Need some help...

I have been asked by a friend to do a shoot of her and her family. She wants basic studio shots. I currently have no access to a studio, nor will I be able to. I also don't have any studio lights, backdrops, etc.

Do any of you have any ideas on what to use as substitues for these things?
For example- can I just use a large piece of cloth as a backdrop, and directional lamps as lights (adjusting WB of course) ?

Thanks so much!
JPM

If you can shoot outside...get into the shade and get out the large sheets of anything white to use as reflectors.
If you must shoot inside hang a drape or whatever for a backdrop and shoot using the light of a north facing window. If you have an external flash, use that for fill. If you live in an urban area, you can probably rent studio space and or lights.

Tough assignment. I'd use a white, or any color wall, with a big window nearby for natural light. A large piece of cloth will have wrinkles & be a PITA unless you can throw it way out of focus.

OTOH, if you can talk them into it, it's best to keep things as simple as possible. I suggest that you find the right location & the right natural lighting to go with it, like this on a larger scale?
Angeline outdoors

It's kinda tough to do a `studio' shot without a studio

I'd would definitely ask your friend specifically what she wants from this shot. It's been my experience that when people say `studio shot', they are really just asking for a white, black, or colored background. They don't care if you use strobes and they don't care where they sit. They just don't want to sit on a log in the park.

If this is the case, you can get away with a big sheet of white or black paper as a backdrop and some cheap hot-lights from Lowes (or equivalent). This is a perfectly acceptable studio set-up and the results can be fantastic.

You'll want to do the shoot inside because the sun will severely overpower your hot-lights. Have fun!

You can get paper for backdrops for about $18 a roll. It has no wrinkles....

Thanks for all of the replies.