Home / Portable Studio Advice Needed

kygarden

I can't find any trheads that address my specific situation. So let me ask...

Would it be possible to purchase what I would need for a very basic, but also very effective home/portable studio for portraits for $500 or less? I'm playing around with the idea of buying a few things to make portraits look great taken in my own home or possible easily moving the materials to anyone else's home or location. But since I don't do this professionally I don't want to spend a ton of money on this. However...if I can get the required items to do good work...maybe I can start out slow and build up a little business first to see how it goes. For now I'm keeping my day job!

What I already have is the following:
- D200 Camera
- Sigma 10-20mm Lens
- Nikon 50mm f/1.4 Lens
- Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Lens
- Sigma 18-200mm Lens
- Nikon SB600 Flash (1)
- Basic, but sturdy tripod
- Extra D200 battery
- Rechargable AA batteries for SB600

Note: I know I don't have the world's best portrait lenses but I would assume one of the 50's would be the one to use (assuming I have room to frame properly). Assume I will not be buying any lenses - I'm just interested in lighting and backdrops and whatever else you consider essential.

So, knowing what I already have...do you think I could add a descent backdrop and lighting setup for $500 or less? Items that wouldn't be total junk? What items would you suggest I purchase if I can get everything I need to get started, within my budget??? Please be specific since I'm fairly clueless when it comes to this subject - as I have not researched any studio lighting or backdrops. If it matters for lighting, I'm sort of thinking I would like black as the backdrop...but that's open for debate.

Thanks!

spider-t

some recommendations
Don't worry about your lenses. You'll have a lot of learning to do in the direction of the lighting. You'll probably find your 18-200 will be a fun lens to shoot with too. A zoom lens offers great flexibility and spontineity when you're shooting people. Portraits are not always about tack sharp and shallow depth of field. I've hooked up my holga to my studio flashes before and loved the effect. That has a plastic lens and the whole camera costs about $20.

This is a great strobe package to start with. It comes with a case for the light that you'll need since you want to be portable.

I would add a softbox to the package. The one I started with was the large octabox. It makes great shaped catchlights.

light pkg: $360 + softbox: $130 = $490

You'll need a reflector when you're using a single light. I used a large piece of white foam core. You can get that cheap at an art store or framing supply store. Ask for their dented ones. You'll need to get creative and make your own backdrops. One thing I do in small areas is to cut a length of seamless paper and gaffer tape it to the wall behind my model.

You can get away without a lightmeter because the digital camera is like having a built in polaroid back. Use your highlight warning setting and keep an eye on your histograms. I have a light meter, but I don't always use it.

If you're looking to eventually add a background, I have this background stand. It's sturdy, inexpensive ($100) and comes with a carrying case and a free roll of seamless white paper. All standard 10' muslin backdrops work with this stand too. I started with a solid washable black and have since purchased a couple of painted ones. You can do a lot with black and white.

have fun!
Trish

ziggy53

kygarden wrote:

...
What I already have is the following:
- D200 Camera
- Sigma 10-20mm Lens
- Nikon 50mm f/1.4 Lens
- Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Lens
- Sigma 18-200mm Lens
- Nikon SB600 Flash (1)
- Basic, but sturdy tripod
- Extra D200 battery
- Rechargable AA batteries for SB600

The first things I would recommend are more lighting elements. I would add one more Nikon SB flash, either another SB600 or an SB800. I also recommend another flash to use as a background light, but any flash that can be set in manual mode and can be slaved will do.

Add a couple of large (40" or better) umbrellas and light stands and multipurpose brackets, and you are on your way to a versatile lighting kit. A flash meter is very convenient, but not absolutely necessary.

One of the great things about many of the Nikon digital cameras, is that they act as wireless flash master in a multi-light setup using SB 600/800 flashes. The D200 is one of those cameras with flash master builtin, so the SB flashes can be used remotely.

