Looking for Lighting Advice

[colanglo]

Hi all. I am soooo new to photography that even newbies make fun of me! lol

With that said I am begging for advice on what kind of lights to purchase.

So here's a little info to help you help me:
1. I have a very simple point & shoot Nikon P80. Great pics but isn't fancy. Gets the job done nicely.

2. Going to be shooting inside my home which has terrible lighting.

3. I'll be doing mostly potraits...close-ups for local kids who can't afford senior pics. I do this free because I believe all the kids deserve senior pics. So the lighting is very important for these kids to have pics they want to share with their friends.

I have no clue if I should get the one with 1 bulb or 4 bulbs. I have no clue how many watts I'm looking for. I'm use to shooting senior pics outside without a problem. But this year some of the kids need formal pics done. I have everything but lighting.

So, as you can see, I need all the help and advice I can get.
I really appreciate everyone and want to thank you in advance.

[WooD]

When I first started playing around with lighting I used a couple of these.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...rella_Kit.html

[111t]

I think one of the main advantages of flashes is that when you put humans in front of them they don't instantly squint. Conversely, this is the main disadvantage of constant lights.

[WooD]

Originally Posted by 111t

I think one of the main advantages of flashes is that when you put humans in front of them they don't instantly squint. Conversely, this is the main disadvantage of constant lights.

I doubt there is a way to trigger strobes with a point and shoot camera that lacks a hot shoe.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by WooD

I doubt there is a way to trigger strobes with a point and shoot camera that lacks a hot shoe.

Some can be triggered by a simple flash, but as a general rule all you'll end up is white: P&S cameras dont compensate for exterior flashes.