Basic Studio Lighting requirements?

[Grumby]

I want to look into doing some casual portrait work (that's casual in terms of me doing it as a weekend extension of my hobby, as opposed to casually posed portaits ), and am starting to think about getting some 'proper' off-camera lighting rather than making do...

I don't really know too much about studio lights, so can anyone advise me on the pros and cons of options at the lower end of the pricing scale... like what to look for, and what to avoid?

I have access to an SB-800 flash, but can only trigger it (when off-camera) optically at the moment, using the dialled-down on-camera flash as control. I'm guessing Pocket-Wizards or similar are a more reliable option for triggering, and I'd like to get that setup with a reflecting umbrella as one light source.

As well as the SB-800, I'd also like to equip myself with 1 (or 2?) studio lights with soft box and other accessories to supplement the flash... but apart from this vague notion of what I might need as a basic setup to start extending my skills, I have no idea what I should be looking for.

Any advice anyone can offer would be gratefully received...
Just remember - I'm an enthusiast, with a low-end camera, basic kit lenses (at the moment) and a 'needs justification' type of budget - I'm not expecting to open a studio and start magically producing professional quality images just because I bought a light or two... I'd just like to take the first steps on a journey that may (or may not...) lead me in that general direction eventually.

As an aside - having mentioned lenses - If I am going to consider buying a new lens - would a 35mm/f1.8 or a 60mm/f2.8 be better suited to portrait work (on a DX format sensor)? Though with additional lighting, I am hoping to be able to keep using my existing lenses for a while longer...

Thanks all
G

[cbui81]

I'm in the same boat too. I'm just starting out and on a tight budget. I want to do most of my shots outdoors since I live in San Diego and I'm lucky to have great weather year round, but for I figured I needed at least a small setup when someone really does want to do studio type shots. I keep seeing setups like this on amazon and was wondering if anyone had any input on them.

Amazon.com: CowboyStudio Photo Photography Video Studio Continous Lighting Light kit, 10' X 12'…

Not sure how these would compare in terms with a set of remote flashes, but it definitely seems cost effective for someone that's starting out and just learning, but needs a studio lighting solution.

[Grumby]

Yes - continuous vs strobe was something I was hoping to get pros & cons on... I assume that continuous lights are simpler and therefore cheaper? I also assume that strobes will need radio/optical/cable triggers?

[Jim Poor]

Doesn't the D3000 pop up flash have a commander mode? If so, it's a lot more than triggering optically.

Originally Posted by Grumby

Yes - continuous vs strobe was something I was hoping to get pros & cons on... I assume that continuous lights are simpler and therefore cheaper? I also assume that strobes will need radio/optical/cable triggers?

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Doesn't the D3000 pop up flash have a commander mode? If so, it's a lot more than triggering optically.

But you still need LoS (Line of Sight).

My suggestion would be to get another speedlite, some umbrellas or even softboxes, a couple light stands, a reflector and go from there. You might need the wireless triggers (pocket wizards, cybersyncs, etc) if you think you'll be using the flashes hidden in areas where there is no LoS. Joe McNally uses Nikon flashes without Pocket Wizards all the time and he does great work.

If you really wanted to go with a full studio setup then buy just one studio light and a softbox at first. After taking pictures with that for a while then you figure out what else you need. Don't go crazy and buy 4 strobes because you'll probably end up not using all of them in the long run.

Personally we have a combination of speedlites and strobes. We have 2 Alienbees, 2 Canon 430s and 2 Vivatar 285HV. We use cybersyncs to trigger all of them. Just remember when you go off camera and you aren't using Nikon's CLS system then you control your flashes manually unless you spend a lot more money to buy the stuff that still recognizes TTL.

Here's a link for Paul C. Buff Australia (makers of Alienbees):

http://www.paulcbuff.com.au/cms/

They have a system called the Cybercommander that will let you control their lights from where you're standing. It's not TTL but it saves you the time from walking to each of the lights to adjust them.

[Grumby]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Doesn't the D3000 pop up flash have a commander mode?

