new to indoor work

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Softlight

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Well I was rather fortunate and found a cheap offer on a canon 500D with a canon ef-s 18-55mm lens. To get me started I've got a old sigma lens 18-200 from my old slr. Hopefully it will work with new camera. I'm really keen to develop my indoor photography skills. Something I've not done much of. Any recommendations on indoor kit ? A good starter list.
Thanks
 
Hi

Welcome to TP.

When you say indoor work, what do you actually want to photograph?

Is it people or items?

This will help with suggestions.

Thanks
 
And what is your budget?

Depending on light you have coming indoor you could get away with a 50mm f1.8 lens which you could pick up for about £70. Otherwise might be worth starting off with flash and triggers.

Don't forget if going the OCF route you will also need a lightstand, umbrella or a softbox.
 
The natural light in my outbuilding isn't that great. I had in my mind to go down the OCF route. I was wondering about getting a yn560 and trigger and whether that's a good option ? Sorry I don't really know much about flash photography
 
I am no expert but that is what I started off with. Yn560 and yn603, good price and starting point.

For soft light you will have to use an umbrella or a softbox.

You could spend a bit more and buy a TTL flash like yn565 or 568 and try to use it on camera but bounce it off the wall or ceiling.
 
Thanks glad I'm in the right track. Just want to get some basics. See how much I can get out of a cheap setup.
would be good to see what is possible. Are there any photos around using similar kit ?
 
Not sure of any links, but searching on YouTube for OCF may give an idea of what can be achieved.
 
If you don't need battery power or the ability to pack all your stuff away in a small space then look at a proper studio head instead. They're way easier to use and learn with than speedlights, about the same price as speedlights and work much better with a wide range of modifiers.

Lencarta Smartflash usually get recommended in these parts.
 
Softlight said:
Hi, mainly people really.
Click to expand...

Do you mean studio-style portaits? In which case Simon/Juggler's advice is dead right. If you have mains power, studio heads are way better - fast recycling (you may be surprised how important that is with portraiture), a modelling lamp so you can see what the light is doing and learn faster, and plenty of power when you need it.

Lencarta Smartflash-2* is a very good little unit for about £110, plus spill-kill reflector, stand, white reflective umbrella, and a white/silver reflector. Loads you can do with that - good lighting is more about knowledge (of how light works) and experience than expensive kit. Umbrellas are just as good as softboxes nine times out of ten, easy to put up/down, make better use of limited floor space, and very cheap (the ones for a tenner are perfectly good https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MPHDMQA?psc=1). Then get silver and shoot-through umbrellas - silver gives a slightly punchier light, shoot-throughs are softer when used in a typical domestic environment - light radiates 180 degrees from the front, about half of it bounces straight out of the back, and all of that 'spill' bounces around the room and is reflected back off light-toned ceiling and walls, lifting the shadows).

*Uses the Bowens/S-type fitting for light modifiers - hundreds of attachments available. There are plenty of other heads available, most of them perfectly capable, but nothing better value than the Smartflash-2.
 
I agree with both Simon and Richard and that is exactly what I have ended doing, however sometimes when you are starting off money is an issue and there is no harm trying with a flash first to see if it is something you want to progress in.

Using OCF is (and photography) is very addictive so be careful. I still use my flash and triggers due to portability so cannot complain.
 
sep9001 said:
I agree with both Simon and Richard and that is exactly what I have ended doing, however sometimes when you are starting off money is an issue and there is no harm trying with a flash first to see if it is something you want to progress in.

Using OCF is (and photography) is very addictive so be careful. I still use my flash and triggers due to portability so cannot complain.
Click to expand...

:thumbs:

To OP, I forgot the trigger! You'll need one of those, eg Yongnuo RF-603 for £20. I guess it all adds up to something like £200 to get started with a Smartflash-2, but with the exception of the head itself, all the other items are exactly the same whether you go for speedlites or studio heads.
 
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