 Keri E. Pinney |
Portable lighting for on-location photography I plan to launch a PT photography business focusing on children and families and need some guidance on portable lighting. All of my work will be on-location - either outside or in people's homes. I know some homes will not have adequate natural light, so I need to be prepared with a portable lighting set-up, but I have no clue what I need! I have zero experience with studio lighting (although I'm not afraid to learn if that's what's required) and I need to be able to move with children, so is an external flash appropriate? I do fear the "flash look", so what is required (technique and gear) to make flash lighting look natural? I've heard bouncing the flash is a good idea and also using a diffuser. I've read a lot on the forum about the Lightsphere and Whale Tail and others, but is that appropriate for this type of photography? If a lighting set-up is the only way to get nautral looking results, then what is recommended for a small, portable set-up? I need something that I can set-up and breakdown myself, as I will not have an assistant working with me - at least initially. Thanks!
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Oliver Anderson |
do a search for this subject. Look at Alien Bees and the ring flash.
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Keri E. Pinney |
Thanks Oliver. I actually did spend a lot of time reading through the forum before posting this, but I was still left wondering whether I could get away with an external flash or if I need a more complete lighting set-up (e.g. Alien Bee strobes, etc). It seems that a lot of wedding photographers use an external flash for mobile on-location work. Should I assume this will work for me since I'll be "chasing" children inside their homes? Just wondering what other portrait photographers recommend. Thanks!
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Mark Feldstein |
Howdy Keri. Studio lights aren't mobile. Portable yes, as in moving from your home to a location somewhere where they'll be stationary for the most part, like a livingroom. For chasing anyone, you need a flash unit of some kind that will work in conjunction with a bracket, your camera mounted on the bracket, and probably a light modifier like a diffuser or softbox. And since rapid recycling time is important for "chasing" you should probably have a power supply like a rechargable battery system capable of keeping up with your flash. Both your flash and power source should be compatible to ensure one won't overheat the other during rapid cycling. For example only, IMHO I recommend that you take a look at Quantum Turbo battery packs and flash heads in either 200 or 400 watt second categories. Ideally, you want an on camera flash that will have a modeling light of some kind. Quantum has such lights. Also, for news photography, covering sports and events, I've used a Vivitar 285HV for years off a Quantum Turbo and more recently, a Nikon SB800 even an older SB600 is quite good. Stroboframe makes excellent flash brackeets. BandHphotovideo sells all this gear. You're looking at spending about $1100-1250 bucks for this type of rig. Ring flashes are alright but I don't know what kind of guide numbers they have these days. And while you can get cheap lighting, if you use it professionally, I can pretty much guarantee that cheap lighting will break your heart and require replacement early on. Alternatively, if you exercise a bit of what we call "client control" and try to keep the kid in front of a background (there are a lot of ways to do that) or use portable studio lighting in say a softbox and simple environmental shots, indoors or out. Take it light. ;>)
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Mark Feldstein |
Two things I forgot to mention is that you can do a lot with a simple reflector panel or card working with window light. Depends on the situation and how cooperative the weather, the parents (and kid) are willing to be. For single portable flash unit photography with minimal light modifiers and without the greater expense of studio lighting, visit the numerous excellent tutorials at http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/
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Keri E. Pinney |
Mark, thank you so much for your thorough and helpful response - I really appreciate it. I decided to purchase the Nikon SB800, which comes with a bracket and a diffuser. I've heard a lot of clammer about the Lightsphere, so not sure if a different diffuser will be necessary, but I can always make that call later. Thanks again!
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Mark Feldstein |
No sweat Keri. I should point out that the diffuser the SB800 is supplied with isn't really all that great. It's actually a piece of plastic that fits on the front of the flash and flips up or down as you need it. It's ok, but the softboxes or larger light modifiers seem to work better for portraits. Before you score the SB800, you can go to the Nikon site and actually download the entire SB800 manual and additional materials. THAT's really cool since it helps you determine whether you really need that much flash (although it is quite a nice piece of equipment) or whether it might be a bit too much in terms of the special electronics bells and whistles it offers. [This from someone like me who still drives a stick shift, shoots film exclusively and shoots in the manual mode about 95% of the time. Hollar if there's anything else you think I can help you out with.
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