No - I'm afraid the D40x, D3000, and presumably the D60 in between, were considered the poor relations in that respect, and have no Commander mode. All I can do is dial down the strength of the pop-up flash, and use it as an optical trigger and use the SB-800 in manual mode. The only way I can start using Nikon flashes with the CLS functionality, is to get an SU-800 remote commander (basically an SB-800 without the flashy lighty part - and around the $300 mark) or use my daughter's SB-800 as a commander and buy a second flash (again around $300 just for an SB-600, or a ridiculous $900 for the SB-900). I can't believe how expensive they have got - we paid around $300 (admittedly importing it from US) for my daughter's SB-800 3 years ago, and they were selling for $750 just before being replaced by the SB-900. The SB-900 costs more than my entire camera!

So, as you can guess from my initial comment about budget... following the Nikon CLS route is out of the question - I don't think I can even afford to buy a Nikon flash of my own - I'll have to keep borrowing my daughter's

Cheers
G

[Tamster]

WOW... This is great! I was going to post the same type of question as i am in the same boat and looking to expand my knowledge in the lighting area. Thanks for all the info guys! I was actually on Amazon this morning looking at those same types of sets and wondering which would be better for a beginner.

[Jim Poor]

Well, you certainly can't go wrong with Alien Bees. I have a set of six, but I generally only use three at a time.

Constant lighting or "hot lights" aren't a terrible way to learn, but if you go that route. Don't buy photo kits. Go to a home improvement store and buy some cheap shop lights. That will help you learn and also help you save your $ for strobes in the future.

Hot lights are limiting in that they don't put out a LOT of light so you won't be getting to stop down much.

[Grumby]

Thanks guys - that's all good stuff.

I think I can probably rule out buying additional Nikon speedlites... My thinking after a little research and your advice above is...

• my daughter's SB-800 with an umbrella plus one strobe with soft box - both triggered optically by the pop-up flash
• two strobes (I won't have access to my daughter's flash much longer) with umbrella and soft box - again triggered optically
• either of the above, combined with Pocket Wizards or similar radio trigger - not sure if I'd need two receivers, or just one and then slave the other unit optically to the first - I guess having 2 receivers gets around the LoS issue

I know that the answer to the next question is that 'you get what you pay for...' but lookin on ebay, I can see lighting 'kits' from China (sounding alarm bells already) that have a couple of strobes, stands, soft boxes and umbrellas - all for around the same price as a single Alien Bee strobe unit with no accessories. So I expect that build quality will be 'shonky' - and light output less powerful? There was one kit with 180WS strobes and another with 250WS, whereas the AlienBee is 400... Do you think that those kind of units are even worth considering for an amateur's experimentation? Apart from the risk of burning my house down that is - do you think those cheapo units would be a viable starter purchase, or a waste of money?

Cheers
G

[SuperDan]

I am just starting out, and have clients that have been inquiring of studio work... so... I am starting off small with a few umbrellas and going strobe..

I too have looked at some of the cowboy studio stuff, but have a problem with wattages and all.. so that is on hold for right now. so i am going the "strobist" way, of off camera flash, although my ultimate goal is to go into continuous lighting. being a father of two children under 5 and not enough "paying customers" to make the big jump into over $200 some for that lighting.

my set up is a D40 currently with a strobe, i just ordered the cowboy studios wireless flash trigger.
i bought my umbrellas, stands and holders from B&H (for one flash set up i am at $50 delivered minus the flash of course)
i am going to order this slave flash for my background work as this was heavily used and review in the book "capturing the light" and it blew me away that you get all of that for $25

so, that way i will have the off camera and a slave... and there are many people on this forum that do soo well with just that setup. i have been diong alot of reading too and this basic setup, most people do fantastic work with.

this weekend I will be working on my backdrop and all... so... after i get all going and running I will probably be posting..

also, part of this is all due with me finally pulling the trigger after reading the tips post earlier here on DPS for How to build and use your own portable studio THIS WAS A GREAT READ and really finally was my AHA moment

i want to drop the money on some alien bees as ive never read anything bad about them, but... at over $100 something for the light alone its atough sell to my wife...