Studio setup help please!

benbull

benbull

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Ok, I've been playing with photography for a few years now, ive caught the bug! now want to setup a small studio on a budget, few portraits, friends/family kids shots etc...

So, I managed to buy a Bowens Esprit 500 twin lighting kit, 2nd hand on ebay. Came with an umbrella and 60x60cm softbox. Few questions re this! ...

1) It comes with one sync cable, 3.5mm to pc, my nikon d90 doesnt have a pc connection, so I believe I have to buy a hot-shoe adapter? also, what is the best way to sync the two lights? they have photocells, is this a reliable way of the 2nd light firing at axactly the same time as the first light which will be wired to the camera? Each light only has one 3.5mm jack input, so I dont see how they can be linked by a wire?

2) Radio Triggers... Would like to buy a set of these as the main triggering system (would still like to have a wired setup as a backup). Any advice on a cheap set??? I see a few on ebay... but not sure of reliability? Not got the budget for pocket wizzards :'( ...hopefully in the future!

OK, so I think your answers to the above will clear the lighting gear fog!
Few questions re: background and setup...

I am lucky enough to have access to a spare room in the office block I currently rent for a small business I run... its about 10ft wide and 13ft long.

3) I want to setup a white background, so was thinking of ordering a roll of white vinyl that can act as the backdrop and floor cover. This stuff seems to be quite expensive... is the the right/best stuff to go for? I found a couple of suppliers on ebay and other websites that work out at around £100. Or maybe someone could suggest a good supplier?
I also want to run a similar setup in black for the future, whats the material for this?

4) I only have the bowens kit at the moment, will I need another light to illuminate the white background in order to achieve a solid blown-out white?

5) Light meter... will I need one of these in order to setup my D90 to take studio pics? if so... any advice on a budget light meter?

Sorry for all the questions... especially if some of them are really obvious answers... just never had anything to do with studio setups and its a real learning curve from the bits i have read so far!
Hopefully I can get going for a couple of hundred £'s from here-on!?

Thanks in advance!!!
 
1 - dont bother, go radio from the start. Second gun on slave is fine if you control the environment (i.e., no other flashes going off).
2 - rf 602 from Yongnuo CHina on Ebay, or from Flash in the Pan on here. No other way to go. I prefer them over pocket wizards.
3 - Tony Beal has been recommended as makers of lorry curtains, but their prices have risen and postage is heavy. I have heard this is good:
http://www.bessel.co.uk/acatalog/Vinyl.html
4 - Depends on how close you want it. Full body really needs two to even out the background, headshots can be done with one easily.
5 - Need? no. Try it for months without. Shoot and chimp. You may end up with one eventually, as they can useful for getting quick exposures and lighting ratios.
 
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Thanks so much Kris, just the sort of answers I love...short and simple! :)

Think I will get the triggers and vinyl, have a play about and see what else I might need.

Cheers,
 
cheers, but I have already ordered them from a uk seller, think they were £42 delivered including two receivers, also have a flashgun that a spare could be handy for!
 
I am selling a cheaper studio setup at the moment and I think I have a buyer for the whole setup minus the Lencarta radio transmitter/receivers. I have knocked £25 off for these so if she buys them within the next few hours as expected then you can have the Lencarta setup for £25 inc postage. (Which is half the new cost)

EDIT - Our posts crossed as I was having a brew whilst typing :)
 
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hehe, no worries, thanks for the offer though...

I wonder if I can do more with a black background whilst having just two studio lights, maybe I can practice with some cheap sheets before splashing out in the vinyl?

or I have seen other people using cheaper constant lighting as 3rd/4th lights.

hmmm...so much to learn!!!
 
benbull said:
hehe, no worries, thanks for the offer though...

I wonder if I can do more with a black background whilst having just two studio lights, maybe I can practice with some cheap sheets before splashing out in the vinyl?

or I have seen other people using cheaper constant lighting as 3rd/4th lights.

hmmm...so much to learn!!!
Click to expand...

I got some muslin curtains from Ikea for about £15. When machined together they give you 9-10' by about 12'ish. I got a white background from mine before I switched to a hilite.
 
Seal Grey vinyl is the most versatile if you only have one - easily blow it white with enough power, keep it grey for mid key, and easier to get black for low key than a white. Also, grey takes colour better if you want to gel a flash to get a coloured background.

Mixing Constant/flash light is difficult, unless you want to start arseing about with really powerful lights and mixing colour temperatures. Stick to flash for stills, it's so much easier.
 
I would start with a white rather than a black background. Its easier to let a white one appear black than vice versa.

Below is an example of what you can do with a white IKEA rollo (aside from the limitation that it is only 180cm in length) as long as you avoid spill light on the background.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laternamagica/4803779635/in/set-72157619330087544/

Same white background, different lighting

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laternamagica/4105650224/in/set-72157619330087544/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laternamagica/3429090919/in/set-72157616503339317/

However, I own a black version of the Ikea rollo as well :D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laternamagica/4567087901/in/set-72157619330087544/

For full body shots, I would start with a roll of paper on expans, don't trust the cheap vinyl stuff in terms of reflections but may be I am overly pessimistic.
 
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