- More expensive
- Heavier, bulkier, harder to transport and store
- Needs a power outlet (unless you go to the high-end ones like Profoto) or battery pack


I have a set of both. For my Speedlights, I have one 430EXII and two Yongnuo 560EXII's. For my studio strobes, I have two entry-level Elinchrom D-Lite 2its.

I don't know if I would recommend the Yongnuos right now; I've gotten a lot of good use out of mine but they're getting on to four or five years old, and there's better stuff out there now. When these finally wear out, I might change to Godox/Neewer speedlights.

Elinchrom is a Swiss company and has a lot of support in Europe. Their new modifiers are often available in the UK before they're available in the US. Some brands of strobes that are popular in the US might be less available or less supported in the UK, I've heard anecdotes but have no specifics about them.

If you look in my gallery, about half were shot with my cheap and easily portable Speedlight kit. The smoke shots were a combination of one studio strobe and two Speedlights.

Thank you for your reply.

I am thinking that the usefulness of a modelling light would outweigh any disadvantages.

Your point about manual flash is very useful, thanks. I remember now, that I did used to use manual studio flash - not sure that auto was even available!

Elinchrom is relatively easy to source here as is Profoto. I used to use Bowens many years ago. Are they still in contention?

Please can you explain what is "grip gear"?

Heya,

As an alternative, since I can't recommend things from USA since you're over the waters where things are much more expensive, I'd look to some Godox stuff, generally available and good quality.

Look at some Godox QS-300's. They come with FT-16 trigger even. Otherwise, you could grab a Godox Cells-II for cheap.
Look at some boom stands, I'd go a little heavy duty, but still transportable. Cheetah Stand booms are awesome.
For modifiers, and transportable still, look to brolly boxes or umbrellas with panels. Photek Softlighter II comes to mind. Godox 47" brolly boxes come to mind.

Very best,

Orange Elephant wrote in post #17891566
Please can you explain what is "grip gear"?

It's a general term for all the "other stuff" you might need on a shoot besides just lights and camera and model. Stands, boom, clamps, gaff tape, zip ties, painter's tape, scrims, etc etc.

Thanks

I'm not sure that I can source Godox here.

Main brands appear to be:
Elinchrom
Profoto
Interfit
Bowens
Phottix
Lastolite
Metz

Can you recommend any of those brands? Also any of those brands I should avoid?

nathancarter wrote in post #17891707
It's a general term for all the "other stuff" you might need on a shoot besides just lights and camera and model. Stands, boom, clamps, gaff tape, zip ties, painter's tape, scrims, etc etc.

Understood, thank you.

Orange Elephant wrote in post #17891719
Thanks

I'm not sure that I can source Godox here.

Main brands appear to be:
Elinchrom
Profoto
Interfit
Bowens
Phottix
Lastolite
Metz

Can you recommend any of those brands? Also any of those brands I should avoid?

No Hensel? I'd be surprised if you couldn't get them in the UK. Cream of the crop.

Failing that, I'd go with Profoto then Elinchrom. Metz is good, but dunno about the future of the company: last time I checked they were in financial woes.

I don't know if you can get a full Profoto kit and all the trimmings with a budget of just $3000USD. That's maybe enough for two lights and a couple of modifiers. I don't know their full product range, but a D1 is over $1000 and a B1 is over $2000.

If price was no object, I'd probably go with Profoto.

Something like this: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_3x500ws_chimer​a_kit.html would fit the bill perfectly. Comes with grip, modifiers and case. And has nothing to beg from Profoto.

Thank you both.

The Profoto units are expensive. Just a basic twin D1 250 kit is US$2670 with just a carry bag & nothing else.

Following from that, what sort of power output should I be considering?