Advice on strobist flash

[icnoble]

I want to do portrait photography in a home environment, I am having lots of requests from family members and work colleagues to take their photographs. I have decided to go the strobist route. I have a D700 and an SB900 flash gun. I have just bought a second sb900 (mint secondhand) for a good price. What third flash gun should I buy, would I get away with an sb600 thus saving cost or should I get a secondhand sb800. There is a local studio where I live that will be running courses on strobist flash.

 

[DekHog]

To be honest, I'd stick with two for the moment... trying to run before you can walk and all that. Three can get pretty confusing, especially if you've never used off camera flash before.

If you really need to buy another, the SB600 would certainly do, as it's only likely to be used as a hair light or similar, not a main light, so power not really the issue - unless you can easily afford the 800/900 of course...

 

[cherryrig]

Why do you want three flashes? Two is more than enough……(coming from a guy who has four, but that's a different story )

If you've never done it before two would be fine as you'd have one on either side normally to make sure the subject evenly lit. Try looking at reflectors as another way of getting that light bouncing back to the subject

 

[icnoble]

Why do you want three flashes? Two is more than enough……(coming from a guy who has four, but that's a different story )

If you've never done it before two would be fine as you'd have one on either side normally to make sure the subject evenly lit. Try looking at reflectors as another way of getting that light bouncing back to the subject

Thanks for the reply. I actually have a third flash gun which is a manual Nikon sb25. If I use the 2 sb900's to light the person using the camera as a wireless commander could I use the sb25 to light the background at the same time using a trigger?

 

[HoppyUK]

Nothing wrong with what you are suggesting, but I agree that starting off with three lights (four if you include the pop-up flash) is unnecessary and confusing.

Basically, you only want one main subject light - the key light. Ever. Fill in shadows with a reflector would be my advice (although some people do use a second light on very low power for that).

A second light on the subject is purely an effect light - back light, hair light, side light whatever.

Then if you want to light the background, that is a completely separate issue. One is usually fine, but if you want the blown pure white look, that will need two to get it perfectly even.

Rather than blowing money on extra flash heads, I would get some good light-shaping tools - nice big softbox, reflector - background system etc.

 

[cherryrig]

Thanks for the reply. I actually have a third flash gun which is a manual Nikon sb25. If I use the 2 sb900's to light the person using the camera as a wireless commander could I use the sb25 to light the background at the same time using a trigger?

Yeah if you get a little optical slave then it would work fine

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Yeah if you get a little optical slave then it would work fine

The kit you've got is more than enough to get started with

 

[icnoble]

The kit you've got is more than enough to get started with [/QUOTE

Graham, I would be interested in getting one of your hi-light backgrounds. What lighting would you recommend to use with it and when will it be in stock again. Thanks