This is an ignorant question......

I am just now jumping into studio lighting and recently bought the 430EX, my question is, can I use the 430EX to light a white seamless paper backdrop? Do I need more than one to light it evenly? Also, I have been given a couple of conflicting suggestions when it comes to alien bee strobes, a few have suggested the ab400 and a few others the ab800-the debate is that the ab400 is plenty of power for a garage studio, but the ab800 isn't that much more $$, so go with that one. What do you think? Thank you POTNers!

It depends on the dimensions of your garage. If it's the size of a NYC bathroom, having an AB800 could be VERY problematic - too much power is just as big an issue as having too little.

AB400's are pretty good power, and 2-3 will pretty much do any job in the studio, space permitting. AB800's are nice too, but I would prefer to use them in a larger studio space.

Are you planning on taking these outdoors with the Vagabond packs?

i can light a white background evenly for half length shots with my 430ex, but not full lengths in a room 12 feet long... for full lengths i have resorted to 1) avoiding them or 2) dodging the grey areas in Photoshop (works well, but gets old and tiring)

check my flickr link in my sig for examples... all the portraits with a white background are done as stated above

Zansho wrote in post #5765200
It depends on the dimensions of your garage. If it's the size of a NYC bathroom, having an AB800 could be VERY problematic - too much power is just as big an issue as having too little.

AB400's are pretty good power, and 2-3 will pretty much do any job in the studio, space permitting. AB800's are nice too, but I would prefer to use them in a larger studio space.

Are you planning on taking these outdoors with the Vagabond packs?

Okay, thats good info-thank you! I don't know what a Vagabond pack is, however, I really don't plan on using anything more than a reflector and possibly my 430EX for fill when I am outdoors-at least for a while! So, I am thinking in a 2 car garage, maybe the ab800, turned down.......? This country girl has never been to NYC, but I've heard the bathrooms are small!

Andrushka wrote in post #5765244
i can light a white background evenly for half length shots with my 430ex, but not full lengths in a room 12 feet long... for full lengths i have resorted to 1) avoiding them or 2) dodging the grey areas in Photoshop (works well, but gets old and tiring)

check my flickr link in my sig for examples... all the portraits with a white background are done as stated above

Thank you so much! I am going there now to see your work!

wow i checked your work
awesome
do you shoot from very high
how do you get that look
which lense do you use