A simple, basic (affordable) portrait setup

Pupator

I mentioned in this thread that since our wedding photos sucked, Daphne and I had decided to get her all dressed up in the wedding gear and get some formal portraits of her done to give as gifts to our parents this Christmas. When she and I first talked about this she suggested that I just do the pictures, but I ignored her and started looking around.

Fast forward a few weeks. I can't really find anyone in Charlotte who will do what I want for a reasonable amount of money. So I started thinking, if it's that expensive to get this done, maybe I could just do them myself.

I've got all the camera gear I need - but I don't have any sort of studio setup. I've look online at AlienBee's packages and they seem pretty reasonable for a basic package (one or two AB400s, stand, umbrella). The only other thing I think I would need would be a suitable backdrop and a stand for it.

If I can spend about the same as hiring a pro to do this and end up with cool equipment that I can get more use out of in the future - I could get excited about doing this...but I'd have to pull the trigger quickly (pardon the pun).

All that to say - what kind of setup (lights, umbrellas, backdrops) would you all recommend for this and from where? What kind of money do you think I'm looking at to do this? Anything I should be concerned about?

aktpics

Pupator wrote:

I mentioned in this thread that since our wedding photos sucked, Daphne and I had decided to get her all dressed up in the wedding gear and get some formal portraits of her done to give as gifts to our parents this Christmas. When she and I first talked about this she suggested that I just do the pictures, but I ignored her and started looking around.

Fast forward a few weeks. I can't really find anyone in Charlotte who will do what I want for a reasonable amount of money. So I started thinking, if it's that expensive to get this done, maybe I could just do them myself.

I've got all the camera gear I need - but I don't have any sort of studio setup. I've look online at AlienBee's packages and they seem pretty reasonable for a basic package (one or two AB400s, stand, umbrella). The only other thing I think I would need would be a suitable backdrop and a stand for it.

If I can spend about the same as hiring a pro to do this and end up with cool equipment that I can get more use out of in the future - I could get excited about doing this...but I'd have to pull the trigger quickly (pardon the pun).

All that to say - what kind of setup (lights, umbrellas, backdrops) would you all recommend for this and from where? What kind of money do you think I'm looking at to do this? Anything I should be concerned about?

A couple of years ago I bought some knock-offs (strobe,umbrellas,stands,softboxes) from ebay for a couple of hundred bucks. My thinking at the time was that I would get a chance to play around with the stuff without breaking the budget. I guess you could say that I got what I paid for, but I am still glad I did it. I still use most of what I bought today, even though I treat myself to some higher end stuff when i have the $$. Currently I own 2 Hensels a 500 and a 1000 and I am very happy with them (they flash when they are supposed to and usually don't when they aren't )
I think the brand of the stuff on eBay that was fairly decent was dynaphos ?sp. Good luck with your choices.

Pupator

Thanks aktpics!

I've got some more specific questions for the group now:

1) For portraits done of one person in front of a backdrop, is one AB400 enough? 2 AB400s, 1 AB800....? Or would an external flash like one of these be enough?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/459677-REG/Panasonic_DMWFL500_DMW_FL500_Shoe_Mount_Flash.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/459678-REG/Panasonic_DMWFL360_DMW_FL360_Shoe_Mount_Flash.html

2) What color backdrop is appropriate for a bride? (Here's the dress and bride: http://paulsclicks.smugmug.com/photos/120570809-M.jpg )

3) The real purpose of these shots is to highlight the dress, as much as the bride. With that in mind, any special techniques or filters I should be using?

I've been looking at the Alien Bee's site, but also at B&H's used equipment section (where I really have no clue what to look at!)

Pupator

This guy suggests worklights as a cheap, and effective, alternative to professional lighting.

http://ifakedit.com/log/guides/small-budget-photograhpy/#lighting

ziggy53

A studio portrait, as opposed to an environmental portrait, can consist of a number of different lighting and subject setups and orientations. Most of the light setups can be accomplished with 3-4 lights, not all of which have to be studio strobes.

In a classic loop lighting setup you have 4 lights.

Key
Fill
Hair (or rim)
Background

In this case the hair and background lights don't have to be studio strobes since they don't need modeling lights necessarily. You do need pretty good control over direction and output, which can be accomplished by a number of means.

There is a pretty good primer on studio lighting that shows basic lighting diagrams here:

http://www.geocities.com/glowluzid/portrait/portrait.html

Once you know the lighting setup names, feel free to Google for many more references on the 'Net.

As for the studio lights themselves, many folks do like Alien Bees. They are a very predictable light and fairly well made. Repeatability is said to be very good, but I haven't tested any myself.

