Kit Lens & Flash Newbie Help

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Stooly

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So I'm currently doing lots of research, practice and learning as much as I can to try to do studio photography professionally. I have a Canon EOS 700D and have been using the kit lens, which is a EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens.

I'm currently using 1 lighting source, which is a large diffuser with a bulb in it... I forget now which bulb, (sorry still coming to grips with terminology) but it's a large chunky bulb. I struggle with the pictures currently, not tremendously, but I think having a 2nd light source on the other side might help. My friend suggested I get a wireless flash & mount it on my tripod. She's also lent me the cover & diffuser I could then use over the flash.

My question is this, for studio photography, mostly family shoots, what would you suggest I do first, get a flash or upgrade the lens?

And if possible, some recommendations would be great. I'm having a terrible time trying to figure out why some flashes are so cheap & what the more expensive flashes do better. As for a better lens, I don't really know where to start to look.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!
 
One key light and a reflector for fill can do a lot on a budget, if you don't want to spend a fortune. I would recommend having a look at your existing light and modifier (the diffuser you mentioned) and quote the specifics here and some of the lighting experts here (not me) will be able to give you some great advice.
 
All being well flagging @Garry Edwards and @Phil V will give you the insights that you will need. Especially as you are talking about flash & lighting for and about business.
 
Stooly said:
So I'm currently doing lots of research, practice and learning as much as I can to try to do studio photography professionally. I have a Canon EOS 700D and have been using the kit lens, which is a EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens.

I'm currently using 1 lighting source, which is a large diffuser with a bulb in it... I forget now which bulb, (sorry still coming to grips with terminology) but it's a large chunky bulb. I struggle with the pictures currently, not tremendously, but I think having a 2nd light source on the other side might help. My friend suggested I get a wireless flash & mount it on my tripod. She's also lent me the cover & diffuser I could then use over the flash.

My question is this, for studio photography, mostly family shoots, what would you suggest I do first, get a flash or upgrade the lens?

And if possible, some recommendations would be great. I'm having a terrible time trying to figure out why some flashes are so cheap & what the more expensive flashes do better. As for a better lens, I don't really know where to start to look.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Modern kit lenses are generally respectable but not outstanding, but I still think lighting is more important for studio portraiture.
If you are patient & can deal with setting the power manually, you should be able to pick up used studio flashes for relatively little. I find these preferable to speedlight types for studio work, but they are a lot bulkier to store...
Of course you'll also want light stands, modifiers, backgrounds...
 
Petrochemist said:
Modern kit lenses are generally respectable but not outstanding, but I still think lighting is more important for studio portraiture.
If you are patient & can deal with setting the power manually, you should be able to pick up used studio flashes for relatively little. I find these preferable to speedlight types for studio work, but they are a lot bulkier to store...
Of course you'll also want light stands, modifiers, backgrounds...
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for this, so helpful!

I wasn't even aware of studio flashes really, so this is a fantastic starting point for me. I'm just looking into them now. I have a very generous friend who has lent me her backdrops, backdrop holder, props and a few lighting bits. I'm still trying to figure out what they're called, she called them diffusers, but from the videos I've been watching this evening, I think they might be slightly different. The only things I need are light stands, as she is currently using hers.
 
for my 10p's worth- I have this kit - plus a few different backgrounds

Lenses are important too- maybe a 50mm prime or 85mm prime should be considered

www.lencarta.com

Lencarta Smartflash 4 Studio Flash Head & Umbrella Twin Lighting Kit | 600w | Studio Flash Lighting Kit

<h3><span>An Overview</span></h3> <p>The <strong>Lencarta SmartFlash 4 Studio Flash Head and Umbrella Lighting Kit</strong> has been hand created by Lencarta as one of the most ideal kits for a photographer creating their first studio or a business requiring a lighting kit for fashion or product...
www.lencarta.com www.lencarta.com

Les
 
Your interaction with your victims subjects is vitally important and, after that, it's lighting that makes the real difference.

What you seem to have right now is a continuous light, possibly fluorescent, and it just won't do. What you need is flash
Lez325 said:
for my 10p's worth- I have this kit - plus a few different backgrounds

Lenses are important too- maybe a 50mm prime or 85mm prime should be considered

www.lencarta.com

Lencarta Smartflash 4 Studio Flash Head & Umbrella Twin Lighting Kit | 600w | Studio Flash Lighting Kit

<h3><span>An Overview</span></h3> <p>The <strong>Lencarta SmartFlash 4 Studio Flash Head and Umbrella Lighting Kit</strong> has been hand created by Lencarta as one of the most ideal kits for a photographer creating their first studio or a business requiring a lighting kit for fashion or product...
www.lencarta.com www.lencarta.com

Les
Click to expand...
This is an ideal kit for home portraits (and many other things), and if you go to the Lencarta website/blog you'll find some helpful introductory articles such as this very basic one https://www.lencarta.com/studio-lighting-blog/flash-lighting-buyers-guide/

As for "diffusers" a diffuser is just something that goes over the light and makes it less harsh. A diffuser is simply a tool that is a type of modifier, and a modifier is anything that goes over the light to change its qualities. Many people get confused and misuse jargon terms, don't worry about it.

