Home Studio Startup Need Help on Where to Begin!

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Percussionman11

Senior Member
I am looking for help buying equipment for a home studio to get started. I should note that I just invested in a 24-70mm 2.8 lens for my D7100 (I also have a 50mm 1.8, 18-200mm 3.5-5.6, 55-300mm 4.5-5.6) so I can one day move to a full frame camera (can only afford one thing at a time). I also have a SB-700 speedflash and an old tripod that is really solid and sturdy. I also have Lightroom, a wacom graphic cablet and Adobe photoshop CS2 (since it's free!) to get me going learning photoshop.

All that said, I am looking to spend $1,000 or less on the following things:

- Lights
- Light stands
- Backdrops
- Backdrop holders
- etc.

I have not had the ability to really experiment with lighting as I am a hobbyist trying to work my way into the scene to hopefully one day start a part time business on the side. (I'd like to get into familiy & professional portraits, weddings, etc.) Any and all help with recommendations and suggestions on where to begin would be greatly appreciated as I have NO idea where to begin here and don't want to get crap equipment that will be a waste of time. I'd rather invest in solid equipment that will last through the years.
 
Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
Percussionman11 said:
All that said, I am looking to spend $1,000 or less on the following things:

- Lights
- Light stands
- Backdrops
- Backdrop holders
- etc.

I have not had the ability to really experiment with lighting as I am a hobbyist trying to work my way into the scene to hopefully one day start a part time business on the side. (I'd like to get into familiy & professional portraits, weddings, etc.)...don't want to get crap equipment that will be a waste of time. I'd rather invest in solid equipment that will last through the years.
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That's a pretty tall order for a $1,000 budget. I will tell you that if you try to get all of the above, you're going to end up with just that: crap equipment. Forget about the backdrops for now. You can make your own with some PVC pipe and fabrics from a craft store. Focus on getting ONE light, ONE stand, and ONE modifier for now. Master it, and then expand on it.

AlienBees B1600: $350
10' air cushioned light stand: $100
Westcott 60" umbrella: $50
PocketWizard Plus III (x2): $300

That's a near bullet-proof setup for $800. It's good gear that will last, and as skills improve, you can build on it.
 
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fotojack

Senior Member
And while we're at it, this isn't going to happen overnight. Good photography takes time and patience. Learn the magic triangle of photography...ISO, Aperture and shutter speed. Learn your camera inside out. Listen to other, more experienced photographers and how they do it. Read up on technique, lighting, etc. It takes time...but if you're passionate about it, it will all come when you're ready. Happy shooting. :)
 
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rocketman122

Senior Member
For that budget, youre budget is tight. personally, I would go speedlights with wireless slaves and not look back. I had 1200 w/s studio flashes so I have a lot of studio experience and had all the gear.

On the cheap and very versatile.

-stands. so much to choose from. dont go cheap on these. they need to have some mass to them.

-backdrops. had muslin canvas with blue and brown and that was what I had. paper? Ill let you decide.

-flashes-these will be your biggest spending and im going to suggest speedlights. save your money. with film, a lot of power was necessary. today I dont shoot less than iso 800 unless its outdoors in intense light where the shutter is maxing at 1/8000 because I shoot pretty open.
YongNuo YN-560 III ? Review ? Changing the Game | FLASH HAVOC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYkHSfmNRpQ
youre welcome. not sure what f-stop you plan to shoot. personally, I shoot up to f/4.5 for the shorter DOF. it will do f/16 without an issue at 1m at 100iso at full power and about 2.5 sec recycle time. so, if you need more power than this then get 2. get a dual flash bracket for less than 10 bucks from ebay and mount them together in a sofbox. they sell for $70shipped. tons of pros in the wedding field use these, including me and my best friend in weddings. I sold my studio flashes and I would never buy a studio flash again. I see no need for it.
-take a look at this flash
GODOX V850 VING ? Lithium-Ion Flash Review | FLASH HAVOC

I might get 3 of these at the end of the year just because I like the battery pack. very fast to recycle as well. 1.5 secs at full power!! $120 shipped

-softbox there you go
Pro 60cm x 90cm 24"x35" Umbrella Softbox Brolly Reflector for Flash Speedlite | eBay

-dual flash bracket (if you need it. personally I never used my flash at 1/2 power-no need for my uses)
Universal Dual Flash Bracket One to Two Switcher Holder Bar Metal 1 4" Mount NN | eBay

-bracket to mount the flash. take your pick. you can just type flash bracket and go through the prices and find that specific bracket for the least price and go with that. get 2-3 extra because theyre cheap and get lost easily.

