Studio Lighting

[FrdPrefct]

Hello All,
I do apologize ahead of time is this is the incorrect place to post this question.

I'm looking to buy some simple and inexpensive studio lighting. I've decided to do continuous lighting for two reasons. 1) Since I'm just starting out, it will help me learn placement of lights and techniques better. 2) I have 4 kids, and the amount of time it would take me to get strobes in the right place, snap pictures, redo, etc, they'd get very antsy. Since the continuous lighting are CFL, it won't get terribly hot.

At any rate, that's not my question. I've come across kits that have either 2 softboxes and a boom, or 2 umbrellas and a boom. Or, just simply 2 softboxes or 2 umbrellas. What my question is, do I really need a boom? I can see the potential for different lighting techniques, however, my main goal is to take decent portraits of the kids.

Lastly, do you have a suggestion of who to buy from? Has anyone bought from Cowboy studios before? I have a budget, and need to buy from Amazon (gift certs! - whooo!).

Thanks!

[RexK_Cozumel]

As for the boom arm it really depends... If it is a good one then yes it will allow you to place the light in many more places that a standard stand will not. If it is a crappy boom stand then no cause it will just break or fall over on you and there goes your light.

As for continous vs strobe you do know that strobes have modeling lamps right? I dont think it really takes me more time to setup strobes than it does CFL's.

As for softboxes vs brollies... I like softboxes myself since it is more directional but really it just depends on the situation. Are you planning on doing indoor portraits? how big is the room you are working in. Do you have grids for the softboxes are they reflective or shoot through brollies? Do you have a reflector and reflector stand? etc...

Just wondering but how much power does the CFL's you are looking at have?

[FrdPrefct]

Do all strobes have modeling lamps? I'm not looking at spending a ton of money - looking to be kind of cheap at first....

[RexK_Cozumel]

no not all of them do but a vast majority of them do.

I know that you have gift certs for amazon but if you want good lights that are inexpensive then check out Alienbees.

Oh and if you are looking for CFL's then I would recommend Spiderlites TD3 or TD5 depends on your needs.

[FrdPrefct]

What would be the advantage to strobe lighting over continuous (using CFL's). For now, I was looking at a simple setup of 600 to 1000watts of power with CFL's.

Thanks!

[Sodaman420]

hey FRD,
could you give us some info about how much you want to spend, perhaps so we could recommend some kits for you?
-Tony

[RexK_Cozumel]

Originally Posted by FrdPrefct

What would be the advantage to strobe lighting over continuous (using CFL's). For now, I was looking at a simple setup of 600 to 1000watts of power with CFL's.

Thanks!

Strobes have a larger power output generally.

With a battery pack and inverter you can take a strobe on location. You would need a generator for the CFL's.

Strobes can freeze action. Say you want to have a nice crisp portrait but want to use a shutter of 1/15 for artistic reasons well with CFL's you are pretty much screwed but with a strobe it is easy the flash at 1/1000 or faster will freeze the subject.

Strobes are not as hard on the subjects. That is since modeling lamps are not very bright they will not blind your subject. Think how you would feel with 1000ws of CFL in your face.

There are other more technical reasons but I think for your purposes you will not really need to know all that. If you want to know just ask.

[FrdPrefct]

Looking to spend $150 to $200 on Amazon (I have a gift cert). I know it's not much, but I'm just starting out and want to take portraits of my kids.

I'd like to spend a total of $300 or so which will include a backdrop stand (and maybe 1 backdrop).

[bhursey]

I had 2 500watt keys and a 250watt edge light CFL kit from smith and victor. I quickly bought some speed lights and some triggers. The flood lights were to much on my subjects. I did not want my new born under them.

This is my current setup. I guess you could start with a CFL's setup then upgrade like I did one day. I did not want my new born baby to sit under hot CFL's I have added prices for help on the following equipment. They are rough estimates.


Flashes:
$80 used Nikon SB-24 (Cactus V4): Guide number (ISO 100, in): 164(ft), 50 (m) at 85mm Power 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 ~
$100 Vivitar DF400mz (optical trigger): Guide Number (ISO 100): 131, 40m feet at 85mm Power 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16


Communication:
39$ Cactus v4 Transmitter receiver set:
Optical trigger

Light modifiers:
$ 1.99 if you can find them Rosco Cingel and Roscolux Swatchbooks
~ $10 2x Smith and Victor 36 inch umbrellas white shoot through
~$15 2x 40 inch silver umbrellas

Support:
I think around $30 each 3x Smith and victor 8 feet light stands
$15 each 2x Impact umbrella brackets
1x Smith and Victor mini boom arm
$100 1x Impact Background stand
B&H Photo Video | Digital Cameras, Camcorders

Backdrops:
Home made muslin backdrops 5 feet x 12 feet White and very dark navy blue.

fabric store 20$ Home made 12x20 backdrops black and white

[FrdPrefct]

Bump!

I was looking at this kit:
http://www.amazon.com/37211-WATT-3-F...3288246&sr=1-2

Do I really need the boom? Is there something else you would recommend in that price range?

Thanks!