Look at the following pages for inspiration:

http://www.daveblackphotography.com/workshop/0805.htm
http://www.daveblackphotography.com/workshop/0408.htm

Lightstands:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=221763&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
http://www.adorama.com/SALSC10AC.html?searchinfo=lightstand

Brackets:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=50067&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
http://www.adorama.com/SPSB.html?searchinfo=Umbrella%20Bracket&item_no=9

Umbrellas (I recommend white with removable cover):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=1325&A=details&Q=&sku=423625&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
http://www.adorama.com/LTU40BC.html?searchinfo=umbrella&item_no=29

Flash (background):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=52799&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
http://www.adorama.com/SU383.html

Slave (I think a "digital" slave is required):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=263024&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
http://www.adorama.com/WNHSD.html?searchinfo=shoe%20slave&item_no=3

Optional: The SB-30 might suffice for a background light, and has wireless slave capability.

Add a home made backdrop, some home made reflectors, and you can do interesting portraiture for 1 person or small group.

DIY backdrop:
http://www.thephotoforum.com/book/print/20

Hopefully, an experienced Nikon person will jump in here, because I have only done research for my father (Nikon D70) and he hasn't purchased any of the equipment yet, so I can't be absolutely sure of complete function.

ziggy53

spider-t

ziggy53 wrote:

...

Hopefully, an experienced Nikon person will jump in here, because I have only done research for my father (Nikon D70) and he hasn't purchased any of the equipment yet, so I can't be absolutely sure of complete function.

ziggy53

What Ziggy says is true, the Nikon flash's are awesome. They have the best TTL metering of any systems I've ever used. I have 3 SB800's and small stands and umbrellas that I use as my "pocket studio". But I really only use them when I have no outlets available or when I am forced to travel light. I find there is no comparison to the recycle times and flexibility of monolights (e.g. AB800) for studio work, indoor or outdoor.

If your goals are to be completely portable, as in, backpack carrying, shooting far from an outlet, then I recommend an SB800 and the brackets ziggy mentions above. Make sure at least one of the umbrellas are convertible to a shoot-through to simulate a softbox.

Get yourself a bunch of rechargeable NiMH AA batteries to keep the flash units fresh. I use a quantum turbo battery pack to keep the recycle time under one second, but that won't leave you much cash for the extra flash units.

Others may have a different experience than I do. We all have our own shooting style. I like to interact with my models and get some magic to happen then fire off a bunch of rounds like I'm shooting sports. When I shoot with the "pocket studio", I can't work that way. It's more of a setup-the-shot-then-take-it kind of experience.

Hope that helps!
Trish

kygarden

Thanks for the replies so far. I'll review everything you all are talking about. If I do this, I think I'd always be indoors with electric available so I'd opt for the electric powered studio lights which would end up being less expensive I think (SB800's run about $300 per flash I think).

I was just looking at what I would need to buy...but I didn't really have a good idea of what to start with. I'd likely buy things a little at a time since this isn't going to be paid stuff I do. I would like to get to the point where I can confident enough to do paid work...so I want lots of practice first.

Thanks!

pathfinder

Ziggy has covered the basics - a strobe of some sort - light stands and umbrellas.

One device I find quite useful is the Impact Diffuser/Reflector kit with stand

This has a 42 inch diffuser to flash through OR diffuse sunlight through, and gold, silver, white and black reflectors with a stand to hold it for you. With a reflector, you can start with just one flash, and it does not have to be a studio strobe, but can be just an electronic flash of some sort that can be triggered off the camera.

And the price for the Reflector Kit is doable as well! $114.50

SloYerRoll

While you have a great startup on hardware. You simply should spend more than 500 to get the setup I think you want.
The old addage "you get what you pay for" tends to lend true in photography.

On the bright side though!

• Having the ability for one off light flash can go very far. And your setup already has a PC to PC for remote flash trigger. At worst you need a PC to PC for around 5.00
• You have a D200 (Got to play w/ one for the entire weekend. What an awesome camera!)
• You essentially already have a portrait lens

While all these post are chocked full of good information. You may be happier w/ getting one nice piece at a time. Then you have time to master it and really make it a part of your aresonal.

Just some thoughts.

photographix

flash
hi lord rihard. ac strobes are nice but.if you go with an off brand thay may not be consistent. out in the world i shoot with 2 sunpak 433d's on stands with white & gold umbrellas and a pc on one and a slave on one . it works good and its lite. and it only costs about $225 on ebay.but its up to you. rick.