 Mandi M. Wiltse |
studio lighting I've been looking at alot of previously asked questions about studio lighting and which way to go. My question is has anyone heard of Jenson Best Imports? Is it a reliable source to get equipment such as lighting, etc from? I've been screwed ordering online in the past, and just want to make sure!! Thanks
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John H. Siskin |
Hi Mandi, I looked at their site, and checked out the strobe equipment. The stuff is lower power than I generally recommend and there is nothing to suggest that the quality is high. In fact the price tends to make me the think the quality is poor. Regardless the real problem is power. You want power so that you can manipulate the quality of the light. Check out this article: www.betterphoto.com/article.php?id=129. You would do better to purchase one Alien Bee or Calumet Travelite and learn how to use one strobe, rather than get this kit. But that is just my opinion. Thanks, John Siskin
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Hi Mandy, John teaches a 4 week class that I am currently taking and it has increased my knowledge and is helping me to put together a lighting system that will serve my future needs. I am responding to where you are buying your equipment from as I too am leary of buying on-line. I highly recomend B&H Photo, Adorama & Amazon. I buy most of my stuff from B&H as do many others at Better Photo. My .02
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Mandi M. Wiltse |
thanks for the input guys. I've been doing alot of research on this site. I found that site online.(jensen) It offered a 3 620 watt strobe/flash portrait studio. The matter of the fact is the room I'm going to be workng in is only a 13x22, so I don't think I would need that much lighting, but the price caught my eye. (maybe that much lighting though, basement room)I've heard that strobe lighting is the way to go. Maybe espically in a room that small. I wanted to get some of my photos placed on here, but my computer is old and can not accept the disk to download my photos. I just bought a canon dgi rebel. (still learning) So hopefully will get a new computer in the next week. I'm anxious to learn all there is. I have two senior pics to shoot this spring, so I'm super excited. I work at our local news paper in circulation, but I'm doing some free lance. Lots of opportunites there!!
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John H. Siskin |
Hi Mandi, There are a lot of ways to go with photography in general and light in particular. Take a look at the article it may help you understand why more power can be so helpful. Thanks, John Siskin
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Oliver Anderson |
I would rather have 1 Alien Bee 800 than 3 poor quality lights. You will be much happier in the end...and besides you'll be able to shoot on location with the Alien Bee not the Jensons....they're too low powered. The replacement bulbs for the Alien Bees are like $15 bucks my other strobes are $80 so you easily make up a the difference.
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Mark Feldstein |
A couple of additional points Mandi. First, if any deal, whether it's online or not, sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Cheap lighting is usually a bad investment unless you're buying used equipment. In that case, you can get some excellent deals but it helps to know what you're looking for and how to tell whether it's really useful to you. Most of the cheap lighting offered online these days is made in...you guessed it: China. So the second adage is that you get what you pay for. If you buy cheap lighting, chances are it'll cost you twice, i.e., when you buy it initially and when you replace it in the not too distant future with something that won't break down in the middle of a shoot or that can be repaired if it does break or require service. John and I have been in this biz a long time. We both usually recommend at least 750 watt seconds for the main light and daylight rated flash tubes. I prefer UV coated daylight tubes myself. Monolights can be an excellent value. Starting with one light and learning how to use it is always good. Then later, you can add a light or two of the same manufacturer to your set up and build as your experience grows. BTW the reason you should have more rather than less light available, regardless of the size of the room you're shooting in, is because a stronger light will allow you to work at smaller f-stops and give you greater depth of field. Also, you can do tremendous work using one portable flash like a Nikon SB800 or even an SB600 and a light modifier like a portable umbrella or even a small softbox. Nothing is more frustrating to a photographer than needing more horse power in your lighting and not having it. And remember, it's not the size of the room but rather the distance you need to work at from your subject. A more powerful strobe will help you keep comfortable distances from your subject while allowing you adequate depth of field for portraits. And the vendors Carlton recommended are all excellent firms to do business with. I use B&H for any additional equipment needs and all my supplies.
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Mandi M. Wiltse |
Thanks both John and Oliver- I'm going to have to look at the article and hopefuly it will help. It's just hard. I don't honestly like to post questions, but there's so many different types of lighting, I personally didn't know which way to go!! EX: don't get continuous lighting you'll fry your subject, get higher watts for more lighting. Strobe lighting, soft boxes, umbrellas, etc etc. It's very confusing and not to say the least frustrating with the money you put in to it. I just want my clients to be happy with their photos. Not happy clients means no returns or recommandations. What makes it so hard as I'm sure both of you know is, that you- yourself- are and always will be your TOUGHEST critic!! A friend brought this site to my attention and it's been very helpful. Thanks for helping the beginners!
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Mandi M. Wiltse |
Mark- Thanks for the response. You are always so indepth and clear with your thoughts. Oliver thanks I'll have to look into Alien Bee! You guys are great! Do you remember being in these shoes? And how far you've came! AMAZING. Your Photos are breath taking. I hope to achive that level someday in my own personal way.
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Mandi M. Wiltse |
Just have to poke fun, Oliver you'll have to get a new photo of Junior in his new racing gear j/k! Great photo, how awesome to be that close to two ultimate racers! Mark has anyone ever told you you look like hank williams jr in your posted photo? Is that really you?
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Oliver Anderson |
Mandi, I'm actually a Jeff Gordon & Jimmie Johnson fan...but Jr. is an incredibly nice guy. He actually came into our suite and signed autographs for our employees and top customers. I've moved 20 minutes from Infineon Raceway so I'll post some amazing photos from the pits and victory lane next race. Mandi, when I started I hung around top photographers and models and models (not a typo). I did everything they needed including booking talent, getting photo permits and setting up lights. Eventually they saw I was serious about this career and helped me book jobs. Even now I've teamed up with one of the top wedding/event photogs around in an effort to learn the wedding/event business.
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Mandi M. Wiltse |
I'll be looking forward to see those pictures. 17th Daytona (my hubby is a hugh Gordon Fan.) You're work like I said b4 is amazing! As soon as I get off work I will be checking into those Alien Bees!
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