Would appreciate some advice . . .

M

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Hi all,
I would hugely appreciate some advice. I have gotten some really valuable information from this forum previously and I hope you will be able to help me.

I am a keen amateur photographer, but my 9-5 job concentrates on training people in graphic design and how to use software packages such as: photoshop, flash and final cut pro etc. I have a Canon 550D. I have been using my DSLR's with a keen interest for the last few years.

My husband has a furniture manufacturing company and he has asked me to photograph his 3 new hard wood ranges for a brochure, and web promotion. I am apprehensive about this as you can imagine. I encouraged them to go professional but in these economic times, I am keen to help my Husband's business out as much as I can. If it doesn't work out, there is no harm done.

My main previous experience has been with lighting video sets.
I have access to a Canon Speedlite 430EX II and a lighting kit from work (KA24MU Dedolight 150W 24V Light Kit) and also 3 redheads. We usually use these lights for video productions.

My main queries are;
1. Do you think the 550D will take adequate enough images for A4 style professional print? or do you think I should rent a 5D Mark ii for a day?

2. Do you think those lights will be sufficient for what I plan to shoot? (1 lifestyle shot were the set is dressed with accessories to enhance the range and then individual flat images of each piece in order to catalogue.

3. Do you think I should invest in some soft boxes?

I am going to take some test shots in the next few days in the area they have allocated for room set ups.

Sorry for my rambling on, but I am keen to make a good shot at this. My real concern is getting the lighting right. Any tips on how to use the above equipment to get the best possible outcome?

Many thanks in advance,
M
 
1. Yes
2. No
3. Maybe

1. A camera is a camera is a camera, and although better cameras do produce better results, the camera you have will do the job

2. Redheads are fine for video but nothing else. Before someone jumps in and says that the colour temperature can be corrected, the problem isn't with colour temperature.

You need to be able to control the output, which you can't, you need to be able to fit modifiers to shape and control the light, and you can't. And if you also want lifestyle shots involving people you won't have enough power either. The deo lights are better in many ways but have similar limitations. What you need is studio flash, with a range of light shaping tools including various very large softboxes, honeycombs, reflectors, possibly a beauty dish, lots of space and a real understanding of studio lighting - I don't want to put you off, but cabinet furniture isn't a subject for beginners.

My still life lighting tutorial and/or video will help, but there's no substitute for experience.
 
Hi Garry,

Thanks so much for your input. I understand totally that there is no substitute for experience. My Husband's company are developing new products all the time, and they need to photograph pieces on a regular basis in order to send out brief synopsis of upcoming products to their shops.

They are thinking about buying a set of lights, to enable them to take very simple set up shots. I understand completely that there might be mistakes made here, so I am eager to counteract any problems.

For a room set up (similar in size to a large living room), what wattage of soft boxes would you need? I was talking to a gentleman today who suggested that I should use continuous lighting. I was showing him some samples of set ups which I would like to re-create.

What do you think about the following soft box kits?
2250W Continuous Ligthing Kit
4200W Continuous Ligthing Kit

Again,
I really really appreciate your feedback.

M
 
Well I'd say you definitely don't want continuous lighting. It's been covered before but flash is the way to go for stills. Good continuous lighting does exist, but the kit that compares with flash in terms of results is so ridiculously expensive that we don't want to go there.

When comparing power, consider that a 400Ws flash head will dump out its power in under 1/1000 of a second. With a continuous 4000W light, you're looking at a 1/10 exposure time. And it's going to be HOT there.

You're also going to need very very large diffusion surfaces. Whether these are big softboxes (think 1.5 meters and up) or cheap shower curtains depends on how portable, modifiyable and cheap it needs to be.

2 studio flashes at 400Ws or so and the 430ex would be a start. Wireless triggers and creative diffusion on top.

Can you show US the setups you want to re-create?

Oh, and buy this book.. Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction To Photographic Lighting.. I did and it's a good basic text I'd say.
 
Continuous lighting won't work for the reasons I've already given, whoever is advising you knows nothing about photographing products.

Leaving aside the almost non-existent light shaping tools that you need, just look at the question of power...
4200 watts is a pretty powerful setup (which will quickly turn a small room into an oven) but it doesn't actually produce much light. In theory, 4200 watts of continuous lighting, switched on for one second, will produce as much light as 4200 Ws flash will produce in about 1/1000th second, but in reality as nearly all of the energy is output in the form of heat rather than light, the one second exposure will only produce as about 1400 Ws of flash.
That sounds OK but of course the heat would melt any softboxes or similar, and a one second exposure isn't practical for lifestyle shots, unless you're going to nail the people to the floor...

This 2 head kit will get you started, although you'll need at least one more flash head, stand, softbox and a honeycomb.
 
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