Studio Lighting

[Writenow]

I tried to search for a previous post on this, but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for so if someone's already posted this question I apologize.

I'm looking at lighting equipment to start a small studio in my home to practice with and learn. I would eventually like to use it at jobs too. Can anyone recommend an affordable kit or tell me if this one is any good:


PROHOISTS - SS3700 Ultimate Professional Studio Photography Setup Kit

I appreciate any help on the subject.

Thank you

[zona5101]

I think in the long run you will be disapointed. Ya there's alot of stuff there for the money but when you start to get serious about it this kit will not keep up. imho, it would be better to get one good quality light and learn how to use it. Over time build the rest of your lighting kit around it. Plus, you'll learn what lighting accessories you need or want rather than gertting a wide assortment of stuff you may never use. I would look at Alien Bees, Photoflex and Calumet for excellent quality lighting equipment that you can build your system on.

[Writenow]

Thank you for your help! I don't have a lot of money but I really want to learn some things and my Aunt offered to buy that one, I was just wondering if it would be a waste of money and if I'd even be able to learn anything from it.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by zona5101

I think in the long run you will be disapointed. Ya there's alot of stuff there for the money but when you start to get serious about it this kit will not keep up. imho, it would be better to get one good quality light and learn how to use it. Over time build the rest of your lighting kit around it. Plus, you'll learn what lighting accessories you need or want rather than gertting a wide assortment of stuff you may never use. I would look at Alien Bees, Photoflex and Calumet for excellent quality lighting equipment that you can build your system on.

In total agreement. It's an awful lot of stuff to start with and your bound to become frustrated with it. It's always a good idea to start with one (good) light and build from there as you progress. Bruce mentioned Alien Bees - I have one with their large softbox and absolutely love it. Sometimes I use it in conjunction with a reflector, sometimes not if I want more shadowing (I love the softbox because the spill is better controlled than an umbrella and the light sort of "wraps around" the subject).

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Writenow

Thank you for your help! I don't have a lot of money but I really want to learn some things and my Aunt offered to buy that one, I was just wondering if it would be a waste of money and if I'd even be able to learn anything from it.

You can buy kits from all those manufactured I listed and stay right around $550. Even 2 light kits.

[Peter Geoffrey]

Hello Christina. To learn about lighting you won´t go far wrong with that kit. Very nice present! I started off with a top quality but limited feature kit. I.E. Could not turn off sensors. No problem on one´s own but working alongside others it was a problem. In the end I invested in an Elinchrom kit. Not cheap but the best. Start off with that kit you are looking at and progress from there. I´m retired now and hardly use mine anymore. All the best for the future. Regards from the UK. Pete.

[oldwolf]

If you're looking for strictly studio gear I'd go with Alien Bees. Buy one light and get a lightbox or octabox. You'll need to get some type of remote trigger (cybersyncs or Cactus v4 triggers)

If you want portability then mpex sells some nice strobist kits for about the same price as what your aunt was going to spend.

Strobist Starving Student SC3 Lighting Kit

That kit that she was going to buy just seems too much for too little. I'd start to wonder at the quality of some of the products.

We've got a few Alien Bee products as well as the strobist gear from mpex. They're both reliable and portable. We even packed up our Alien Bee gear to shoot a bride (pre wedding shoot) about an hour and a half away. We also packed up the strobist gear for when we went outdoors as well though. All we needed for the strobist gear was one flash, a stand, an umbrella and a transmitter and receiver.

I'd start out small. Get a light or two then add more as you find your limits and figure out what you want to do with the light(s).

I can't believe I just told someone to buy less gear. Don't tell my wife that hehe.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by oldwolf

If you're looking for strictly studio gear I'd go with Alien Bees. Buy one light and get a lightbox or octabox. You'll need to get some type of remote trigger (cybersyncs or Cactus v4 triggers)

If you want portability then mpex sells some nice strobist kits for about the same price as what your aunt was going to spend.

