portable studio

kitkirk

I need to get a background (at least one that is black, possibly more colors) and a small light kit that is easy to travel with and setup. Any recommendations, or types/brands to avoid? I don't want anything too fancy (a.k.a. expensive) at this point, but I need something just to get me through a few in-home shots.

Thanks for the input!

ziggy53

Lots of ways to go and almost any budget is possible.

If you're looking for a very low budget system I suggest simple battery powered flashes with umbrellas and umbrella brackets to mount them onto 8' or 9' light stands. If you use Vivitar 285HV flashes you can use Wein Peanut optical slaves and they plug right in.

Ideally you would want 4 flashes to start:

Trigger
Key
Fill
Background

Trigger and Fill can be combined for some lighting setups, but not all. Key and Fill lights will often both have their own umbrellas and stands, and the background light will also need a stand.

A dedicated room is best for standing poses and 10' ceilings are desireable. Seated poses can be shot in almost any room for many lighting styles.

In a pinch, a single light can make great head shots (used properly):

http://digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=92550

davidweaver

Ziggy has some good recommendations. Especially the Vivitar strobes!

Go do a lot of reading over at the Strobist. http://strobist.blogspot.com/ depending upon what you are attempting to do you should find some great info on that site.

When you mean portable do you mean having the ability to have AC power or being only battery powered?

A week ago, I saw a Texas Monthly photog haul a power pack and 2 heads and an umbrella and a soft box to a bar (Emo's). She had an assistant and had 3 cases of lighting gear to haul. So the definition of 'portable' has different definitions. :-)

Hmmm...this makes me want to write a piece on portable gear and where to use it. I do find that all my Pocket Wizards (expensive) get a fair amount of use regardless of using monoheads or battery strobes. I also use the PW for triggering a camera remotely.

Tell us more of what you want to do and you will get more and (hopefully better) suggestions.

Cheers,
David

Cygnus Studios

Alien Bees offer quite a few options for a smaller budget.

JohnBiggs

+1 alien bees.

I use them for my portable studio. But by portable, I mean I can keep it in my trunk. Need something more portable? The vivitars are a great suggestion, You could also consider the collapsable backgrounds. They are typically two sided and are very portable.

Instead of Pocket wizards, consider cybersync by alien bees. The work with any flash and are cheaper.

Scotto

The backgrounds are going to be your biggest worry.

With folding backgrounds you are limited to the type of shot you can do, you will not be able to do a full length type of shot.

You could go for a small frame set up and a length of muslin cloth. Suitable for 'most' sessions but cloth can be a nightmare to work with, it creases, can be difficult to get straight and tight and so on. I guess the only other alternative is paper roll but again, it has its faults the biggest being it is not suitable to be transported around from job to job.

Do you not have a room at home you could use? I converted my garage into a small studio and still managed to keep it functional as a car garage as well !

My lighting set up is very simple 2 x strobes and a Canon 430ex mounted above the subject firing towards the backdrop (only needed for groups of 3 or more people)

couple of examples of what can be achieved in a small garage