What’s Your Preference?

sarahgirl777 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-17-2008, 02:48 AM

I'm just getting into portrait photography and I'm looking at purchasing some lights. I was looking at continuous lighting but I also see the flash strobes. Which do you think is better? I'd love some opinions or imput on which is better for what. I'm going to mostly use them indoors in a studio. In what cases do you thing a flash strobe is better?

I appreciate any imput as I'm just a newbie!

OsmosisStudios · #2 (**permalink**) 09-17-2008, 01:28 PM

A combination would be awesome. Your constant lights will give you good light overall, but flashes will really let you play with light.

briandee · #3 (**permalink**) 09-17-2008, 03:21 PM

if you read all the pages of this lighting 101 he wrote up you will understand a LOT more than you do now. i know it helped me TONS.

and if your into it you can read the lighting 102 that he wrote up also.
i guarantee it wont disapoint you for the time you spend.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

here is the link

imagesbyjk · #4 (**permalink**) 09-17-2008, 03:49 PM

Flash is the way to go. Just make sure they have good modeling lights on them. With continuous lights you have to worry about camera/subject movement but with flash it freezes any movement and you get sharp images. Also, depending on what kind you're looking at, continuous lights are hot and you end up with sweaty models.

Cuchulainn · #5 (**permalink**) 09-17-2008, 03:54 PM

Agreed. Unless you are going to pose the subjects and have them remain stationary for the most part, strobes are the way to go. Continuous lights just don't have enough output unless you are talking about the huge studio lights and then heat becomes an issue.

A 160 watt/sec strobe has the output equivalent of an 8000 watt continuous light or something along those lines. The cheap continuous light kits you can often find advertised are near worthless except for still life.

Here is some more good reading on the advantages of strobes..

http://webs.lanset.com/rcochran/flash/hotorstrobe.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by imagesbyjk

Flash is the way to go. Just make sure they have good modeling lights on them. With continuous lights you have to worry about camera/subject movement but with flash it freezes any movement and you get sharp images. Also, depending on what kind you're looking at, continuous lights are hot and you end up with sweaty models.

sarahgirl777 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-18-2008, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imagesbyjk

Flash is the way to go. Just make sure they have good modeling lights on them. With continuous lights you have to worry about camera/subject movement but with flash it freezes any movement and you get sharp images. Also, depending on what kind you're looking at, continuous lights are hot and you end up with sweaty models.

Thanks, I didn't realize that, I've been shooting outdoors for that reason, so I wouldn't get so much motion in the pic's. But it gonna get real cold here pretty soon, so I figure I better have the option of an indoor shoot! Your photos are amazing, I looked at your website and it's some of the best I've seen. Do you use multiple flashes even when your outdoors? I'm still in the practice stage right now, but I've got to have the right lighting to practice with.

sarahgirl777 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-18-2008, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briandee

if you read all the pages of this lighting 101 he wrote up you will understand a LOT more than you do now. i know it helped me TONS.

and if your into it you can read the lighting 102 that he wrote up also.
i guarantee it wont disapoint you for the time you spend.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

here is the link

Thank you so much for that link. I have been doing a lot of reading lately and this will really help. I'm all for reading, learning then practicing.

sarahgirl777 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-18-2008, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

A combination would be awesome. Your constant lights will give you good light overall, but flashes will really let you play with light.

I hadn't thought about using both, but I guess it looks like I might end up getting both types if I want the best quality. Thank you.

imagesbyjk · #9 (**permalink**) 09-18-2008, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahgirl777

Thanks, I didn't realize that, I've been shooting outdoors for that reason, so I wouldn't get so much motion in the pic's. But it gonna get real cold here pretty soon, so I figure I better have the option of an indoor shoot! Your photos are amazing, I looked at your website and it's some of the best I've seen. Do you use multiple flashes even when your outdoors? I'm still in the practice stage right now, but I've got to have the right lighting to practice with.

Thanks Sarah. If I use flashes outdoors (and in the studio) I tend to use as few as I can get away with - which is usually one. I'm transitioning into more elaborate flash setups for an edgier look but most of the work on my site that is done with flash is single light stuff. The vast majority of the work is natural light and reflectors.

b3nj1 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-18-2008, 04:50 AM

I'm also working my way through strobist's 101, 102 and lighting assignments.

In addition to strobist, this site has some recent posts outdoor portrait sessions using flashes and reflectors:
http://prophotolife.com/2008/08/18/v...r-portraits-1/

A general theme for lighting seems to be to get the flash OFF of your camera, so you have to deal with remote triggering. There is no lack of options from the pricey but well-loved Pocket Wizard Plus II to inexpensive PC sync cables. After researching a bit, I think the AlienBees' wireless triggers (CyberSync) are a good compromise and value:
http://alienbees.com/cybersync.html
They can also be used to as a remote shutter trigger. Of course, make sure they'll work with your camera & flash.

I haven't put my money where my mouth is yet, because I'm trying to pace myself after a camera equipment spending spree this summer... So I can't attest to them personally, but they seem pretty well received in the reviews I've found. A search through DPS forum yields a few posts recommending AlienBees' CyberSync (and their flashes also), but I didn't see any usage reports/reviews.

I subjected my wife to photo shoot a couple weeks ago. I only had the sun (at her back) and my flash (mounted on my camera), but wish I had some more advanced options for light. I don't like the head-on catch lights in her eyes or the flatness on the right side (sun was back and to the right).