Sale Flash Speedlite Umbrella Hole Ball Mount Stand Bracket Holder Hot Shoe | eBay

E Type Flash Shoe Umbrella Holder Light Stand Bracket for 1 4" 3 8" DSLR Camera | eBay (metal alloy body)

most amateurs just do a basic 2:1 ratio lighting setup. meaning one light is the main and the fill is giving half the amount of the main. for truly pro portraits, I would use 4-5 lights if I wanted something that will stand out form the rest. and thats what you want at the end. that your pics stands out from the rest.

get another stand and either get a reflector for the fill side or maybe a beauty dish. in studio photography there are so many different looks. I cant tell you whats good for you.

and get 2 other stands and speedlights and use one for a hair light. you can also find a speedlight grid on ebay for cheap which youll need to focus the light on her hair neck.

and the other flash speedlight would be for the backdrop light if youre using solid colors.

-slave get the YN 603 MARK II. this is what will work with these flashes. they fixed all the dumbassness they put in the first edition.

instead of saying what you cant, heres a list of what you can and it will work flawlessly. I as a pro, would have no issue shooting anyone with a setup like this and in fact would easily prefer it over heavy cumbersome studio flashes. no need for electrical outlets, cables everywhere to trip on. I pick up the stands, move it around, shoot, boom, done. fast inexpensive, durable, works. if the stand falls over (and it has) the heavy weight most likely wont break the speedlight.

I will add this. speedlights are so versatile today. they are convenient, inexpensive, very efficient, can do so much today with digital. studio monolights are way overpriced, there is no reason to buy them today.

and one last thing. learn flash, learn how to use it . people are afraid of flash. dont be. only those who master flash will udnerstand light and thats when youre talent will shine. when you can "see" light and how it will affect your images.
 
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Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
rocketman122 said:
I will add this. speedlights are so versatile today. they are convenient, inexpensive, very efficient, can do so much today with digital. studio monolights are way overpriced, there is no reason to buy them today.
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There are varying schools of thought on lighting, no doubt. But there's no need to add confusion by making outrageous statements such as this.

I have extensive lighting options, and more often than not, I reach for the speedlights. I totally agree that in a lot of cases, they're more convenient due to their smaller size. However, they have limitations, #1 being flash power. Speedlights aren't the best option for area lighting or group photos, and are near useless for outdoor lighting, especially during the daytime. As far as portability goes, toss a battery pack into the mix and monolights become just as convenient on location.

I think if anyone is going to be a well-versed photographer, they need to have lighting options. The OP already has an SB-700. He's looking to start a home-based studio and get into portraiture and weddings. If he puts all of his stock into speedlights, what happens when he needs more than what a speedlight can provide?
 
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STM

Senior Member
That is a pretty tall order for $1000. I have Britek strobes, (2) 550 WS units, (2) 150 WS units and (3) 100 WS units. They are great units and have served me very well for many years. For a "home studio" you will need at least 3, preferably 4 lights. A main (key) light, a fill light, a background light and a hair light. You can eliminate the hair light if you get in a money crunch but it is very helpful in separating the subject from the background. Umbrellas are ok but I prefer softboxes but umbrellas are cheaper. Umbrellas can make for distracting catchlights. Of course each light will need its own stand and you will need a background. I prefer muslin to paper, because they are reusable and if they get soiled, can usually be put in the washing machine under a very gently cycle. And of course two stands with a crossbar to hold the background. And of course you will need a flashmeter. Most studio type strobes have internal slaves but you will need at least a cord for the main light. I use a wireless trigger for my main light and the rest just slave off of it. You can get very expensive or you can do like I did and go with a cheaper set, like this, that you can find on Ebay. They have never failed me. Keep in mind, many studio strobes have a different sized PC pin (it is larger) than one that is used for your camera and a standard strobe.
 
