Studio Lighting

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ajpix

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Hi everybody

Help please!!! I have seen a few of your lovely studios on this forum, but am still a little confused as what is best for me.

I have an amazing opportunity, my husband has rented a new workshop and attached to it is an office which I am looking at turning into a studio. Just need some advice on kitting it out please.

My initial thoughts were to use a lastolite with two lights. I am trying to do this professionally but also at low start up cost. It is roughly 12ft x 15ft. The other option is just a complete white room, acrylic vinyl flooring ...would this need more lights????

Sorry if I sound vague but I am a bit of a newbee at this.

Thanks

:help:
 
Hi,

It sound like you will be wanting the high key white background a lot. If you decide to go for White Walls and flooring you are best using x2 Flashes with reflectors to light the background pure White and another to light with softbox or umbrella to light the subject. Usually you will light the background lights around 1.5 to 2.0 stops brighter than the subject light to get the pure White look.
You will get a lot of stray light as it's quite a small area, so you will need to control where exactly u want it to go by using flags. I suffered from light wrap for quite a while. With limited space you are probably best buying the wall mounted seamless paper brackets and papers, usually basic White, Grey and Black to start with.
That saves some room. Bowens are a good brand and do reasonable lighting kits. Great service as well from experience.
Some people use vinyl for background and floor as it's cleanable unlike paper, however I have not used it ??
Good luck and be interested to see some pics when it's all done. Matt
 
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Hi ajpix

Some great advice from Matt, he has a very cool studio set up with lots of shooting options within a limited space.

I would advise not going for your option two, the white room, as you would limit yourself far to much. Being as you are on a tight budget, I'd suggest continual white vinyl for the backdrop and floor, (cheap as chips and lasts for ever) supplimented with black and or gray seamless paper. A few cheap props wouldn't go amiss either.

Lighting wise, 3 Bowens and a softbox, white reflector and a good imagination will see through. Also, don't forget a wireless flash trigger and PL insurance if you are going to have the paying public in there.

Good luck

Ian
 
Thanks guys for the advise, that was the sort of thing I was thinking of, I will try and post some pics soon and keep you updated.

I did think Bowens, but I think a little on the pricey side at the mo, I have been looking at the Lencarta 3 Heads kit to start off with, looks like quite a reasonable deal???

Any ideas on where the best place to get the vinyl from? Was also think about painting the ceiling either black or grey and having black cloth/muslin curtains all the way around, also perhaps to be used as a backdrop if needed, what do you guys reckon?

thanks guys for your help
 
For vinyl I use to get mine from a company who make certains for HGV trailers but if you do a search on here, Im sure you will find a few suppliers.

I have owned Lencarta gear before and they will do the job, some good starter kits available too. Depending on the hight of your cieling I wouldn't worry to much on the painting it. If you deside to put something around the walls, I'd suggest black cloth over muslin but you could get away with bear walls.
 
Kemble3 said:
For vinyl I use to get mine from a company who make certains for HGV trailers but if you do a search on here, Im sure you will find a few suppliers.

I have owned Lencarta gear before and they will do the job, some good starter kits available too. Depending on the hight of your cieling I wouldn't worry to much on the painting it. If you deside to put something around the walls, I'd suggest black cloth over muslin but you could get away with bear walls.
Click to expand...
Well, I've had a phone conversation with the OP (I think) this morning and I said the opposite about the ceiling...

My view is that having a grey or preferably black ceiling is extremely important in a small room, she won't get proper control of her lighting without it.
 
Hi Garry, it was me you spoke to this morning, thanks for the advice....lots to think about now!!!

:thumbs:
 
Bowens will be cheaper in the long run!

Matt has a good idea if you want the high key style portraits but controlled lighting for still life product type shots will give you a headache as the white surfaces will bounce light all round the subject. (You will find that you need lots of "French Flags" or bits of card to you and me to control your ratios.

Hope this helps.
 
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