Some studio flash or flashgun advice needed please

[cambsno]

Ok, know nothing about studio flash, having got by on the SB600 and now a SB900. For general shots the SB900 on camera is fine. However, I do need to up my game for paid work when it comes to lighting. I do some 'natural light' shots but mainly using the flash with a white background. Sometimes the background looks great, often it seems a bit dark.

So, I could get another sb900, light the backdrop with one and subject with the other, at £300 just for the flash. Or... get a 'proper' setup, the Lencarta one for example at around the same price.

Now, I do shoots at baby groups so a studio flash would be ideal, but still to be convinced about using this round peoples houses (80% of work) due to space, but even if I need to resort to just the sb900 in some cases, the majority should be fine. I have seen a number of images on here (often with hilites) and find that the background often looks far too bright for my liking and do not want that. I am not into too much messing around with lighting, 98% of pics are of babies/kids/families.

To give an idea... the first is my smaller backdrop which I do struggle with more to look good. Second is with my photodeals backdrop and personally think lighting is fine here, although the 3rd is the same setup but not as good.

So, some basic questions...

- Will one studio light be enough or do I really need 2?
- For this style of shooting softbox reflective umbrella or shoot through umbrella ?
- For me it makes more sense to get lights rather than sb900 - right or wrong?
- Continuous lighting - Worth considering?
- Say I shoot 100 pics on a session, over an hour or so, much 'cooldown' time needed?

 

[HoppyUK]

It's not what you want, it's what the client wants. And the pure white background look is very popular these days. Despite what you/we/I might think, it shows no sign of declining in popularity. It is also quite hard to do well, which is what separates a good photographer from the guy next door with a good camera.

If you have access to mains power, studio flash is easiest, best and cheapest. It doesn't take up any more space - it's the stands and brollies and softboxes that do that. If you're tight on space, a HiLite background will gain you several precious feet both in width and length.

Get a two head kit, and you can then work in your Speedlight as a third effect light where you don't always need so much power.

You seem to have spent a lot on Apple products that don't actually improve the pictures much

 

[cowasaki]

Simon,

Don't even think about continuous lighting !!

My basic off camera lighting thread might be helpful here <LINK>

Two lights would really be needed for a white background and correctly lit subject BUT one of those lights could be your existing flash.

There is no reason why you couldn't buy another flash and use the pair of them as per studio lights. This would be quite flexible but would not give you as much power.

Ideal would be something like this Lencarta setup:

http://www.lencarta.com/index.php?p...ategory_id=21&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53

But with both SOF005 soft boxes swapped out replacing them with SOF002 softboxes (these are the ones that just fold down for portability) - This would cost an extra £20

This includes the background but you could go for the cheaper setup without that or go for brollies. I am not a big fan of brollies myself preferring softboxes hence the above.

It's a shame Cambridge is so far from Bolton as the NW model shoot would allow you try try ALL these options in one go

 

[cambsno]

Thanks. Happy with backgrounds I have and did read your excellent guide. Really in that dilemma about what to get. On the one hand sb900 is small, light, and should be simple to use but a proper setup would be better although more cumbersome.

Never thought about 1 light and existing flash? Which one would light subject and which for background? What is difference between brollies and softbox?

 

[paul_g]

As said avoid continuous lighting like the plague. My mobile setup is a hilite and 3 elinchrom fx400s. I normally only use one light for the subject with a rotalux 70cm softbox and one or 2 lights in the hilite depending on space. Most of the time I get away with using one.
If I'm shooting a family group then I hire a local hall, use a 3m paper roll with 2 lights for the bg and a big octobox for key and normally a brolly for fill

All my lights have got fans and to be honest I just pack them away, never given any thought to letting them cool down

 

[cowasaki]

Thanks. Happy with backgrounds I have and did read your excellent guide. Really in that dilemma about what to get. On the one hand sb900 is small, light, and should be simple to use but a proper setup would be better although more cumbersome.

Never thought about 1 light and existing flash? Which one would light subject and which for background? What is difference between brollies and softbox?

Simon, another SB900 would give you a good setup and then speak to FITP about the mobile softboxes/brollies BUT it is not as good as proper studio lighting with it's modelling lights, no batteries and more power. It is a case of deciding what is more important. I went down the route of using flashes and then sold them all to go mains flash! It might be worth the trek to Bolton on Nov 6th to see all the different possibilities in action!