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ShootRaw

Senior Member
STM said:
For a "home studio" you will need at least 3, preferably 4 lights. A main (key) light, a fill light, a background light and a hair light. You can eliminate the hair light if you get in a money crunch but it is very helpful in separating the subject from the background. Umbrellas are ok but I prefer softboxes but umbrellas are cheaper. Umbrellas can make for distracting catchlights. Of course each light will need its own stand and you will need a background. I prefer muslin to paper, because they are reusable and if they get soiled, can usually be put in the washing machine under a very gently cycle. And of course two stands with a crossbar to hold the background. And of course you will need a flashmeter.
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I disagree with needing 3 to 4 lights for studio work...I also disagree with you needing a flash meter.... I do agree with getting a Muslim over paper... Normally you can do a lot with 1 or 2 strobes for studio..
 
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Percussionman11

Senior Member
I appreciate all the different comments/suggestions and schools of thought at work here. It's giving me a lot to research and think about.

Photojack thanks for the links I'll take a look at them when I'm not at work!

Browncoat, will your recommended setup with just the one light be enough to provide a nice portraiture session being that it won't have an "even" light as it has come be setup on one side or the other ultimately? I know shadows are my best friend in creating depth but didn't know the shortfalls or limitations of your recommendations that I should be aware of in advance.

Rocketman122, As I asked Browncoat what are the shortfalls of your setup that I should be aware of in advance?

Other things I've thought about since originally posting last night...

Is it worth investing in a flash bracket at this point (if so suggestions to best utilize my budget)? Should I invest in the newest Adobe Photoshop vs what I'm using CS2?
 
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STM

Senior Member
ShootRaw said:
I disagree with needing 3 to four lights for studio work...I also disagree with you needing a flash meter.... I do agree with getting a Muslim over paper...
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You haven't done much portraiture work, have you? To do it right, 4 lights is the MINIMUM number of lights you should have. At times I have used as many as 6 depending on what I need to do. And when you need to adjust lighting ratios, you WILL need a flash meter. Camera meters can't help you there.

Try shooting something like this with 1 or 2 lights. Not that you have to get this sophisticated right out of the bucket but only one strobe for a home studio is woefully inadequate unless you want to do very amateurish looking work.

 
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ShootRaw

Senior Member
STM said:
You haven't done much portraiture work, have you? To do it right, 4 lights is the MINIMUM number of lights you should have. At times I have used as many as 6 depending on what I need to do. And when you need to adjust lighting ratios, you WILL need a flash meter. Camera meters can't help you there.
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For 4 lights or more then maybe a meter is a good investment..For 1 or 2 lights it is not needed..
Here are two pics I did...First is with 2 lights and second with 1 light..
mayhem.jpg
One Light...
Forums.jpg
 
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STM

Senior Member
ShootRaw said:
For 4 lights or more then maybe a meter is a good investment..For 1 or 2 lights it is not needed..
Here are two pics I did...First is with 2 lights and second with 1 light..
View attachment 99650
One Light...
View attachment 99651
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And there is no separation from the background on the second one. Honestly, it looks like one of those cookie cutter photos you get done dressed up like a cowboy. You also have very hard edged and unflattering shadows on the first. And you have no flexibility with either one.

Even one as simple as this black on black took 3 to get the proper lighting ratios for broad lighting because her face was on the thin side, on the subject and highlight her hair.

 
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WayneF

Senior Member
Percussionman11 said:
I have not had the ability to really experiment with lighting as I am a hobbyist trying to work my way into the scene to hopefully one day start a part time business on the side. (I'd like to get into familiy & professional portraits, weddings, etc.) Any and all help with recommendations and suggestions on where to begin would be greatly appreciated as I have NO idea where to begin here and don't want to get crap equipment that will be a waste of time. I'd rather invest in solid equipment that will last through the years.
Click to expand...

Absolutely do not spend much money on junk lights that don't even specify a (known) brand name, or that you cannot find much praise in many reviews on the internet, or that you cannot find an easy source for spare parts and repair. We knock stuff over sometimes. :)

Good stuff has a good reputation, widely known to all, easy to find. When considering a source, first search Google for brand and word Review. Find lots of praise first. Good stuff will be very popular.