A couple of us here on DGrin use FlashPoint monolights and I have 2 FlashPoint II 1820 (900 WS) monolights that I use for key and fill, and then augment those with any number of smaller electronic flash on optical slaves (in a controlled studio environment). I have a few gripes with the digital control of the modeling lights, sometimes they don't come on and I have to "reset" the light by unplugging and plugging back in. It's not a deal breaker and in all other respects the lights work well.

I did take the time to measure the light output control to understand how it varies by its position. I recommend you do the same no matter which brand you purchase. It just takes a few minutes with a light meter.

I have 3 softboxes (one is used with a portable strobe when I need it), 5 convertible umbrellas, 3 air-dampened stands and then all sorts of other modifiers like barn doors, which I purchased, and scrims, which I made. Flags and reflectors are often fabricated by the job, sometimes an automotive sun shade.

I also have 3 "umbrella mount brackets" like these:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...a_Bracket.html

... that I use with shoe flashes and an umbrella, all mounted on either a light stand "or" tripod for an extremely portable system.

It's very similar to the system Shay describes here:

http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1166287

ziggy53

Pupator wrote:

This guy suggests worklights as a cheap, and effective, alternative to professional lighting.

http://ifakedit.com/log/guides/small-budget-photograhpy/#lighting

Also this:

http://www.diyphotography.net/homestudio/blz/soft-light-panel-frame

claudermilk

AlienBees are probably the most popular budget lighting setups. As ziggy said, 4 lights are the common portrait setup.

One thing to consider, while you can go out and get these lights and have the gear to pull off the shot, there's a vast difference between having the equipment and being able to use it effectively. I've been playing with a 2-light rig on loan to me for a while now and still feel totally incompetent with studio lighting. If it were me, I'd pay the pro & quietly hang out in the back of the studio taking mental notes. Not to totally discourage you, but it is harder than it looks.

Oh, and I've tried the worklight route. Those worklights are now being used as the manufacturer intended. It worked, but was such a PITA, I'd rather spend the money on proper gear meant for the job.

Pupator

Very, very helpful Ziggy. Thanks!

Pupator

claudermilk wrote:

AlienBees are probably the most popular budget lighting setups. As ziggy said, 4 lights are the common portrait setup.

One thing to consider, while you can go out and get these lights and have the gear to pull off the shot, there's a vast difference between having the equipment and being able to use it effectively. I've been playing with a 2-light rig on loan to me for a while now and still feel totally incompetent with studio lighting. If it were me, I'd pay the pro & quietly hang out in the back of the studio taking mental notes. Not to totally discourage you, but it is harder than it looks.

Not discouraging at all, no worries! I understand what you're saying. I shot a wedding one time because I had some friends who were on a tight budget, it got me some free equipment, and they had low expectations. In the end everyone was happy and I learned that I have no interest in shooting weddings. I was blessed to have a no-pressure opportunity to learn that for myself.

I feel a bit the same about this. I can pay a portrait photog $500-$600 for an hour of studio time and the hi-res digitals, or I can spend about the same - get some cool equipment and try it myself. I'm shooting my own wife, for pictures with no deadline and that no one is expecting anyway. If it doesn't work for Christmas I'll have months to play and figure it out and they'll be done when they're done. I'm wondering if this low-pressure opportunity might end up being a good chance to see if this is something I want to do more of. Not professionally, of course (I've got enough going on), but both sides of the family would love to have someone who could do nice family portraits - and I'm sure the church would like to have a volunteer to do the directory, etc....

george-1

Midwest Photo Exchange has kits from Strobist, http://www.mpex.com/page.htm?PG=Strobist%20Kits

I have the Starving Student Wireless Kit. It works well, and is less expensive than other options.

No affiliation, just a satisfied customer.

--
George

Pupator

ziggy53 wrote:

Also this:

http://www.diyphotography.net/homestudio/blz/soft-light-panel-frame

Neato. I'd definately be making my own backdrop stand out of PVC, but umbrellas seem so reasonably priced I think I'd just buy those to save time.

claudermilk

Ah, well then as a good excuse to indulge in a bout of G.A.S. and learn something, knock yourself out! Take a look at a couple of books as well--one of the best I've read is the "Master Lighitng Guide for Portrait Photography" by Christopher Grey. Another good one I have is "Portrait Photography: Secrets of Posing & Lighting"--amazon has a deal for those two bought together.

I have a JTL backdrop stand setup that was under $150. Worth a look.

zacker

you mean there are no members here who are close enough to your location to help you out? you could pull off great shots with just one bee maybe... (only cause its a full body shot..) two would rock.. try googling diy photography and see what you can find for back grounds and stands... i have seen them before.. if you had a bg and lighting, youd be able to do it yourself but an assistant to actually press the shutter button and be sure the focus is on the eyes would be great!