Continuous lighting *Solved & thanks*

[magicaxeman]

I really don't want to go down the studio flash route again, and to be honest don't have the space for it, but would like some advice on continuous lighting.

I have a small area I am setting up in my room to one side of my bed for portraits, I will be shooting from approx 6-7 ft from the subjects, this is a fixed distance as I am permanently stuck in bed.
I feel flash would overpower in this situation and was thinking of a couple of small soft boxes one approx 5 ft to the right of the subject the other in front but approx 10 ft away.
Obviously I would like to be able to vary the lightings output to adjust the lighting to taste.

I plan on using a pop up background and train hung on the wall with a reflector hung to the left and used as either a reflector or with its black panel to kill light on that side.

I also need to keep things simple as I will be relying on my subjects to bring the lights in for me and position them.


* update*

Given whats been said, I have been looking at using 3 flash guns.

I already have one Nissin Di622, so was thinking I could add another as they have a built in slave function, then add a yongu cheapy to run at 1/8th power for background separation.

My only issue with this is metering.. I was used to my old set up and using a flash meter but would it be the same with this or would the ettl work?
I'm looking for a compact and hassle free solution to light this 1.5 x 3 meter area where the background will be but giving as good a results as possible lighting wise.



* solved it thanks to your input, going for another flash gun for now and an interfit S bracket softbox kit for it.
I'll make do with one gun in the softbox and connect via an ettl lead to the camera, use my 60" x 40" reflector on the other side to take the edge of the shadows and the second gun for separation from the background.
Later I can add another softbox and gun into the equation and the system also means I can use the snoots, beauty dishes etc from interfits range.
Power should be ideal given the small area and closeness to the subject, but I have fast lenses for portrait use and the camera will be on a tripod anyway.

Thanks again for the input and making me think before leaping.

 

[Byker28i]

What about the LED light panels. We've used them in small room locations for interviews where the normal lights would generate too much heat. They work well and have controllable output.

These are the expensive ones that we rented in
http://www.litepanels.com/

but there are cheaper alternatives I've seen at shows. Or you could check out the Hydroponic type panels on ebay?

 

[Garry Edwards]

I think you should get more accurate colour and it will be cheaper to use fluorescent lights designed for photography (with a minimum CRI of 90) rather than LED lighting.

Continuous lighting is generally a poor choice for people photography simply because of the lack of light shaping tools - among other things - but as you're so restricted in your movement it does seem to be a good choice for you.

As with everything else in photography, patience and determination can overcome even difficult hurdles - please post some of your shots when you've got to that stage.

 

[HoppyUK]

I don't see how continuous light will help in any way. The big items are the softboxes and brollies and stands, and they're going to be the same if you want decent light.

I'd have a go with a couple of hot-shoe guns, they're as small as you can get, there's lots of stuff available for them, and they're so useful for other things too.

 

[magicaxeman]

With flash its setting them etc, I can't get out of bed to do that.

I'm currently thinking of one softbox with 125 watt daylight tube, one with 55 watt and a small lamp with 26 watt for the back ground light.