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Lighting Set-up
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Apr 11, 2014 09:23:00   #
Bigtee Loc: SLC, Utah area
 
Wow;
Thats all I can say.. I only had to read the OP once to see
that he was only asking for "suggestions" on a better way to do things. He did not go into detail on his current problems
simply because he did not want to "fix" his current problems,
just find a better way of doing things. A few of you took issue with his post and let him have it...This is not what I signed up to the Happy UHH for, and I will be GD if I ask for
help from you awesome few.. rpavich, go read the OP again
and then meditate on it for a bit, maybe you will get it.

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Apr 11, 2014 09:25:46   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
Bigtee wrote:
Wow;
Thats all I can say.. I only had to read the OP once to see
that he was only asking for "suggestions" on a better way to do things. He did not go into detail on his current problems
simply because he did not want to "fix" his current problems,
just find a better way of doing things. A few of you took issue with his post and let him have it...This is not what I signed up to the Happy UHH for, and I will be GD if I ask for
help from you awesome few.. rpavich, go read the OP again
and then meditate on it for a bit, maybe you will get it.
Wow; br Thats all I can say.. I only had to read ... (show quote)


Ok...then tell me what's a better way than 2 speedlights and 2 triggers and modifiers?

Please...by all means...give some meaningful direction based on that thimble-full of information.

what would you suggest....more speedlights? Different speedlights? (whoops...we don't know which ones he's using so we can't comment on that)

Different triggers? Same triggers different model? (whoops...we don't know what model so we can't comment on that either.)

How about settings on the triggers? Did something get changed accidentally and so now they aren't working?

Or is it the speedlights that are not working?

Please, enlighten me.

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Apr 11, 2014 09:35:20   #
Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.
 
gemlenz wrote:
I have to do something about my studio lighting setup.

I have 2 Cactus remote triggers, 2 speedlights and soft boxes. Almost every time I set up there's problem where something doesn't work and I have to scurry to plan B to recover. So far I've managed to recover, but trying to get things working when your client is waiting for their head shot is frustrating at best.

I used to use 2 continuous lights with umbrellas but I wanted to go wireless with the triggers and speedlights. I'm not going to try to explain what's happening because it would be too lengthy.

I don't want to spend a fortune, but I would like to make some improvements. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
I have to do something about my studio lighting se... (show quote)




Gemlenz, when I was shooting portraits, I would always try to set things up approximately like I thought they should be, and test everything to make sure things worked. Then when the client arrived, I felt a bit more secure and that transfers to the client. Might give that a try. Good Luck.

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Apr 11, 2014 10:49:24   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
gemlenz wrote:
I have to do something about my studio lighting setup.


I'm not going to try to explain what's happening because it would be too lengthy.
.


Wave your magic wand over them and you should be fine.

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Apr 11, 2014 11:34:12   #
cidbearit Loc: Canton, MI, USA
 
gemlenz wrote:
I have to do something about my studio lighting setup.

I have 2 Cactus remote triggers, 2 speedlights and soft boxes. Almost every time I set up there's problem where something doesn't work and I have to scurry to plan B to recover. So far I've managed to recover, but trying to get things working when your client is waiting for their head shot is frustrating at best.

I used to use 2 continuous lights with umbrellas but I wanted to go wireless with the triggers and speedlights. I'm not going to try to explain what's happening because it would be too lengthy.

I don't want to spend a fortune, but I would like to make some improvements. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
I have to do something about my studio lighting se... (show quote)


gemlenz...I am not a pro (far from it). I am a rank amateur who has developed an interest in experimenting with strobist photography, but who was not able to justify (read:wife) spending a lot of money on high-end gear.

The triggers I use are Aputure brand, so the Cactus brand may differ. The only issue I've run into with them failing to trigger my speedlights has to do with the order in which I power everything on. I have to power on the speedlight first, then the trigger. If I power on the trigger first, it won't recognize that it's attached to the speedlight when I power that on, and hence won't trigger the speedlight.

I don't know if this will help with your issue, but perhaps.

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Apr 11, 2014 11:42:16   #
DebAnn Loc: Toronto
 
Hi Gemlenz, sorry you've had to put up with so much crap on this post. Here's my 2 cents worth of (hopefully) help.
Not sure what camera you have, but some Canons have the ability to use the built-in flash feature as a trigger for the speedlights. You can still set up the flashes to fire at whatever level you want. I direct my two speedlights into umbrellas and find this setup works successfully. Of course, you have to set up the right features in-camera to control the flash. The on-camera trigger has to "see" the flash sensor but in a regular room, this hasn't been a problem.
I bought a set of Cactus wireless transmitters which I never have got to work properly.
gemlenz wrote:
I have to do something about my studio lighting setup.

I have 2 Cactus remote triggers, 2 speedlights and soft boxes. Almost every time I set up there's problem where something doesn't work and I have to scurry to plan B to recover. So far I've managed to recover, but trying to get things working when your client is waiting for their head shot is frustrating at best.

I used to use 2 continuous lights with umbrellas but I wanted to go wireless with the triggers and speedlights. I'm not going to try to explain what's happening because it would be too lengthy.

