Beginner Question

I just received an Alien Bee 800 flash unit with stand and umbrella. They work great and have significantly improved my ability to take portraits. My question is what should be the next piece of equipment that I purchase - flashmeter, softbox, another Alien Bee, etc. Any recommendations would be appreciated....

A meter will allow you to make accurate exposures in all types of lighting situations. You can meter the fill light, then meter the main and you will know immediately where to set the main light for optimum lighting ratios instead of guessing, shooting, looking at the back of the camera stepping in to the main light adjusting it, stepping back making another exposure and repeating the above several times until you get it right. Then when you get additional lights you can meter them as you use them to light the scene without guessing.

Benji

Thanks, much appreciated.....

I too am looking to move to flash. I mainly should outdoor soccer, but am looking at possibly some basic corporate event shooting. Would the 430 be enough to use for that, plus as fill outside (maybe to 20 yards) or would I need a 530? (did not mean to jack the thread, just figured we were in similar straits)
Steve

I would suggest a large soft box next, or perhaps another strobe. A flash meter's handy, especially if you change your lighting often, but if the setup is pretty fixed you can just meter using the histogram before the customer gets there and use that setting all month.