Thoughts on this kit!?

[Scott Murray]

Hi does anyone have any advice on this kit? I thought it would be good for a quick outdoor studio set up.

Compact OCF Jump Starter Kit

Midwest Photo Exchange Compact OCF Jump Starter Kit

 

[Marcel]

That looks good Scott, depending on the flash unit you will use with it and the natural light amount you'll want to work with. Depending if you just want to fill-in or use as main light, you might have to get a very powerful flash to match or compete with the sunlight. When working in the shade though, it usually takes a lot less light and power.

And if you want to work outside, you have to find a way to stabilize those light stand against the wind that will blow the umbrellas away...

I got a kit with two stands and 2 umbrellas last year from amazon and they cost less than 60$.

 

[Scott Murray]

That looks good Scott, depending on the flash unit you will use with it and the natural light amount you'll want to work with. Depending if you just want to fill-in or use as main light, you might have to get a very powerful flash to match or compete with the sunlight. When working in the shade though, it usually takes a lot less light and power.

And if you want to work outside, you have to find a way to stabilize those light stand against the wind that will blow the umbrellas away...

I got a kit with two stands and 2 umbrellas last year from amazon and they cost less than 60$.

I have ordered a SB-910 for on camera and was thinking of using my SB-700 off camera. Wind could be an issue, might need to sort out some shopping bags and fill them with sand .
I am thinking it will be bright sun for when I use it with the weddings shots and then into dusk.
Will check out the ones on Amazon and my even get another speedlight

 

[Marcel]

I have ordered a SB-910 for on camera and was thinking of using my SB-700 off camera. Wind could be an issue, might need to sort out some shopping bags and fill them with sand .
I am thinking it will be bright sun for when I use it with the weddings shots and then into dusk.
Will check out the ones on Amazon and my even get another speedlight

I'm not sure I'd use an umbrella in a wedding situation though. Maybe for a few beauty shots of the couple in tight crops situation, but if you're just looking to fill-in the sun to reduce shade and dark eyes, I'd use the flash on camera. The second flash on a stand can be used in the church as a backlight though, and then you might want to avoid the umbrella because you'll want the backlight to be at least a full stop stronger than your fill-in, and, since it will probably positioned further away so it's not in the way for the ceremony, it will have to be powerful.

If you decide to go the umbrella way, make sure to take time to do test shots BEFORE the actual ceremony.

 

[Scott Murray]

I'm not sure I'd use an umbrella in a wedding situation though. Maybe for a few beauty shots of the couple in tight crops situation, but if you're just looking to fill-in the sun to reduce shade and dark eyes, I'd use the flash on camera. The second flash on a stand can be used in the church as a backlight though, and then you might want to avoid the umbrella because you'll want the backlight to be at least a full stop stronger than your fill-in, and, since it will probably positioned further away so it's not in the way for the ceremony, it will have to be powerful.

If you decide to go the umbrella way, make sure to take time to do test shots BEFORE the actual ceremony.

Thanks, its currently in my head at present and I am likely to change closer to the date. I am just running through ideas to see what I can come up with, some will work and I guess others wont ;-).

 

[Jonathan]

Can't you just stand beside the woman and say "I do" without umbrellas and flash guns coming between the pair of you? You're clearly a dedicated photographer and this is a great statement about where you're at in the relationship, but surely ...

 

[wud]

How come you prefer umbrella over soft/beautybox? Just wondering. Have been thinking about what I should get myself, for my flash, but I'll primarily use it for indoors shooting.

 

[Scott Murray]

How come you prefer umbrella over soft/beautybox? Just wondering. Have been thinking about what I should get myself, for my flash, but I'll primarily use it for indoors shooting.

I have a softbox ;-) so am just getting an umbrella in the case I need it and I can always experiment using each or both.

 

[Scott Murray]

Can't you just stand beside the woman and say "I do" without umbrellas and flash guns coming between the pair of you? You're clearly a dedicated photographer and this is a great statement about where you're at in the relationship, but surely ...

Ummm I am photographing a friends wedding not mine.

 

[Jonathan]

Ummm I gathered that!

 

[wud]

I have a softbox ;-) so am just getting an umbrella in the case I need it and I can always experiment using each or both.

Ah! Which one do you have? And are you happy with it? And if you dont mind - for what do you use it?

Otherwise, have you thought about reflector? I do know this takes a helper, for at least some of the shots. In sunlight, you can do a LOT with those, and you can get both silver, white and gold, so you can get ecactly the tone you would prefer for different shots.

The wedding is still on a beach, right? I am just thinking, you need to get pretty close with flash bouncing, to make a difference (if you got sunlight, of course).

 

[Jonathan]

Spotlight?

(I know I'm not really helping here.)

 

[Scott Murray]

Ah! Which one do you have? And are you happy with it? And if you dont mind - for what do you use it?

Otherwise, have you thought about reflector? I do know this takes a helper, for at least some of the shots. In sunlight, you can do a LOT with those, and you can get both silver, white and gold, so you can get ecactly the tone you would prefer for different shots.

The wedding is still on a beach, right? I am just thinking, you need to get pretty close with flash bouncing, to make a difference (if you got sunlight, of course).

I am waiting for my SB-910 to arrive before I use my Softbox, once I do some tests then I will post up my thoughts . Not sure what I will use it for as yet, guess I will experiment and see what works and what doesn't