Help in Studio/Lighting Photography


asidie

New Member
Jun 25, 2008
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Hi guys,

I have been taking photos as a hobby for a while,
Mainly taking personal photos for family events, weddings and random stuff on streets.

Will like to venture more into studio/lighting photography
But i have no idea on where to start.
Im currently using a 7D mostly paired with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 as my walkabout lens.

Any advices, on what beginners lighting kit to get?
Will really appreciate if web links are provided.

Budget is not really the problem, but I hope to get a basic necessity kit for home studio usage.

Some of my noob photos are in http://www.flickr.com/photos/raytwm84/

Thanks for reading
 

don't know where to start? why don't check out studio photography courses in the Workshops, Tutorials and Classes, after attend couples of courses, asking questions face to face, with hands on experience, you will know what you really need.

if you want to save the money on courses, you can go National library to borrow some books on studio photography, plus watching some tutorials in Youtube, and online research, you will also able to archive your goal, but slightly longer and not systematic.

hope this help.
 

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Thanks for the advice catchlight,

pinholecam, I will like to turn serious eventually :)

Any recommendation on any starter kit?
 

asidie said:
Thanks for the advice catchlight,

pinholecam, I will like to turn serious eventually :)

Any recommendation on any starter kit?

Some serious professionals also use strobist setups.
 

Thanks for the advice catchlight,

pinholecam, I will like to turn serious eventually :)

Any recommendation on any starter kit?

Strobist kit can be used seriously or non-seriously :)
However, it can be a bit more of a pain if you are looking at faster cycle times and flash power, as well as compatibility to studio flash mounts in softboxes, octobox, etc.

I'm just a causal photographer, who watches over my wallet (or like to think that I am :D ),
coverage is just family portraits, some TFCD and some events, all for interest sake, so a strobist kit with the following is good enough for me :
x1 radio flash trigger transmitter
x4 radio flash trigger receivers
x3 umbrellas (mix of shoot through and bounce)
x4 hot-shoe flash units (around GN46 (@ISO100) if not better)
x1 3-way reflector
x4 light stands (or make do with a tripod or two)
x1 softbox (mainly in-door use)

Try to have similar flash units if possible. Makes it less of a pain over light ratios.
My few cents.
 

pinholecam said:
Strobist kit can be used seriously or non-seriously :)
However, it can be a bit more of a pain if you are looking at faster cycle times and flash power, as well as compatibility to studio flash mounts in softboxes, octobox, etc.

I'm just a causal photographer, who watches over my wallet (or like to think that I am :D ),
coverage is just family portraits, some TFCD and some events, all for interest sake, so a strobist kit with the following is good enough for me :
x1 radio flash trigger transmitter
x4 radio flash trigger receivers
x3 umbrellas (mix of shoot through and bounce)
x4 hot-shoe flash units (around GN46 (@ISO100) if not better)
x1 3-way reflector
x4 light stands (or make do with a tripod or two)
x1 softbox (mainly in-door use)

Try to have similar flash units if possible. Makes it less of a pain over light ratios.
My few cents.

Actually for a start, two receivers will be enough. The rest can fire via optical slave.

Classic portraits are usually 3 light, one key, reflector to fill, one rim and one background. The rim or background can fire optically also.

That is a good way to start, especially for a beginner.

Learn about the basic lighting positions first like edge, 45/45 and butterfly first.

Take it a step at a time.
 

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super old school traditional classical portrait using FIVE lights,

one Key
one Fill
one kicker
one hair
one background

all on Reflectors, no softbox
 

catchlights said:
super old school traditional classical portrait using FIVE lights,

one Key
one Fill
one kicker
one hair
one background

all on Reflectors, no softbox

That one is old school studio sia. Must accompany with hydraulic camera stand.
 

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Thanks for the advices guys.

Im using 7D, I don't really need a receiver if im using speedlite right?


x1 radio flash trigger transmitter
x4 radio flash trigger receivers
x3 umbrellas (mix of shoot through and bounce)
x4 hot-shoe flash units (around GN46 (@ISO100) if not better)
x1 3-way reflector
x4 light stands (or make do with a tripod or two)
x1 softbox (mainly in-door use)

And how much will this roughly cost?
 

Thanks for the advices guys.

Im using 7D, I don't really need a receiver if im using speedlite right?


x1 radio flash trigger transmitter
x4 radio flash trigger receivers
x3 umbrellas (mix of shoot through and bounce)
x4 hot-shoe flash units (around GN46 (@ISO100) if not better)
x1 3-way reflector
x4 light stands (or make do with a tripod or two)
x1 softbox (mainly in-door use)

And how much will this roughly cost?

Just note that I am advising 4 receivers cause I am using cheapo PT-04 v2 (ie. china triggers) and these are not compatible every time they come up with a new version.
If you get good ones (eg. Alien Bees, Pocket Wizards, etc) you won't have a future compatibility issue.
The 'china triggers' are cheap though.

Check out mass sales to mix and match what you need.
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forums/84-Mass-Sales

Some of the stuff like 3-4 flash, umbrellas, softbox you can slowly add up once you get more comfortable with you setups.
 

Share my experience...

I tested indoor shooting with 2 x desk lamp + home-made reflector (made by mounting board wrap with aluminum foil, additional to my 580EX II speedlite on the cam horse-mount.
This setup help me to experiment the aperture, shuttle speed and ISO combination, and the light bounce (shadowing the subject).

After knowing the combination, I get another speedlite + mode-made reflector.
I didn't get pinholecam's recommendation, which most people will, because I prefer Canon ETTL to auto adjust (amateur level).

One book to recommend.
BASICS Photography (2): Lighting
by David Prakel
ISBN 13: 978-2-940373-03-1
ISBN 10: 2-940373-03-5

I bought it from Photography Bookstore at Funan Lobby.