Do any of you use studio lighting? What do you recommend on a budget? Is it necessary to purchase a three light kit, umbrellas, etc? What isds essential for, at the very least, a basic studio set up?
I use a two light kit from Profoto. I used to use up to five lights, but I've simplified. A third light can be useful, but you can also overcome that with reflectors.
For a budget, try Alienbees - great quality at a good price.
I like softboxes, and rarely use umbrellas. I would suggest umbrellas (that can convert to both reflect and shoot-through - removable liners), one large softbox (if you can afford it), and a beauty dish / standard reflector. Barn doors are great, but you can make your own if you're so inclined.
it really makes a difference in the quality, having a nice background and better lighting. You'll also want some wireless triggers. The professional ones are very expensive, but this is working fine for me: http://www.cowboystudio.com/product/c14/p140702-03.php
With these strobes your camera won't be able to meter automatically so it takes a bit more work to get the settings right. After a year I'm getting pretty good.
I also recently go some continuous lights: http://www.cowboystudio.com/product/c07/p0701-12.php
You can't adjust the brightness on these, just move them closer or further away, but the camera can adjust automatically.
@carolannphotog Portraits and some stills. I currently use work lights and some flashlight - super low budget!
@mallocarray@jinximages I was leaning toward continuous lighting. What are the advantages/disadvantages of flash vs cont. Most of my stuff in the past has been using available light, but with this project and a very dismal winter (today was the first day we've had any real sun or any color in the evening in at least a month) I've been doing a lot of indoor stills.
@jcrowley40 Continuous lighting gets very hot, isn't as bright as strobe lighting, and tends not to be as consistent in regards to colour temperature. LED lighting is a way around this, but LED lighting is very narrow-wavelength which creates further problems with colour saturation and the inability to gel adequately (light colour filters). With continuous lighting, because of the heat, it is difficult to use light shapers without things melting. For those reasons, continuous lighting tends to be very simple. I'm not saying it can't be used, just that it is nowhere near as versatile and controllable.
I agree that continuous isn't as bright as strobe, but with CFL it isn't nearly as hot as a 500w incandecent bulb. They do get warm, but I don't remember feeling any of it. And it isn't as versatile but for me, just starting out I don't have the modifiers anyway.
i use alien bees and have been shooting for some time...i love them they are designed behind paul bluff owner of white lightning. which are great lights for the price. i use the 400 and 800 bees and they are very reliable and work great with pocket wizards
a 3 light set up is advisable.. but if you can work out a one light set up... it's all cool...
i use a strobe and my speedlite as a filler or to wash out the background if i go high key... reflectors are your friends TRUST ME! hehehe and i prefer softboxes more than umbrella...
here's a good tutorial for one light set up.... VERY HELPFUL INDEED... if u just wanna try out how this thing goes...
this is an example of a one light set up:
so i think with right amount of mixing everything up.. it'd work.. ^___^
latest 2 portraits i got, i have a 2 light set up thing going on there.. ^___^
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For a budget, try Alienbees - great quality at a good price.
I like softboxes, and rarely use umbrellas. I would suggest umbrellas (that can convert to both reflect and shoot-through - removable liners), one large softbox (if you can afford it), and a beauty dish / standard reflector. Barn doors are great, but you can make your own if you're so inclined.
it really makes a difference in the quality, having a nice background and better lighting. You'll also want some wireless triggers. The professional ones are very expensive, but this is working fine for me: http://www.cowboystudio.com/product/c14/p140702-03.php
With these strobes your camera won't be able to meter automatically so it takes a bit more work to get the settings right. After a year I'm getting pretty good.
I also recently go some continuous lights: http://www.cowboystudio.com/product/c07/p0701-12.php
You can't adjust the brightness on these, just move them closer or further away, but the camera can adjust automatically.
@mallocarray @jinximages I was leaning toward continuous lighting. What are the advantages/disadvantages of flash vs cont. Most of my stuff in the past has been using available light, but with this project and a very dismal winter (today was the first day we've had any real sun or any color in the evening in at least a month) I've been doing a lot of indoor stills.
With continuous, having the camera be able to meeter the light is much easier than guessing with strobes.
Here is my "studio" http://365project.org/mallocarray/365/2011-01-04
and a picture from it with CFL continuous: http://365project.org/mallocarray/365/2011-01-05
You can get more flexibility with strobes, so it kinda depends on how far you want to take it.
that being said I cheaped out and got a 2 light continuous softbox kit from cowboy studios
they don't get very hot, but don't provide tons of light either (5 bulbs each softbox)
They've been ok for portraits of 1-2 adults, and great for kids so far.
i use a strobe and my speedlite as a filler or to wash out the background if i go high key... reflectors are your friends TRUST ME! hehehe and i prefer softboxes more than umbrella...
here's a good tutorial for one light set up.... VERY HELPFUL INDEED... if u just wanna try out how this thing goes...
this is an example of a one light set up:
so i think with right amount of mixing everything up.. it'd work.. ^___^
latest 2 portraits i got, i have a 2 light set up thing going on there.. ^___^
here's the tutorial.. i forgot to post