lighting setup

Hi

I.m looking to do a spot of portrait work, not on a large professional scale but maybe enough to earn some extra cash, I have been looking at various kits and finding that some people recommend a constant light set up whilst others say a flash set up would be better, one light would possibly have a brolly the other a softbox, alothough 2 softboxes are an option.

So, Flash units or constant light units using a canon eos 400d

Thanks
Ady

Re> some people recommend a constant light set up

Not anyone who has a clue about indoor studio-style portrait photography.

BAK

Go and read the strobist 101 site and get a couple of flashes for portability. Take it from there and learn to set up 2 flashes in different situations. It advocates getting the sort of gear you can always use. If you spend money on a cheap set up (like continuous lights) you may regret it later. http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html
Or read Chuck Gardners' take on a good portable kit:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1025&message=22313085
Best of luck.
Steve

Ok, thanks guys, I was looking more to the flash setup myself, I think thats the way to go..

Ady

Look at B&H, which is a very well stocked photography store here in New York.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=2251

The link above is section of "Studio & Lighting" called "Monolight Kits". A monolight is a kind of flash that has all of its power controls inside making it a self-contained unit. The "Kit" part means that they usually come as a set of two, with umbrellas, stands, case, etc.

Good brands are Hensel, Elinchrom, Profoto, Bowens.

Brands on a tight budget are Photogenic StudioMax, Elinchrom D-Lite series, and Interfit/Paterson Stellar.

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M. Arike

I'm looking at Photogenic and Interfit. Which would you recommend over another?

thanks,

Continuous lights are HOT, if they provide the light needed for a decent shutter speed. I discourage them unless you are shooting inanimate objects. (I have three 750W variable output backs for my softboxes, but they rarely get used.)

You can go the battery flash route; any unit with manually-controlled output levels can be a fair starter...such as the vivitar 285's (or many others)...which can be picked up for a few 10's of dollars. I started with vivitar 283's. with stands, brackets, clamps, optical slaves, umbrellas and even a modest softbox and your time and enginuity(sp?) you can control the lighting and do some fine work. Since you have a modern digital camera, you may want to go with a camera-compatible flash such as the Canon or Sigma or others... for the canonflash communications when you shoot that style, and the manual controls when you want precise control.

You can patiently search the yard and estate sales as well as local camera shops or eBay for buys ...to get you started. I picked up a 2-head Novatron kit with stands and umbrellas and case at a yard sale. The kit is fine...for many applications (Like volunteer work - Pet Pics with Santa for the Humane Society)... I picked up a pair of nice German-engineered studio strobes at full retail when they finally got off back-order... I knew I wanted them because I already had the softboxes to fit them (from another lucky purchase). Just today I browsed the remains of an estate sale, and picked up a pair of stands, tilt-umbrella clamps, and WORKING "Spiratone Flash Bank AC Studio Flash" 135ws heads... for $20 !!! Not sure when/where/how I'll use them, but they work, have variable output and optical slaves. Yes, as an engineer I tend to have double or triple redundency in bodies, lens coverage, battery as well as AC flash units.

Suggestion - get ONE flash unit, stand, umbrella or softbox, and a LARGE white reflective surface (white foamcore board) and learn to see how the light wraps the contours of the subject(s) before adding a 2nd, 3rd, or more. TOO many variables can quickly muddle your efforts.

Chuck G.'s instructional materials are worth the read. A pair of the fun-foam flash modifiers are in my camera bag too. ;^)

Enjoy

they are very good for cooking hot dogs. Just place the dog in front of the light, switch the light on and you have a very expensive hot dog cooker (just kidding - don't try this). Continuous lights will also do a great job of cooking your subjects and keeping you pretty warm while doing it.

Seriously, studio strobe is the way to go - they run on a/c current, have built-in slaves, are able to be mounted on stands, can use all sorts of light modifiers such as umbrellas and softboxes AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - they have modeling lights.

There are some adequate new strobes on eBay for a pretty reasonable price. They probably won't last very long for a professional but, are fine for the occasional portrait shooting amateur.

However, you can occasionally grab a good set of used name brand lights for a fraction of what they cost new. I got a 3 monolight German made Multiblitz set with all sorts of accessories all in a fitted case for less than $225 including shipping.

Deals like this are not on eBay every day - either be patient for a good set of used strobes or get some new Chinese strobes that are very adequate for occasional use.
--

Retired Navy Master Chief Photographer's Mate. I was a Combat Cameraman, Motion Picture Director, and a Naval Aircrewman. I also had experience in reconaissance and intelligence photography. I have had considerable commercial photo experience in weddings and advertising photography. I am fully retired now although I dabble occasionally in dog portraiture. I presently use Canon DSLR cameras.