priority lighting for studio

[kimspics]

I will be taking alot of baby portraits in my home studio..However, I do not have any fany lighting equipment ( nor the $$ topurchase expensive equip) what is priority in your opinion to have..Should I get a softbox ? what would yall get as a first piece and something I should absolutley have as far as lighting...thanks

[i speak in math]

Originally Posted by kimspics

I will be taking alot of baby portraits in my home studio..However, I do not have any fany lighting equipment ( nor the $$ topurchase expensive equip) what is priority in your opinion to have..Should I get a softbox ? what would yall get as a first piece and something I should absolutley have as far as lighting...thanks

Well, this should probably be in the lighting section but...

You could start by letting us know what you have now so that we can make some recommendations. A softbox won't help much if you have no light behind it.

[oldwolf]

On top of what you already have, it would help if we knew what your budget would be.

There are lots of ways to get around fancy equipment. We made a big 3'x5' diffusion panel to take with us for outdoor portrait sessions but we could easily convert that to a mimic a softbox by throwing some lights behind it.

Really depends on the budget and if you want to use off camera lighting.

[Goldie Green]

Found a few that I am looking into buying myself for indoor portraits. Very good price, compact, simple to use... I thought both would be great just to use in combination with the on camera flash... just for a bit of fill light. Add a diffuser which is DIY & you're set.

690045 Smith Victor PG250S Wireless Mini Slave Flash, Guide Number of 70', ISO 100.

690044 Smith Victor PG160S Wireless Mini Slave Flash, Guide Number of 40' / 12m, ISO 100

They both seem to have great reviews on all the sites I've looked at so far. Hope it helps you decide. Good Luck.

[bhursey]

I know you don't have much money however I would suggest investing in speed lights. You can get old Nikon sb24-28s for under 100$ normally then get a cheep gadget infinity radio trigger and some stands, umbrellas and umbrella brackets. 90% of my photoshoots are baby's and small kids.

The guide numbers on those flashes listed in the last post are a really low guide number.. Also I had smith and victor flood light stuff and I did not like it. It was very very cheep.

[i speak in math]

These are from a fairly simple 2 light setup. Used: 2 speedlights, 2 light stands with umbrella swivels, 1 white shoot through umbrella, homemade snoot, background holder and white sheet. Not too expensive overall.

From Strobist

One flash through white umbrella about 3 ft subject left (camera right) at 1/4 power. Another full power behind background shooting toward the camera blowing out the white.

From Strobist

1st flash in same location. 2nd flash through a snoot behind subject camera left at 1/2 power. Background done in post.

From Strobist

Same setup as last shot. Background done in post.

[SusanH1970]

I use an Alien Bee 400 with a 32x40 softbox along with a 40x60 reflector. For less than $400, it's a fantastic setup for doing kid/baby photography.

[stefantell]

If you have a camera flash, I think the cheapest way to try out studio lighting would be a cord (connect the flash to the camera), a stand (to place the flash on) and an semi-transparent shoot-through umbrella (for nice, soft light).

As earlier mentioned, reflectors you can make yourself, either by using large sheets of white paper, or just clamp it to a frame for easier placement.

Good luck.