Lighting advice

[.::Joe::.]

i have a budjet of 500 pounds to buy a home stuido kit this will be for mainly my kids friends familey etc Have had alot of people ask me for bump shoots etc so looking to get the gear needed to give great results

Been looking at lencarta gear at the 2 head kit of the 300 flash range
question is what would be best to have right away

2 Umbrellas ?
1 Umbrella 1 Softbox ?

im pritty unsure what would suit me best for thing like mother baby etc etc

any help would be great thank you in advance

Joe

 

[Matt989]

Softboxes give much more control of light, especially in small rooms in people house as they produce much less stray light!

The umbrella softboxes which lencarta do are great for portable work too!

 

[.::Joe::.]

So would be a safe bet to get 1 soft box and and 1 umbrella

will no dought end up buying extra gear down the line but was just looking to get something that can be used right away without to much trouble

 

[Matt989]

It really depends on what your trying to achieve but personally I now never use umbrellas.

Decide what you want to achieve, what 'look'.....then that will help you decide what lighting equipment you require

 

[.::Joe::.]

Can you explain why you dislike umbrellas? this may be of some help etc

 

[Matt989]

Light bounces and travels.

A softbox pushes the light forward in an almost beam like fashion where as if you shoot into an umbrella you get a lot more scatter of the light whether your shooting through it or into it.

Unless you have masses of space to play with this scattered light will bounce off the ceiling and wall and start effecting the light falling on the subject.

You want as much control over your light as possible so you are creating the effect rather than leaving it to chance.

 

[.::Joe::.]

I see what you mean, i looked at the 300 flash range to have full control over the model light etc i may go down the softbox route as i dare say each house will be different.. i rekon 1 big softbox and 1 umbralla to aid as a rim light

 

[Matt989]

Not sure what you mean about full control over the modeling light. Find images you'd like to replicate then find out how they were lit.

Asking in here or studying the 'how was this lit' thread may help!

 

[.::Joe::.]

ok will do that thank you

 

[Garry Edwards]

Personally I'd go with 1 softbox and 1 umbrella.

Yes, the softbox does provide much more directional light, and if you get one of the Lencarta square or rectangular ones you can also remove 1 or both diffusers to get different lighting tools and the deeply recessed front diffuser will allow you to feather the light if you want to, but an umbrella does make an ideal fill light, so there are advantages to each.

 

[mastertrinity]

I suppose the softbox is great for controlling light and the umbrella is great if you were shooting on location (for example I have shot models in derelict buildings) and want the location to have a bit of light, almost acting like a second sun if you put your mind to it