Strobist Starving Student SC3 Lighting Kit

That kit that she was going to buy just seems too much for too little. I'd start to wonder at the quality of some of the products.

We've got a few Alien Bee products as well as the strobist gear from mpex. They're both reliable and portable. We even packed up our Alien Bee gear to shoot a bride (pre wedding shoot) about an hour and a half away. We also packed up the strobist gear for when we went outdoors as well though. All we needed for the strobist gear was one flash, a stand, an umbrella and a transmitter and receiver.

I'd start out small. Get a light or two then add more as you find your limits and figure out what you want to do with the light(s).

I can't believe I just told someone to buy less gear. Don't tell my wife that hehe.

Yay, another vote for AB's! LOL. Seriously, they're great. Not necessary to get a remote trigger, she can use the sync cord for now. I didn't want to spend additional money so I'm using that for now (and it comes with the Beginner Bee kit).

http://alienbees.com/beginner.html

I substituted the softbox for the umbrella in the kit: http://alienbees.com/foldable_detail.html

I'd also suggest getting the 13 ft heavy duty stand instead of the 10 ft general purpose stand that comes with the kit. At full extension, the GP stand is a bit flimsy and can and will fall over with the light and softbox attached. Trust me, I know LOL.

As for portability, AB's are great for that too. The monolight comes with a padded carrying case and the softboxes/octoboxes are collapsible and come with cases. I only shoot on location and it takes me less than 10 minutes to set up my light and backdrop. If you like square/rectangular catchlights (which I do, it mimics window light), get a softbox. If you like round catchlights (more "studio looking"), get an octobox.

In total agreement that the kit the OP linked to seems too much for too little and also wonder about the quality.

Yes, start out small. Studio lighting is complicated and starting off with a bunch of stuff will only frustrate you until you know how to use it all. I've been using only one light + reflector for almost a year and I'm not considering getting a second light yet. Well, technically, I do have one - a speedlight - but have not used it off-camera yet - I'm eventually going to get a stand, modifier, and wireless triggers....but not yet.

If you want to see examples of my photography with one light, here ya go. Some with a reflector, some without:

4web | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Dream, baby, dream..... bw | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Smiley Girl | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

17 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

LOL, I know what you mean, oldwolf. If you don't tell my husband, I won't tell your wife.

[zephod]

Originally Posted by Writenow

I tried to search for a previous post on this, but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for so if someone's already posted this question I apologize.

I'm looking at lighting equipment to start a small studio in my home to practice with and learn. I would eventually like to use it at jobs too. Can anyone recommend an affordable kit or tell me if this one is any good:


PROHOISTS - SS3700 Ultimate Professional Studio Photography Setup Kit

I appreciate any help on the subject.

Thank you

I cannot emphasize how much you will regret that kit. The one from MPEX or Alienbees will serve you so much better. A lot of what you are going through is exactly what I did only I blew over a grand on lighting equipment that I ended up parceling out and losing about 600 of that thousand dollars. My base kit now is my SB26's and 24's with a pair of alienbee 800's I added a few months later and the cybersync's for control was the best money I've spent yet. Nice thing about Pocket Wizard and Cybersync is they keep their value and for the starting out photog the cybersync's rock. If I were redoing it I would buy 2 sb24's or 26's and put the majority of my money into the controllers (cybersyncs imho) and a few inexpensive umbrellas (biggest you can afford).

As for backdrops.... Make Your own... seriously, it's easy....
Cheap DIY (Homemade) Muslin Photography Background | DIYPhotography.net

I suggest grabbing 5 yards of 108" white muslin for your backdrop and grabbing a cheap HUGE spool of twine at the hardware store.... There are a myriad of ways to hang the backdrop and with a little time and thought you can find something for your kit that won't cost near what you'd pay for a lot of the kits...


Buy Quality first and you won't have to buy junk repeatedly. Just my .02

Doug

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

LOL, I know what you mean, oldwolf. If you don't tell my husband, I won't tell your wife.

Our little secret Susan.