Starting a Studio....please HELP

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

07/28/2006 03:30:57 PM · #1

I'm about to start a new studio, I have a good number of customers already and i have always done outdoor photos but with the growing number of people wanted indoor photos it's getting to where you need a studio so i've found the building and got it locked down to start the first of the year. Now is where all of the wonderful people here come in.....i need to know where you got your lighting set up and how to set it up....i need to know where you get your backdrops, props, and anything else that could help... i would love it if one day this is all i had to do is photography but for now this is going to be weekends and after work.... which is what i've been doing to about 2 years now and it's been fine but with some of your help i hope to take it to the next level.

Thanks
Shane

Jaded_Housewife

Canon EOS-5D

07/28/2006 03:44:07 PM · #2

We're setting up an in home studio right now and we bought Alien bee lights because we heard such great things about them on here. I really like them. we got 4 b800's, a softbox, and two umbrellas. a reflective one and a white(shoot thru)one. I think thats about all you'd need but don't take my word for it. I just this morning bought some backdrops from Amvona.com If you don't get many answers on this thread by the time I receive them I'll let you know what I think of them. Good luck!

Message edited by author 2006-07-28 15:44:34.

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200 f/2.8L

07/28/2006 03:56:29 PM · #3

if you want great lighting spring for elinchrom. If you want entry, bang for the buck lighting there's alien bees and white lightening.

07/28/2006 04:54:32 PM · #4

Originally posted by jaded_youth:

Are you using flash/strobe and where did you buy them from

because i was wanting to use flash

Message edited by author 2006-07-28 16:55:17.

ignite

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

07/28/2006 05:27:23 PM · #5

Alienbees are strobes. You can get them from their website.

You can search the forums about ideas for making backdrops and other cool sudio stuff. Also check out the forums at Fred Miranda for studio ideas.

Jaded_Housewife

Canon EOS-5D

07/28/2006 05:29:40 PM · #6

Originally posted by CHIEFVOLS:

Originally posted by jaded_youth:
We're setting up an in home studio right now and we bought Alien bee lights because we heard such great things about them on here. I really like them. we got 4 b800's, a softbox, and two umbrellas. a reflective one and a white(shoot thru)one. I think thats about all you'd need but don't take my word for it. I just this morning bought some backdrops from Amvona.com If you don't get many answers on this thread by the time I receive them I'll let you know what I think of them. Good luck!

Are you using flash/strobe and where did you buy them from

because i was wanting to use flash

yeah, they can flash or not. and have a large range of brightness. we use a flash sync cord. got them from alienbees.com

Message edited by author 2006-07-28 17:30:25.

dgpilot

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/29/2006 02:29:24 PM · #7

For the price you can't beat bees baby.

ignite

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

07/29/2006 02:47:43 PM · #8

Originally posted by dgpilot:

For the price you can't beat bees baby.

True. Also Bees are great for starting out. Later you can move up to more professional and expensive systems as you grow and make money.

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

07/29/2006 03:04:39 PM · #9

is there anywhere else to get Alienbees or is there website the only place

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/29/2006 03:10:28 PM · #10

From their web site:

"AlienBees Flash Units and Accessories are only sold factory-direct. By selling our products directly, we save you money by cutting out the middlemen. We prefer direct sales, as this gives you a direct line of communication with the Customer Service Bees and Technical Support Bees, so that we can better understand your needs and concerns. To order AlienBees products, you can order by phone during our business hours, or order online 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

R.

Prof_Fate

07/31/2006 06:23:56 PM · #11

Lighting options:
Interfit Stellar/Alien Bees/White Lightening/Norman/Hensel/Elinchrom and a few others, but those are the most popular (from lest to most expensive I think).

Interfit Stellar 300Ws are as powerful as AB800s but cost less than the AB400 units.

If you are getting serious, then you'll need 4 to 6 lights, C-stands (century -it's a type not a brand) for each light (lots better than the tripod stands for a studio) and a reflector or two. Westcott makes a nice reflector setup for about $90 (stand and all). Umbrellas and softboxes of several kinds, gels, barndoors, grids and misc things like booms and sanbags, flags, background stand or 2, etc.

backdrop: paper or muslin? scenic, regular, or?? What about props?
if you have a dedicated space then you can hang the BGs on pipe and that's cheaper than stands and can't fall over. for muslin i buy from //www.coleandcompany.com/ - top quality at low prices. My last 2 painted muslins were $130 and $99 - both 10x20 feet.
I have not bought any paper yet...and i want a scenic muslin next.

You will want radio triggering - pocketwizard has the new Plus 2 out and I got mine today - great units. get 2 (or one more for backup maybe) And a light meter - the sekonic L358 is nice and you can get teh PW trigger module for it. Norman lights can be had with the PW trigger in it - nice set up but not cheap.

get the master guide to lighting by grey - it explains and diagrams all the different kinds of lighting setups you can imagine and then some. Handy reference tome and under $20 from amazon.

Prof_Fate

07/31/2006 06:25:53 PM · #12

Originally posted by dgpilot:

For the price you can't beat bees baby.

yes, you can.
Paterson Interfit Stellar.

2 light 300ws kit for $498. Same output as the AB800s and will cost you less than teh AB400s, and the accessories are less expensive too. Same features, excellent quality.