I don't want to spend a fortune, but I would like to make some improvements. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
I have to do something about my studio lighting se... (show quote)

Reply
Apr 11, 2014 11:48:07   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
What makes this thread comical is not one person knows what the OP is using for flashes, nor what any problems are...they are advising ALL KINDS of things blindly when it could be that he's using a bad battery, or that he's got something set wrong or any number of things...

Classic 'hog.

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Apr 11, 2014 12:11:08   #
The Watcher
 
gemlenz wrote:
I have to do something about my studio lighting setup.

I have 2 Cactus remote triggers, 2 speedlights and soft boxes. Almost every time I set up there's problem where something doesn't work and I have to scurry to plan B to recover. So far I've managed to recover, but trying to get things working when your client is waiting for their head shot is frustrating at best.

I used to use 2 continuous lights with umbrellas but I wanted to go wireless with the triggers and speedlights.
I'm not going to try to explain what's happening because it would be too lengthy.

I don't want to spend a fortune, but I would like to make some improvements. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
I have to do something about my studio lighting se... (show quote)


I'm always amazed at all of the suggestions a OP will receive based on such little or no information. If gemlenz was really interested in resolving his problem, he would explain it to us. Why waste time offering suggestions.

Force each OP to a higher standard by not responding until you have the required information.

His problem might be nothing more than a bad or loose fitting sync cord. But we can't suggest that, because we don't know how he connects the wireless trigger to the flash.

We do know he's having a problem, but it's not important enough to spent a few extra minutes and give us the details.

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Apr 11, 2014 12:17:13   #
dickparkans Loc: Arizona
 
Please don't insult weasels. Ferrets are part of the weasel family and I've enjoyed them as pets. Thanks




I hate ferrets. Had one crawl up my pant leg and bite me. Another friend has a couple of them and her house stinks. Just sayin

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Apr 11, 2014 12:19:46   #
gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch
 
jaysnave wrote:
Tell South Carolina families who are bringing home a paycheck, paying taxes, and purchasing houses that they are non-American. Not the same as buying Chinese.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2014/03/28/bmw-to-spend-1b-to-expand-output-at-south-carolina-factory-by-50/


Well, they must have a hell of a commute since the M3 is made only in Germany. 100% import, no American labor.

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Apr 11, 2014 13:08:43   #
mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ
 
DebAnn wrote:
Hi Gemlenz, sorry you've had to put up with so much crap on this post. Here's my 2 cents worth of (hopefully) help.
Not sure what camera you have, but some Canons have the ability to use the built-in flash feature as a trigger for the speedlights. You can still set up the flashes to fire at whatever level you want. I direct my two speedlights into umbrellas and find this setup works successfully. Of course, you have to set up the right features in-camera to control the flash. The on-camera trigger has to "see" the flash sensor but in a regular room, this hasn't been a problem.
I bought a set of Cactus wireless transmitters which I never have got to work properly.
Hi Gemlenz, sorry you've had to put up with so muc... (show quote)


These posts been quite interesting.. I see the issues on both sides. One thing to keep in mind which might have got some people's backs up is the identification as a "pro."
I learned way back when that a "professional" is someone who makes money doing what they do. If Gemlenz makes money doing what he does, then he is technically a "pro" and has the right to call himself that. Now, to what degree of "pro" he is is up to speculation/interpretation, but making $$$ at it allows him the title, at least.

Gemlenz....if you are still reading these posts......you DO need to know that your system is working before your client arrives.

I haven't done professional portrait photography for years but I still have my Speedotron strobes with umbrellas and power supply. It was totally reliable.....never a glitch, ever. With all the input given in these postings, hopefully you can get a clearer idea of what you need to do. Might just start with replacing you Cactus transmitters. Sometimes big problems only require simple solutions :wink: :wink:

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Apr 11, 2014 13:10:29   #
mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ
 
mossgate wrote:
These posts been quite interesting.. I see the issues on both sides. One thing to keep in mind which might have got some people's backs up is the identification as a "pro."
I learned way back when that a "professional" is someone who makes money doing what they do. If Gemlenz makes money doing what he does, then he is technically a "pro" and has the right to call himself that. Now, to what degree of "pro" he is is up to speculation/interpretation, but making $$$ at it allows him the title, at least.

Gemlenz....if you are still reading these posts......you DO need to know that your system is working before your client arrives.

I haven't done professional portrait photography for years but I still have my Speedotron strobes with umbrellas and power supply. It was totally reliable.....never a glitch, ever. With all the input given in these postings, hopefully you can get a clearer idea of what you need to do. Might just start with replacing your Cactus transmitters. Sometimes big problems only require simple solutions :wink: :wink:
These posts been quite interesting.. I see the iss... (show quote)

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Apr 11, 2014 13:18:06   #
pego99
 
The solution is Pocket Wizard.

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Apr 11, 2014 13:20:41   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
pego99 wrote:
The solution is Pocket Wizard.


Unless the problem isn't with the triggers...then it's not. :)

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Apr 11, 2014 13:25:24   #
pego99
 
rpavich wrote:
Unless the problem isn't with the triggers...then it's not. :)


Of course but that is my guess with all the information provided.

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