Suggestions needed for strobe setup...

Hoping to get some help here! I'm an amateur enthusiast photographer shooting with a Canon 5D, but I only have a small amount of hands-on experience with studio strobes.

I have the opportunity to photograph several, really spectacular, customized Harley Davidson motorcycles, owned by some friends that are willing to bring them over. I have a two-car garage, with no pillars to obstruct, and want to setup a backdrop, some kicker lights and either monolights or strobes for main and secondary lights. I was thinking of using gels to color the backdrop. Something simple that will show off the beauty of the bikes.

Can anyone recommend a great starter kit (that won't break my bank account), or a recommendation on rental gear?

Feel free to name brands, watt seconds, softbox sizes, etc...

Your help is greatly appreciated!!

http://www.calumetphot​o.com/item/CF0502K1/fe​atures

This would be a good started kit. I have a buddy that like his a lot. I jsut don't have the room, so I went with a 580EXII and a 430 for my lights.

R

For shooting stuff that doesn't move, indoors, you don't need much. You don't need flash.

Ever see those car auctions on TV? Ever notice the HUGE softbox directly above where they park the cars? I mean, the thing is half again as long and wide as the cars.

Emulate that by shining some shop lights up at the garage ceiling. If the garage doesn't have a white ceiling, hang a big white sheet up there. Put something between the shop lights and the bike to avoid direct light.

Then use a tripod so you can use a shutter speed slow enough to get the right exposure.

Thanks, great advise!

I agree that a continuous light source bpunced off a ceiling or shot through sheets would work best for this application. Not to mention it will save you tons of $$$$$ compared to buying studio strobes.

PS, if you have the ability to shoot your 580EX off camera, you can gel that to get the BG colors you are looking for.