Royce Moss Loc: Irvine, CA

Hey Hoggers I am looking for advice on studio lighting kits. My plan is to set up a small studio in my home to practice with. I'm looking for something that is easy and durable enough to eventually move around to different locations. I keep seeing all these kits on Amazon and other sites with prices that seem too good to be true.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Royce, here's something good for starters. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1323079-REG/savage_led60k_r_savage_500w_led_studio.html

There are a number of other similar kits available, as well.
--Bob

georgeretired Loc: Manitoba Canada

Its a challenge and it's expensive. Several years ago I started to think of setting up with lights etc but the price was just too much for quality photography lighting. Ended up using a multi reflector and two light poles with multiple lights on each pole that swiveled. Bought one soft box, stand and light and that was it. Learning curve was needed so I picked up a book on lighting and how to place for different shots. It may have looked like a "garage sale" set up, but the end results were very good. Over time and up to now I've changed my photography direction and have very little need for a studio set up. Have fun yet be creative.

Haydon

What's your budget?

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I have a NovaTron 1600w portable unit. It is the most powerful unit made my NovaTron. It has 3 umbrellas, stands, modeling lights , snoot and the heads as well as the power unit are adjustable in power output. It is like new. I used it to teach studio photography at the university of Alaska. I will take offers and or trades . This may be the best Black Friday deal for lighting. PM me for more information.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

These The Slanted Lens videos will be a great place to start:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOj5UT2p0NA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31yj-NdzHBQ&t=11s

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

I have nothing worthwhile to add, but I am interested in seeing what others have to offer.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Royce, the good stuff isn't on Amazon, and it isn't inexpensive, either. Here is a link to some flash brands to consider:

http://www.promarkbrands.com — Promark manages ten brands of photo gear, including some great lighting companies. I've used Quantum, Photogenic, and Norman gear, a lot.

https://www.dynalite.com — Dynalite makes industrial strength lighting systems. I've used some of their gear, too.

https://www.fjwestcott.com — Westcott sells cool lighting, hot lighting, and light modifiers. Their umbrellas, soft boxes, halos, scrims, and other modifiers are among the very best and most durable in the business. We used them where I worked in the school portrait business.

All of these sites will keep you busy reading articles and watching videos for a while. Concentrate on lighting theory and practices before you buy gear. Knowledge and experience "improve" any gear, any day of the week!

If you learn the principles of lighting control, you can get great light under nearly any circumstance. The cheap stuff on Amazon and eBay works fine, as long as you stay within its limitations of capability and don't beat it up.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Royce,

This is one area where intent is all important. You will not get the lifespan or durability from the inexpensive kits, but they are more than sufficient to teach yourself about lighting, and to experiment with new ideas and tricks. Back in "film days", I had a number of hot lights, both quartz and photoflood, but soft boxes, beauty lights, etc., weren't in general use below the pro level. A couple of Reflectasols (which I still have!) and some barn doors were about as "pro" as I could afford.

I now have several inexpensive but sound flash units, with stands, reflectors, snoods, etc. at a total investment of a couple of hundred dollars. I'm never going to specialize in portraits or studio product shots, so I doubt I'll ever upgrade to pro quality units, but this setup gives me the chance to play around with a variety of ideas and approaches.

So my recommendation is to buy some amateur level kit and give it a try. Wait till you're really having fun and succeeding to explore your new GAS attack~

Andy

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Royce, without a price range and WHAT you'll be shooting advice is pretty much useless. Not useless but may not apply to your situation!!
Maybe some older used lights to start with!
Good luck
SS

CO

I wouldn't get one of the continuous lighting kits. They do nothing to help freeze motion and most have inadequate output levels. Another problem is that the continuous light can make your model squint and it's stressful to the model. I've used them before and have been disappointed. If you want economical studio lighting look at Adorama Camera's Flashpoint strobes. I have Paul C. Buff DigiBee DB800 strobes. They're very compact and have a powerful 400W equivalent LED modeling lamp. The nice thing about LED modeling lamps is that they stay cool. There's no heat that can damage the fabric of light modifiers that are close to the lamp.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Actually, all of the Paul Buff strobes are reliable, and their customer service is awesome. Some Very Large portrait companies use them every day.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

As othere have alluded to, it is best, with electronic flash systems to stay away for no-name or generic kits, oftentimes sold online.

There are may good brands on the market. The ones I have had excellent service from, over the years are as follows: Photogenic (their Power-light line of mono-lights), Bowens mono-lights and I would investigate the Paul C. Buff line of mono-lights- they have several levels of equipment.

I am assuming you are interest is setting up for portraiture. I don't know if a "kit" is your best approach. You may want to consider creating you own ensemble of light based on you own requirements and skill level. There are many aspects to consider- the number of lights, the power outputs and adjustability, the usage of umbrellas, soft-boxes. and other modifiers and ligh control mechanisms such as barn doors, snoots, grids and even the addition of a Fresnel spot light.

Exceptionally fine portraits can be created, surprisingly enough, with as little as one mono-light equipped with a softbox and a flat reflector employed as a fill source. A full complement of lights can include a main ligh, a fill ligh, kicker and hair lights and a background light. There is support gear to consider- tall and sturdy light stands, possibly a boom stand and perhas some basic posing equipment such as adjustable stools and a posing table.

You want units with bright and easily replaceable and otainale modeling lamps. Some unit have good quartz incandescent modelling lamps that can also be used as continuous light sources. Interchangeable reflectors are a good option as well.

Power wise, you want enough power to adequately provide practical exposures with light modifiers such as softboxes and umbrellas. You also need adjustability to lower output to enable shallow depth of field and selective focus.

If you coud tell us what kind of work you are aspiring to and your present skill level as to lighting I coud suggest some more specific setups for stationary and mobile use.

You can start off with the simplest setup and build your system up gradually.

ALSO- you might want to consider the possibility of purchasing a used setup. There are some older Photogenic Flashmaster systems out on the used market. Those system have 4 lamp heads operating from a central power pack. They have been used by portrait studio and school photograhers for years and are extremely durable and serviceable- just a thought. Google- Holly Enterprises- they may have some good reconditioned systems.

Good luck with your project- hope to hear form you!

Haydon

The first link provides a DIY cost saving solution in home studio building. You can easily spend several hundred dollars with a background kit that may prove to be completely unnecessary. The Slanted Lens provides a plethora of useful cost saving kits for studio work. I visited them frequently when I first started out with a home studio build.

CO

Yes, I have two Paul C. Buff DigiBee DB800 strobes. I also have one of their 22" beauty dishes and strip softbox.