Small studio lighting suggestions?? I am wanting to purchase lighting for a small room/studio....Don't know where to start! Soft box vs umbrella? Strobes? Brand? Watts? HELP! :?:...

fshn4bss Loc: Mound City, MO

I am wanting to purchase lighting for a small room/studio....Don't know where to start! Soft box vs umbrella? Strobes? Brand? Watts? HELP! :?:

Big Daddy Loc: Near Cleveland

The easiest and cheapest way is with softboxes. I bought a used setup for $100. 2 lights (softboxes) and stands. Bought 2 more stands off ebay and made my own backdrop setup! I enjoy constant lighting because what you see is what you get.

KimParks Loc: Kenosha, WI

I have this on my wish list through amazon and it's only $50

http://www.amazon.com/PHOTOGRAPHY-CONTINUOUS-LIGHTING-Day-Light-UMBRELLAS/dp/B001HDEECO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1XVZD323MLJ35&colid=279TARRNZ997Z
I am sure people will have a field day with this one but I am not a professional just someone who loves photography

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Thanks for the info, I just ordered them. I have strobe lights which are great except you can't always see the end result till you shoot one shot, then you might have to adjust to shoot again. I do portraits on location not in a studio and never have the same lighting conditions at every location.

KimParks wrote:

I have this on my wish list through amazon and it's only $50

http://www.amazon.com/PHOTOGRAPHY-CONTINUOUS-LIGHTING-Day-Light-UMBRELLAS/dp/B001HDEECO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1XVZD323MLJ35&colid=279TARRNZ997Z
I am sure people will have a field day with this one but I am not a professional just someone who loves photography

Dria Loc: Ohio

KimParks wrote:

I have this on my wish list through amazon and it's only $50

http://www.amazon.com/PHOTOGRAPHY-CONTINUOUS-LIGHTING-Day-Light-UMBRELLAS/dp/B001HDEECO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1XVZD323MLJ35&colid=279TARRNZ997Z
I am sure people will have a field day with this one but I am not a professional just someone who loves photography

that is a heck of a deal and even if you decide to use speedlight or strobe on them you can still use the rest of the set up.
That is what I started with-- PLUS a stand, reflector umbrella (for catch-lights) I just shoot "for fun" too.

fshn4bss Loc: Mound City, MO

Thank you ALL! I like the 'what you see is what you get'!!! Love Ugly Hedgehog!!!

carlreno2

Interfit makes an umbrella that closes behind your flash kind of making it a softbox but with the light spill of an umbrella. I have both softbox and these umbrellas and both serve a different purpose.

kgkessler Loc: Deltona, FL

I've been looking at this package:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180755736957?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

fshn4bss Loc: Mound City, MO

That's a nice pkg, but not many watts, i think i've decided on constant light softboxes right now, want a main, kicker, hair, and fill! This sight has been very helpful... http://lumitouch.com/benstudiotutorial/LightPoseGuideRules.html Alien Bees VERY expensive... :-(

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

Studio strobes with a modeling light, and a hand held light meter for studio work. There are umbrellas out there that have a removable diffuser and silver and gold removable discs for them. No matter what you get, use a light meter.

Brucej67 wrote:

Thanks for the info, I just ordered them. I have ... (show quote)

randymoe

Light is light, but not. Color temp of light is a big deal, but also correctable in camera with white balance.

For low budget use what you have, flashlights, desk lamps, real cheap very powerful construction site lights from Home Depot, shoot black and white and enjoy contrast and shades of grey. I watch tons of old B&W movies just to examine the lighting schemes.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

fshn4bss wrote:

I am wanting to purchase lighting for a small room/studio....Don't know where to start! Soft box vs umbrella? Strobes? Brand? Watts? HELP! :?:

I'm in the midst of building a new 4-fixture lighting system. A (6) bulb T8 32-watt @ fluorescent industrial fixture from Home Depot with daylight bulbs (about $3 each), two (2) bulb T8 similar fixtures mounted together for a total of 4 daylight bulbs, and two separate (2) bulb fixtures.

I plan the (6) bulb as a main light, the (4) bulb as a secondary light, and the two (2) bulb ones as a background light and background or overhead highlight.

Wooden boxes to surround the fixtures painted appliance white inside, and a nylon translucent material over the front for diffusion. Switches to turn two-bulb banks off and on as needed. Handles on the sides of the boxes. Four lightweight worklight or sound system speaker stands. $200 approximate total. Portable. Pure daylight temperature.

KimParks Loc: Kenosha, WI

That is a great deal if you are looking for the stand as well. I think I paid that just for the stand. Great job thank you for sharing that with us.

randymoe

It is funny but I made the same type setup 15 years ago for a film photo class and my instructor gave me a bit of attitude. Digital was new and florescent studio lighting was unheard of. Color correction was done with filters. My blue tint daylight film portraits were unusual, but interesting. I cherish those prints.

Show us some pics, please!

marcomarks wrote:

quote=fshn4bss I am wanting to purchase lighting ... (show quote)

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

I haven't finished those light boxes yet, I'm very busy at the moment, but here is a portrait I did with standard screw-in curly 100-watt equivalent fluorescents and a bunch of clamp-on silver domed work lamps. They weren't daylight temperature but tungsten temperature. But it proves that fluorescent works for digital photography very easily.

randymoe wrote:

It is funny but I made the same type setup 15 years ago for a film photo class and my instructor gave me a bit of attitude. Digital was new and florescent studio lighting was unheard of. Color correction was done with filters. My blue tint daylight film portraits were unusual, but interesting. I cherish those prints.

Show us some pics, please!

marcomarks wrote:

quote=fshn4bss I am wanting to purchase lighting ... (show quote)

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