How many flashes do I need?

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18196327
Er... not saying I am a master of anything, but I've used one light extensively. Just trying to get some ideas on what hardware to sink my money into.

Ok then... enjoy. Tons to consider. Myself, I do Elinchrom.

Extensively. 8 units. Ive used as many as 6 on location. Controlled by iPhone, Skyport HS trigger. Lots of fun using them.

#brokenrecord

...cough cough, GODOX! cough.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18196376
#brokenrecord

...cough cough, GODOX! cough.

Your cold can be cured by Eli's.

Seriously, if you want to add flash units, just buy these, NOW! While they are $70.00 off!

http://www.adorama.com​/fplfsmzl2ca.html

Get two, or three if you want to replace your 430.

Or you can add the 430 into the mix with total control from your camera/controller using this set;
http://www.adorama.com​/fprrr2kc.html

You'll want the Xi controller anyway to trigger those amazing li-ion flash units.

And, if you really want power replace one of the three flashes with this;
http://www.adorama.com​/fplfsl360ck1.html

Wilt and Talley have covered the one-light argument, and I agree. I have seven studio lights, and typically use one—or a single Speedlite. The functions of key, fill, hair, rim and b/g can be handling with one light (even the sun) if you have a good mix of modifiers and the means to deploy them. By modifier, I refer to various materials on panels, and deployment will require stands and grips. The easy (but not really satisfactory) workaround is more active sources, where those sources do not comprise a believable lighting scheme: hard-light rim is my pet peeve. If you get two more lights, even Speedlites, you still need to think about placement and modifiers, otherwise you just have three directional lights spraying photons and shadows everywhere.

My main point in post 10 is NOT how many you need, but that fact that you simply need to consider...

1. WHAT tasks am I trying to accomplish in the shot?
   
2. HOW MANY other ways of accomplishing the same task can I use instead?