So your first question for starters, do you want to use speedlights or studio lights? Speedlights are portable, easy to carry and setup, battery powered, etc. But they are low powered and slow to recycle, and in a fixed studio setting, studio lights run circles around them. See Speedlights vs Studio Lights for some for examples.

After you get into doing much, you will want both, so two speedlights and two white reflected umbrellas are an easy way to start, to get the feel slowly. Start slowly, you will know more about what you want after you've seen some of it in use.

For studio lights, in the USA, I would certainly suggest at least looking at Alienbees lights from Paul C. Buff, Inc. This is the Good low price stuff, will last years. See the specs, compare to others (those that even have specs). I've used my four lights nine years, still going strong. I had one repaired recently, charge was only $40. It is an amazing company in all respects. Great performance, amazing service, huge reputation, and very low price (direct sales, no distributors). If you want to spend more, their more epensive Einstein lights are the rage now.
 
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ShootRaw

Senior Member
STM, the point is you do not need a bunch of lights to turn out quality work.. Lots of professional photogs have beautiful pics using 1 or 2 lights...You choosing to shoot a woman with black hair, black clothes on a black background was your decision..So of course you will need at least 2 lights to do this...You chose 3...great for you... How many lights you use does not dictate skill level...Broad lighting is not a flattering light..Her head looks bigger then her body and lacks depth due to flat lighting her..no pattern..
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
In fact, the classic standard academic approach is to require using ONLY ONE light at first. With a reflector for fill.

Now this may be not be the easiest way (a reflector has to be in the place where it works, and it only does what it does, where a second light can go anywhere and can be turned up or down).

But it can still produce stunning results, and it will teach much about ratio. Like not letting little kids use calculators in school for awhile.

See one single light portrait - Google Search for ideas.
 
Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
Percussionman11 said:
Browncoat, will your recommended setup with just the one light be enough to provide a nice portraiture session being that it won't have an "even" light as it has come be setup on one side or the other ultimately? I know shadows are my best friend in creating depth but didn't know the shortfalls or limitations of your recommendations that I should be aware of in advance.
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In short: abso-freakin'-lutely.

In addition to the other supportive responses already posted above, there is a helluva lot you can do with one light. Some of the biggest names in the photography business started out with one light, and still use it. Yes, one light setups tend to fall on the more dramatic end of the lighting spectrum.

The main thing is, don't fall into the GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) trap...that you need XYZ or have to spend $_____ to produce results. It is the absolute worst mistake you can make when starting out. There are legions of 'togs before you who have fallen victim to GAS, and starting out small is the best advice you will ever receive with regards to lighting. Knowing how to manipulate light is the very best tool you have in your photography arsenal. Forget camera bodies, forget lenses. With quality lighting techniques, you can produce stellar results with subpar gear.

Yes, there are many schools of thought on lighting. Even the term "traditional portraiture" has multiple setups with 3, 4, or even 5 lights. A lot of the guys who are holdover portrait photographers from the film days still hold onto these setups and gear. There is certainly some merit to it, but don't believe for a second that it's the only way to do things. There are as many setups as there are products on the market, and that's the truth.

You have a lot of homework. You'll waste money, just like we all did. You'll fidget with different techniques, watch tutorials, read books, and fall flat on your face 10x more than you have success at first. The good news is, there are a TON of resources available to figure out what works best for you. Ask 50 of us what we like and what we use, and you'll get 50 different responses.

You may be best served by simply buying several modifiers for that SB-700 for now, and be sure to read Strobist. Once you've squeezed all you can out of that unit, you may be in a better position to make an informed decision on which way you want to go with your lighting.
 
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STM

Senior Member
ShootRaw said:
STM, the point is you do not need a bunch of lights to turn out quality work.. Lots of professional photogs have beautiful pics using 1 or 2 lights...You choosing to shoot a woman with black hair, black clothes on a black background was your decision..So of course you will need at least 2 lights to do this...You chose 3...great for you... How many lights you use does not dictate skill level...Broad lighting is not a flattering light..Her head looks bigger then her body and lacks depth due to flat lighting her..no pattern..
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Quite to the contrary, broad light is precisely what you use when you have someone with a narrow face like Chonchon does. Had she had a chubby face, narrow lighting would have been the way to go. And the pattern of lighting is hardly flat. This was about a 1:2.5 lighting ratio.
 
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