Indoor flash lighting

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Spiderwebb

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Bryan
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Hi everyone,

I’m out for some advice on the minimum
Wats required for indoor photography when it comes to lighting kits. I know allot depends on what your subject is, size of the studio or room/area, distance your setup will be from the subject and perhaps many more factors but as an amateur photographer I’m here on this forum because I need some helpful advice. I’m on the verge of buying some new kit, the kits I’m looking at range from 2 x 200 wat (400 wat total) strobe with soft boxes to around 3 x 250 wat so 750 wat in total with soft boxes. I’ve got options and a budget which I’m sure many can appreciate. From what I can see some gear can be of some value but likewise there seems to be some decent starter kits out there. So any advice on brands as well would be much appreciated. So my main aim is Equestrian portraiture, I’ll be shooting in large arenas with my subject (horse) not being to many miles away from my set up, I’d say at the very most 3-4 metres. I have a 3x3 metre backdrop frame with black back drop sheet. I just need the right lighting kit now. So all in all what would be a good ball park wattage id need in lighting kit. Any help or guidance would be much appreciated.
Cheers
 
Hi Bryan and welcome to TP

Firstly, there are others here with lighting & it's application who will know what to make of your lights questions.

But one thing that struck me was the size of the subject and the modest size of your backdrop, probably fine for headshots but for a full body portrait of say a 16 hand and larger equine and depending how closely the horse is standing to the backdrop it seems somewhat too small???

Also, apart from lighting advice feedback that should "be along soon......." (as close to new year please be patient ;) ) there are a few pro's here that do equine work!

All the best :)
 
Hi Bryan and welcome to TP.

When it comes to home studio, 200Ws lights are plenty for DSLR’s

It’d help us to know what kits you’re looking at, because there’s a lot of junk out there. Make sure you’re not confusing Ws (flash) with W (continuous)
 
Missed the Equine detail, I’d say forget backdrops per se and look into battery powered systems like the Godox AD600 Elinchrom Ranger etc.
 
Phil V said:
Missed the Equine detail, I’d say forget backdrops per se and look into battery powered systems like the Godox AD600 Elinchrom Ranger etc.
Click to expand...


There are arenas and there are arenas, some you would struggle in as they are so bright and others because they are so dark

Mike
 
Box Brownie said:
Hi Bryan and welcome to TP

Firstly, there are others here with lighting & it's application who will know what to make of your lights questions.

But one thing that struck me was the size of the subject and the modest size of your backdrop, probably fine for headshots but for a full body portrait of say a 16 hand and larger equine and depending how closely the horse is standing to the backdrop it seems somewhat too small???

Also, apart from lighting advice feedback that should "be along soon......." (as close to new year please be patient ;) ) there are a few pro's here that do equine work!

All the best :)
Click to expand...

Many thanks for your welcoming response,

Your not wrong new year and all I can only expect more responses will come in time.

So yes much agreed with the sheer size of some horses the portrait work would be mostly upper body say head shots. If I can manage full body and the angle is right then bonus.

I agree though equine portraiture can be somewhat challenging especially when the horse is in an unfamiliar environment. All my work will be done with owner onsite, no one knows the animal better than the owner. So I can appreciate it can be quite daunting for horses in the studio type setup.

Once again thank you for your advice
Kind regards Bryan
 
mike weeks said:
Backdrop near horses could be an issue, sounds to me like you are looking at mains powered flash, not good round horses - maybe post an image of what you want to do and I can provide more advice - this may be better moved to the lighting section

Mike
Click to expand...

Phil V said:
Hi Bryan and welcome to TP.

When it comes to home studio, 200Ws lights are plenty for DSLR’s

It’d help us to know what kits you’re looking at, because there’s a lot of junk out there. Make sure you’re not confusing Ws (flash) with W (continuous)
Click to expand...

Phil V said:
Missed the Equine detail, I’d say forget backdrops per se and look into battery powered systems like the Godox AD600 Elinchrom Ranger etc.
Click to expand...

mike weeks said:
There are arenas and there are arenas, some you would struggle in as they are so bright and others because they are so dark

Mike
Click to expand...

As always with such apparently simple questions, to the question raiser, the devil is in the details........ hopefully Bryan will be back to flesh out his initial OP so that the answers can be more specific???
 
Spiderwebb said:
I agree though equine portraiture can be somewhat challenging especially when the horse is in an unfamiliar environment. All my work will be done with owner onsite, no one knows the animal better than the owner. So I can appreciate it can be quite daunting for horses in the studio type setup.
Click to expand...

Actually owners can big the biggest asset but also the biggest issue, horses seem to be able to sense their handlers, they are after all a pack/herd animal so if the handler is stressed expect the horse to be so as well, especially the issue with flash and horses - many say it is an issue but personally I have never had an issue, all a matter of how you introduce both horse and handler to the setup

Mike
 
200w isn't going to be enough for something the size of a horse. An associate of mine does lots of horse type work, mostly outside in daylight, but does do occasional ones indoors. Think she uses an elinchrom ranger pack(s) 1100ws, but not 100% certain on that as I just see the pictures, not the process of producing them. Definitely doesn't use a backdrop.
 
mike weeks said:
Actually owners can big the biggest asset but also the biggest issue, horses seem to be able to sense their handlers, they are after all a pack/herd animal so if the handler is stressed expect the horse to be so as well, especially the issue with flash and horses - many say it is an issue but personally I have never had an issue, all a matter of how you introduce both horse and handler to the setup

Mike
Click to expand...

Hi mike, Cheers for your input

I think it’s fair to say I’ll be working mostly with those who own and handle their own horses. Off the slight chance I get to work with an owner who can afford a handler than by all means I’m sure the owner will let the handler take control. My partner has owned 2 for 20 years + and handles her own, she knows them better than no one else. I agree with your statement that it’s how you introduce the horse to the environment.
Kind regards
 
Phil V said:
Hi Bryan and welcome to TP.

When it comes to home studio, 200Ws lights are plenty for DSLR’s

It’d help us to know what kits you’re looking at, because there’s a lot of junk out there. Make sure you’re not confusing Ws (flash) with W (continuous)
Click to expand...


Hi Phil

I’m after flash not continues

Godox, Neweer . Open to suggestions of course

Cheers
 
Black back drop might not be needed. If there is enough distance in the arena behind the horse to anything else then it should be possible to achieve the low-key look just with the flash.
 
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