Mixing studio and strobe lights?

[xinman]

Hey everyone, I'm trying to start playing with light. I had bought an off camera flash about 6 months ago and while it is great for portability I was considering picking up a studio flash to play with. I'm not really sure which I would like better and I've read a lot of pros and cons on both. I know that there are reasons to use both and situations where one outshines the other so I'm not asking for opinions on which to go with. I would however like to know if I get a single studio light for now and I wanted to use my off camera flash also are there any cons or caveats to be aware of. I think for the moment I want to focus on one light situations but there may be some situations where I want to add say a hair light or something. I've very novice when it comes to lighting so any thoughts you have would be nice to hear.

Thanks,
DM|ZE

[OsmosisStudios]

Use the studio strobe as the main (with a GOOD diffuser) and use the off-camera flash as a secondary. You should be able to use some kind of wireless trigger for both.

[xinman]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Use the studio strobe as the main (with a GOOD diffuser) and use the off-camera flash as a secondary. You should be able to use some kind of wireless trigger for both.

That's what I was thinking. I know my off camera flash can be controlled wireless through my camera but I don't know how exactly I will trigger the studio strobe, still saving money so I have time to figure that out.

[tariquesani]

Most studio strobes come with a built in optical slave - so when your off camera flash fires the studio strobe will as well. At least it works that way for me ;-)

[xinman]

Originally Posted by tariquesani

Most studio strobes come with a built in optical slave - so when your off camera flash fires the studio strobe will as well. At least it works that way for me ;-)

That's also what I was thinking, I wasn't sure if that would work though... Thanks!

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by tariquesani

Most studio strobes come with a built in optical slave - so when your off camera flash fires the studio strobe will as well. At least it works that way for me ;-)

Originally Posted by xinman

That's also what I was thinking, I wasn't sure if that would work though... Thanks!

Yep. Alien Bees are great studio strobes, if you want to look into those. I have an AB400 with a large softbox. I don't have wireless triggers, so I have to use the sync cord, but on occasion (when the freakin' sync cord crapped out on me, lol - they go bad) I've mounted my speedlight onto the hotshoe, set it at lowest power, aimed it above and slightly behind me. It was enough to trigger the AB without putting extra light on my subject. I love working with one light for now, but will probably eventually get a stand, modifier and wireless triggers to use both as OCF.