Newbie here........need advice on lighting.

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fritzin

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Hello All,

Im new here. Im a mum to 2 young children and are wanting to start up my own photography business when I finish maternity leave (april)

I have a background in art and design and have previously owned my own business handpainting childrens furniture, this didnt work for me around my life so looking for another thing. I have photography expereince on an art and design level and personal but never studio based professional.

My idea is to set up a businesss which travels around our city to local community halls etc so need a 'transportable' studio.

I have a canon 20D with numerous len's and a flash which sits on the top.
I just need advice with lighting and a backdrop. I have seen backdrops and white muslim sheeting on ebay which I think are suitable.

I am on a very tight budget to begin with and need this to be done as cheaply as possible.

I have alot of internet website building experience, merchandising and promotion. My only worry is the lighting. I am truly concerned about this and need advice on how best and the cheapest way to do this. I have looked on ebay at lights but they are constant and I dont think this would work for family portraits and fun child shots. I would also move onto pets eventually as well.

Does anyone have any advice? I want to build up a portfolio to begin with so will offer my services for free to shoot familys but I need the lighting issue resolved first.

Am I forgetting anything else? Anyone any advice please?

Many thanks

Helen
 
I would move this to the Talk Lighting & Studio forum you may get more advice there, this is not really a business thread.

Have a look at Vinyl backdrops don't waste your time with muslin, they are much more durable.

Purchase the best set of lights that you can afford, it is false economy to buy a cheap set especially if you are charging clients money. Look at Bowens or Elinchrom you will want to upgrade fairly quickly if you go down the budget route. I would also look at 400w of power. In photography always buy the best equipment that you can afford it will hold its value pretty well.

Good luck
 
You need to know how to light as well as which lights to buy.

To be up and running in April you really should be hitting the ground running now.

I would gently suggest that you take some courses (Have a look for Garry Edwards on here) so you can learn what you are doing before taking off in a direction you actually don't yet understand.
 
If you really want to start cheap then buy a few big disc reflectors, learn how to use your flash and get outside shooting kids. Once you get to an acceptable level charge enough to cover your cost, tax, some for your pocket and some for investing in new (studio?) gear.

I went down the route of the studio style photographs, you'll quickly find that to do the job properly you need the right gear and to get the right gear it cost cash!

Good luck!!
 
I suggest that you see if there is a camera club close to you as they may be a great source of information and there may be people there willing to tutor you.
 
The equipment side is easy - get two or three Lencarta Smartflashes, a couple of softboxes, reflector, background system, flash meter, and you're away. £600-800 upwards.

Knowing how to use them is more difficult, and if you want the pure white background look (your clients will for sure) then that is particularly tricky.

Then there is getting work, getting paid for it (which is not the same thing ;) ) and competing with local professionals and amateur weekend warriors, that's a whole other subject too.

Good luck! (Rather you than me :) )
 
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