FWIW I have an e-book "Lighting Magic" available from Amazon. I also give it away to established TP members but as you're new here I'm afraid you'll have to buy it:(
 
Stooly said:
That's so nice thank you! But in my searching last night, I did come across them and think I now know what each one is. I'm pretty sure :banana:
Click to expand...
That might be helpful to you, but not much use to anyone who wants to help you :)

I'll try to help - if you're seriously looking at 'family studio portraits', the space and gear required is probably 4x the space and 3x the gear you imagine it to be (you're setting yourself a high bar).

You can shoot babies, a couple of young kids or adult headshots in a 'normal' sized living room, but groups of adult sized people really do require quite a large space.

Start with the lighting gear; one light is all that you need for most single portraits, but most 'experts' would recommend a fill light too. then of course if you want background lights, or hair lights or other kickers, they'll need accommodating too.

So as a start point; 2 studio flash heads, one large softbox (umbrella type for ease if you haven't got loads of space), a large umbrella, 2 decent lightstands, and likely a transmitter on camera. also a 5 in 1 reflector.

The Lencarta kit posted above will do fine, but you can save a few quid and get a decent softbox if you're happy to buy without a warranty. But along with the 3rd light to get creative, you should also be thinking about strip boxes, a beauty dish, gels etc etc etc.

Re the lens - a kit lens is perfectly acceptable at f8 - and oddly using studio flash you'll often be around there. Whereas for environmental portraits, a reasonable priced start would be an 85mm 1.8.
 
Phil V said:
That might be helpful to you, but not much use to anyone who wants to help you :)

I'll try to help - if you're seriously looking at 'family studio portraits', the space and gear required is probably 4x the space and 3x the gear you imagine it to be (you're setting yourself a high bar).

You can shoot babies, a couple of young kids or adult headshots in a 'normal' sized living room, but groups of adult sized people really do require quite a large space.

Start with the lighting gear; one light is all that you need for most single portraits, but most 'experts' would recommend a fill light too. then of course if you want background lights, or hair lights or other kickers, they'll need accommodating too.

So as a start point; 2 studio flash heads, one large softbox (umbrella type for ease if you haven't got loads of space), a large umbrella, 2 decent lightstands, and likely a transmitter on camera. also a 5 in 1 reflector.

The Lencarta kit posted above will do fine, but you can save a few quid and get a decent softbox if you're happy to buy without a warranty. But along with the 3rd light to get creative, you should also be thinking about strip boxes, a beauty dish, gels etc etc etc.

Re the lens - a kit lens is perfectly acceptable at f8 - and oddly using studio flash you'll often be around there. Whereas for environmental portraits, a reasonable priced start would be an 85mm 1.8.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much Phil! That is all very helpful. I'm about halfway there with gear (some borrowed on a long term basis) so I'm just trying to determine what else I'll still need to make a start. This list is great. I didn't realize that reflectors should be used during these types of shoots. I guess because none of the photographers I've used / spoken with /whose videos I've watched, have used them. But I guess it does make sense, it could sort out so many lighting issues.

I'm currently watching & reading about using them in this setting, so I can determine the best size & shape to start with. I'm so eager to get it all together so that I can do a practice shoot soon with a friend. I actually picked up a 2nd hand light stand, with a softbox & a continuous light source, he also gave me a box of spare bulbs, which I found on FB marketplace for a tenner.

I was concerned about the space when we started talking about this. But we have an open plan space downstairs & for each shoot, the dining room table will be moved out the way, I think to start with this should be enough space. We did a massive home renovation some years ago & the only thing still left to do is convert the garage. We talked about possibly using this space solely as a studio once we finish it. Not 100% sure if it'll work, as we weren't initially going to be putting a window in it (I was going to use it as a PC workshop & gaming room), but perhaps we'll need to reconsider that.

That's fab about the lens, thanks. Although my friend has said she might have a spare lens she can lend me. A couple of my friends have recently done a lot of sessions with photographers in their gardens with their kids. This seems to be a thing these mums want as well, so even though I was hoping to stick to studio only to start with, perhaps I'll need to reconsider that too.
 
Bluntly, that continuous light softbox isn’t a swap for a studio flash. It’s likely about 1/10 the power you need or less (too tired to do the maths).

I said your lens would do, but that’s based on it used at f8 (common for flash) my guess is that even with ridiculously high iso you’d need half a second or more SS to get f8.
 
i needed to add re reflectors; I’ve no idea who you’ve been talking to or watching but I’ve just gone to YouTube and searched studio portraits and only one of the first five results didn’t show or mention reflectors. And that one spent more than half the video on retouching. WARNING do not get sucked down that rabbit hole, retouching is not an alternative to getting it right in camera.

Just realised I didn’t need maths, I had a camera handy and we happen to have one of those energy saving bulbs in the sitting room 1/10 f8 and iso3200.

There’s a couple of decent FB groups for studio lighting with pullbacks, the Light side, the Godox user group and the art of Portrait Photography off the top of my head.
Also look through the studio lighting section here, and there’s the occasional pullback shot in the people section too.
 
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