 Tara R. Swartzendruber |
lights I purchased a first studio light kit with 2 umbrellas (continuous, hot). It has given me quite a bit of trouble, and the store offered to return it for something else. They suggested a bit of an upgrade. I am not ready for strobes, but I do want something worthy of using to shoot in a home studio - and sell pictures to clients. The first studio lights never seemed quite bright enough and I used 4 pin up lights with photo-bulbs to illuminate my white background - to make it white. I don't know much about light options, and don't have a lot of money to invest now as I am just getting started. Any advice would be so welcome!! I like to shoot pictures on black and white backgrounds. I have a few photos in my gallery so you can see what I like to shoot. I hope to add more soon. Thanks in advance!
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BetterPhoto Member |
Tara, I've done studio photography on and off for years (inbetween my outdoor and travel photography). Personally, I would consider buying strobes and maybe one softbox and one umbrella- some come with modeling lights (to see the light) but they are not hot and will give you the power you need. Start off slow and was just one or two lights to play with. If you just work with one light, you'll get to know it better, then you can add a second, or third, or fourth! Good luck!
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Debby A. Tabb |
Tara, There has been a few of us who have tried to help you with this. Through Email and the threads, Why do you keep saying you are not ready for Stobes? When clearly you will get better results faster. and you can start cheaply if need be , and with even 1 light at a time , again if need be. what is stopping you from getting to a place that you really want to be in? if you let us know we may be able to better help you. Thank you, Debby
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BetterPhoto Member |
Thanks for the additional push Debby- I agree Tara- sure, it's hard to "see" strobes when you shoot and hot lights are great to give you a better visual, but with everything there's always a learning curve. If I had to guess, I'd say 90-95% of commercial photographers use strobes- maybe more. It's the way to go and as I mentioned and Debby added, starting off slow with one is a very good way to go.
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Debby A. Tabb |
Well, with modeling bulbs you till get to see your light placement. Reading through tose "Studio Photography Threads" you have to "see" the members who were so much happier once they switched and had more control and stoped "cooking thier Models" lol. have a great day Sean. and Tara as always wishing you teh very best in your ventures, Debby
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BetterPhoto Member |
And yes, modeling lights can help- as a travel shooter sometimes shooting in locations w/o AC power, I own power packs the run off rechargable batteries (& can be plugged in) so modeling lights often don't work, but when I use strobes indoors or locally, I try to use AC-powered ones since they never run out of power and the modeling lights are much stronger and more visible. Such is the case in this recent ad shoot for wine company.
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Debby A. Tabb |
Well Sean, as you can clearly see from my last post, I am running out the door to studio. I want to wish you a Happy BirthDay!! and of couse many many more. Just a note as I always suggest modling bulbs for those getting used to lighting, though as you are fimilar with your lighting as Sean, you can of course shoot with out them. Great Ad Sean. again have a great B Day, Debby
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Tara R. Swartzendruber |
Thanks everyone for your thoughts AND help! I guess I don't like strobes, mostly because they flash (which I HATE), and I like to take many pictures of the people - esp. when they don't know I'm taking the picture - more natural. I did purchase some COOL continuous lights from Alzo Digital that haven't arrived yet. I want to see how they work. If they don't produce the results I'm looking for, then I will be begging you guys for advice on what/which stobes to get! :)
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BetterPhoto Member |
Good luck Tara- it's all a personal choice- to each his (or her) own. To me, photography and art is all about that. I do agree with Debby that strobes are superior in still photography, and don't forget many amazing portraits (of people, celebrities, cultures) were taken with strobes- that is if you want complete control of the lighting (as opposed to a more photo journalistic style of shooting w/o strobe). Enjoy your new lights! One thing we can all agree on, none of these lights are cheap!
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Tara R. Swartzendruber |
May I ask what you mean by photojournalistic?
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BetterPhoto Member |
A care-free shoot-on-the-fly type of photography; the way most newspaper journalistic photographers shoot (maybe adding a fill-flash from here to there using there on-camera strobe). I basically mean shootin where you don't want people to know you are taking their picture (as you mentioned) without using additional lighting- great images have been captured this way too (such as the Afghan Girl so famous in National Geographic, photographed by Steve McCurry). You watch the natural or ambient light and work around it- whether using window light, backlighting, or any type that helps your image.
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Tara R. Swartzendruber |
Thanks for the clarification. I do plan to use some type of lights, I'm still working on my "style" I guess. I'm just trying to make it work without flash (strobe) lighting. We'll see!
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BetterPhoto Member |
I understand- and that's another great part of photography- the process. And again, I've seen big name photographers shooting with a $20 plastic camera creating wonderful artist shots. Sure a Leica is great, but nothing is set in stone. Sames goes for lighting. It's all about producing a great final image.
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Tara R. Swartzendruber |
OK.... anyone/everyone.... I've decided to go with strobes (you are all chuckling now, I know!) SO..... can someone PLEASE tell me what I need to look for or give some recommendations. And please use layman's terms. I've learned a lot, but some of the semantics of this business can get pretty confusing! Any help would be so appreciated!
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Debby A. Tabb |
Tara, I believe I sent you my Cell number and a offer to give you help. If your truly ready, offer still stands. Always wishing those who want more in thier craft, the very best, Debby
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Tara R. Swartzendruber |
Debby, Thank you very much. I appreciate the offer. I do not have your cell phone, would you mind sending it again? btdruber@mainstaycomm.net Tara
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Debby A. Tabb |
Good Morning Tara, I sent it to you, and please do not feel like a inconvience, I have done this for many others intrested in light and other studio equiptment. It's just easier by phone because most of th etime I am traveling to studios and can do this while driving. Ok. Have a great day, Debby
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Mark Feldstein |
Hey Sean. As a working photojournalist I have to tell you I strongly disagree with your definition of what we do. "Care free? Shoot on the fly"? Hardly. No. It's more along the lines of being able to wait for and capture a particular moment; having a strong sense of composition and timing; often being able to work with minimal equipment under the worst of circumstances and weather, with or without flash, with or without a story line and being able to storyboard an article, find it, capture it in a series accurately and do that without setting up or posing a shot as say advertising photographers do with art-directors. Just thought I'd help clarify that and btw, no offense taken.
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BetterPhoto Member |
Mark, I've been in the industry for a long time and have done it all- in no way am I blind to say that photojournalists have it care-free. The word or definition of was taken wrong. What I meant was an open way of shooting- when you shoot wit strobe, especially on set up shoots, it's very confining sometimes and you need to block out things very specifically sometimes. With photojournalist-style work, you can work care-free. meaning free of the confining lights- that doesn't mean easier in any way- but instead now you have a whole set of other difficult things to deal with to capture a great image- you have to FIND good lighting while capturing an amazing moment. If you review my work I think that's clear in many of my images- whether they are photojournalist or more commercial like, or both. And trust me, as I'm sure it's not easy working wtih all kinds of situations around the world (as I have), it's also not easy working with ADs either! The point is producing a good image anywhere is difficult- but if we're talking about lighting, it's a difficult ballgame- plain fact- and as you said, no offense towards others who don't use that much articial lighting.
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