Newbie - needing portrait lighting advice please!

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bexboater

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Bex
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Hi there

I'm a newbie to this site, but was hoping that someone might be able to give me some advice re lighting for home portraits . . .

I have a Canon Eos 350D which I've been using for a looong time, along with a tripod, and a popup white/black backdrop with train (recently bought 2nd hand). I take a lot of pics of my young daughter, and my niece and nephew, and was hoping to get some lighting so I can take some more 'professional-looking' shots. My budget is small - under £150 for now, but I'm sure I can cobble something together within that to improve my shots?

The black backdrop works out just fine with the flash on the camera alone, but the white one is producing some hideous shadows (as I would have expected).

I would really appreciate some advice please, as it's a bit of a minefield out there!

Thanks - Bex
 
Your cheapest option is to use hotshoe flashes - the ones that fit into your camera hotshoe, but used off camera - but they are pretty limited because just about the only type of light modifier that works really well with them is umbrellas, and if you get into lighting you'll want to use much more creative lighting tools.

Just about any type of studio flash kit will do the job, the cheapest is probably the 'Ebay specials' sold you know where - but most of them are a false economy because you'll soon outgrow their capabilities, and the cheap kits are often inconsistent in terms of light quality and quantity, which makes things very difficult for a beginner.

Take a look at the Lencarta SmartFlash 200 twin softbox kit, which contains everything you need to get started at just £250, it's a bit over your budget but very good value for money
 
Flash guns I think this is a expensive way looking at a flash gun costing £200+ each with any power you can get softboxes for them and umbrellas
Take a look at the Interfit ones you can get a starter kit for about £199 if you out grow then and get a better kit later then you will have a set to light your back ground and a new set for your subject.
I got my Interfit kit S/H for £150 and will look at getting a better set later if needed but this set is working fine all with a inferred trigger so no leads to trip over.
 
Lencarta said:
Your cheapest option is to use hotshoe flashes - the ones that fit into your camera hotshoe, but used off camera - but they are pretty limited because just about the only type of light modifier that works really well with them is umbrellas, and if you get into lighting you'll want to use much more creative lighting tools.

Just about any type of studio flash kit will do the job, the cheapest is probably the 'Ebay specials' sold you know where - but most of them are a false economy because you'll soon outgrow their capabilities, and the cheap kits are often inconsistent in terms of light quality and quantity, which makes things very difficult for a beginner.

Take a look at the Lencarta SmartFlash 200 twin softbox kit, which contains everything you need to get started at just £250, it's a bit over your budget but very good value for money
Click to expand...

^^^ :thumbs:

You could do it with two hot-shoe guns on stands, radio triggers, plus a couple of umbrellas, for £150. But that has its limitations. Get everything except the stands (Konig, off Amazon) from here http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=157807

But I think Garry's option is better. Interfit do a basic kit for £200 but I don't think it's Lencarta quality.
 
Chaz Photos said:
Flash guns I think this is a expensive way looking at a flash gun costing £200+ each with any power you can get softboxes for them and umbrellas
Take a look at the Interfit ones you can get a starter kit for about £199 if you out grow then and get a better kit later then you will have a set to light your back ground and a new set for your subject.
I got my Interfit kit S/H for £150 and will look at getting a better set later if needed but this set is working fine all with a inferred trigger so no leads to trip over.
Click to expand...

I think he's thinking of 35 pound ones.....
 
I went for the hotshoe flash route when I first started looking into off camera work, It was fine for learning, but now I find it fairly limiting - and as stated already, light modifiers are hard to come by and generally expensive.

I was looking to upgrade to some Lencarta smart flash heads, but I'v decided to hold out for the Pro heads in the new year as they would suit me more.

I would suggest the Interfit/Lencarta starter kits for your needs :) good value for money
 
Chaz Photos said:
yes but how much light you going to get with umbrellas on a cheap £35 flash?
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Enough. Maybe. Just. For basic portraiture they should be fine.

But slow recycle times is seriously irritating and no modelling light.
 
I would go for an old compatible sigma flash and a hot shoe cable
some sort of diffuser too which can be made on a budget

do everything manually, you don't need TTL2 for this sort of home project.
I have a cobra flash for a backup, worked on a few cameras
it's not pretty but it makes a flash
 
Thanks so much everyone, I will have a good look at all of these and see what I reckon! Just one other quick query . . . which option is the best storage-wise? I'm guessing brollies, but just wondered how much space softboxes take up?

Seriously considering the more expensive route - I'm sure Santa can pop a few quid towards it all!

Thanks everyone :)
 
bexboater said:
Thanks so much everyone, I will have a good look at all of these and see what I reckon! Just one other quick query . . . which option is the best storage-wise? I'm guessing brollies, but just wondered how much space softboxes take up?

Seriously considering the more expensive route - I'm sure Santa can pop a few quid towards it all!

Thanks everyone :)
Click to expand...

Softboxes provide much greater control than umbrellas, especially important if you're shooting in a small space.
They can be a pain to assemble/dissemble but folding ones are available at a price.
If you've been good and Santa is in a good mood...:)
 
bexboater said:
Thanks so much everyone, I will have a good look at all of these and see what I reckon! Just one other quick query . . . which option is the best storage-wise? I'm guessing brollies, but just wondered how much space softboxes take up?

Seriously considering the more expensive route - I'm sure Santa can pop a few quid towards it all!

Thanks everyone :)
Click to expand...

In terms of storage, hot-shoe guns win, and brollies are very quick and easy.

Flash In The Pan has some good, foldable options on the link I posted earlier.

I use one of these a lot - 100cm Lastolite Umbrella-Box. Good size, nice light easy as a brolly and £37 :thumbs: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-lastolite-1m-umbrella-box-8mm-stem/p12388
 
hi Bex, forget the hot shoe idea.... you will be wasting time and money. As some have said on here. you will out grow what you want to do.

Go for one of Garry's kits. you will still be using it in 2 years time and would have added extra kit to it over time.

Wait a while and go for the starter kit.

Let everyone give you money for Xmas you will soon get another ton by then......
 
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice - I'm thinking of just going for it and seeing how it goes with the pricier route. Like you say, otherwise I'll probably only end up needing to upgrade not too far along the line.

Will let you know how I get on!

Thanks - Bex :)
 
if i was you i would buy 1 or 2 of the flashguns that FiTP sells, then with the £50 remainding buy a set of poverty wizards, reflector possible, and some mini softboxes from ebay.

i got a pure white background result with nothing but a white bedsheet, a jessops 360afds flashgun, and my a300 with 50mm f1.7 using the pop up flash as a commander. simples.
 
you can get a complete kit (3 lights, 3 stands, 2 softboxes + some other bits) in a bag from

www.stableimaging.co.uk

JY180_01s.jpg


£199

it will be absolutely fine for home portraits and even light comercial use.

I got my set from here and am very pleased with the kit and the service.
 
I did this shot in a small room with white walls - one shoot through brolly in front - one open flash at the side/rear (both SB-900's). I had about 15 minutes to set up get some shots and go! I got about a dozen keepers.

2AW_2812.jpg
 
Excellent shot awp,i am trying to see if i can do portrait on a budget,so looking at a lot,well done though.:):thumbs:
 
Check out Strobist.com for everything you need to know about off camera flash. :)
 
Cheers.:):thumbs:
 
jockwav said:
Excellent shot awp
Click to expand...
That's what the picture editor said! :) It's not just about budget - it's about how to use what you have - ok - I'm lucky I have a lot of great gear - but you need to know how to use it in any given situation. It's my job - I have to! (38 years experience does help!)
 
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