 

[cambsno]

Thanks Darren but have a booking that day already. Really in 2 minds... on the one hand the SB900 is 'easier' but I generally find its best to go for the right thing 1st time... rather than have to change a while later. Dont suppose you have any similar images with using flash and then with lights?

If I went down SB900 route, how would I light the background? Will having it at 1 side cause light to be uneven with some darker and some lighter parts? Or just have 2 either side pointing up?

 

[cowasaki]

Thanks Darren but have a booking that day already. Really in 2 minds... on the one hand the SB900 is 'easier' but I generally find its best to go for the right thing 1st time... rather than have to change a while later. Dont suppose you have any similar images with using flash and then with lights?

If I went down SB900 route, how would I light the background? Will having it at 1 side cause light to be uneven with some darker and some lighter parts? Or just have 2 either side pointing up?

It depends really. If your budget can stretch to the above Lencarta setup then why not do that and pay the extra £30 for a studio day/training with Garry Edwards.

What IS your budget?

I too prefer to get it right from the off. Studio lights are far easier in the long run and much more sturdy. Just a shame there is such a distance as I have most of the above setup in my studio already. I am sure that there are other members nearby. The biggest thing is actually trying it all ! I love my Safari lights setup and THAT would be perfect..

 

[cambsno]

Budget... never keep to them - hence me toying with D700 (whack the ISO up and forget lights or 24-70

I guess £300 ish, which is an sb900 or the basic lencarta setup, but cant see it going over £400.

 

[HoppyUK]

Simon, I don't see how you can offer a professional standard of service without basic professional equipment. That is studio flash. With respect, I don't know why you are not using it already. If you have access to mains power, don't even think about using Speedlights.

I know you're unfamilar with it, but with a bit of practise and maybe some training it will elevate the standard of your work massively, and increase your options at the same time.

You'll need a meter too - very hard to set up more than a couple of lights without, and it'll help with the learning process as well.

 

[cambsno]

Generally shoot in natural light, or to be honest had found a single flash did the job in the majority of cases. Didnt really want to haul lots of kit around, and some of the jobs I have done have been in pretty cramped conditions or involved moving around a lot when proper lighting would have been a pain. One of the things Mums have liked is the very quick setup and not having lots of equipment (otherwise they would go to a studio)... BUT... the point you make in your 1st post is true and something I am asked more and more for is the bright white studio look. Typical customers, want the studio look but prefer not to have lots of setup!

I could happily continue the way I am, but my expectations have changed and really do think that having the lighting right would allow me to do other things and get those really stunning images, that you probably can only get from this setup.

 

[Jerm]

I'd echo the comment about using professional equipment.

I'd also highly recommend a day with Garry Edwards - you'll be gob smacked at how much you'll learn.

I know it's not in your current budget, but a good half way house between mains studio lighting and your SB's is the Lencarta Safari power pack.

I use this all the time if I'm shooting outdoors or doing corporate work where I can't have trailing cables everywhere.

 

[cowasaki]

Simon,

If you can push to the kit I said then it would be better and that does include a backdrop and stand. If you have these then it will fall back into your budget. I normally agree with most things Hoppy says but I think you can probably get away without the light meter to begin with but I would get one when you can (more important to get the best lights etc than to scrimp for the sake of a light meter).

With the basic setup follow my instructions from the link and you should get a reasonable exposure of your model.

THEN switch on you background light and turn the power to minimum then increase this till your background is overexposed by about 1 stop (if it is creased then you might need to go a little higher but try and stick to one stop if you can)

It sounds simple but you will not think that it is to begin with THEN it will just come naturally.

The SmartFlash lights are good value and I would definitely go for the foldable softboxes they are SO much easier

 

[cambsno]

Decided... going with the Smarflash... anyone used the background refelctor? Sounds ideal. None in stock though, so must not be tempted to buy anything else!!

 

[Garry Edwards]

Decided... going with the Smarflash... anyone used the background refelctor? Sounds ideal. None in stock though, so must not be tempted to buy anything else!!

But they'll be back in stock again next week, same time as the SmartFlash.
Lock your card in the safe until then