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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Need help from the Portrait People.
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07/28/2004 12:56:04 AM · #1
OK. This is a newbie question. I want to start getting into portrait photography. Home portrait studio is what I had in mine. I'm used to taking candids and outdoor stuff. Here are samples //www.pbase.com/ryandevera
I want to get into a more controlled enviornment. All I have is a Canon g5 and a Speedlite 420 ex. I heard that people are using work lights for their lighting. What are other options and equipment that I can start out with that is inexpensive. Post pics of portraits and/or equipment if you can.

Ryan
07/29/2004 09:53:26 AM · #2
thanks you
07/29/2004 10:04:14 AM · #3
Your gallery is great! I love your night shots. They are very dramatic.
(I don't think you could use my help...it's the other way around.:))
07/29/2004 12:00:11 PM · #4
Nice shots in your gallery. I went the worklight route because I didn't have the cash for some nicer lighting and because I'd not had any success with slave strobes. Most of the problem for me with the strobes is the slave part... my camera takes the picture before the strobe was firing. Makes me wonder how my flash shows up in anything.

A couple months ago I bought some strobes and a reflector and some backgrounds. I'm very happy with them and they cost a pretty good chunk of change, but didn't totally break me.

With the worklights, I was using umbrellas with them to soften the light up. Problem was that I was not getting enough light. I was shooting at minimum F# and fairly long shutters... sometimes 1/30sec or so which is hardly ideal. That's not to say I didn't get some really nice shots with them, but they are hot, hard to work around, and you are really limited on how much area you can cover with them. I was limited to about 2 people.

With the strobes, I don't think 20 people is out of the question, if I had enough background to jam them all in (which I probably do). I have quite a bit of control with them as they came with a snoot and honeycomb and umbrellas, plus I bought a softbox. I would say that if you get strobes, get a softbox. I bought way more watt-sec's than I actually needed. I think for 99% of the photos I will be taking, 150-200 would have been plenty. Instead, I have twin 440's and a 120. I'm still learning how to use them. I need to get some time and a patient model to help me. My kids have very very little patience to sit around and wait for me to move stuff around.

I did some really nice pictures with the worklights, but I was really limited with what I could do. I feel like I have a lot more freedom with the strobes. If you are going to invest in strobes, get at least 2, but 3 is better. a litedisc or reflector disc can take the place of one too. I think the soft box is a must.

I shot these pictures Sunday with my strobes.



The rest of the pictures from Sunday are at here.

Best of luck to you. I'd vote for the strobes, if you have the cash.

Bob
07/29/2004 06:29:14 PM · #5
inspzil,thanks for the reply. I love the bubble props you use for the baby. YOur portraits are great. Just another question. How do you hook up studio lighting with a canon G5. Are you familiar w/ that camera. And do you have any pics w/ work lights you had?

Originally posted by inspzil:

Nice shots in your gallery. I went the worklight route because I didn't have the cash for some nicer lighting and because I'd not had any success with slave strobes. Most of the problem for me with the strobes is the slave part... my camera takes the picture before the strobe was firing. Makes me wonder how my flash shows up in anything.

A couple months ago I bought some strobes and a reflector and some backgrounds. I'm very happy with them and they cost a pretty good chunk of change, but didn't totally break me.

With the worklights, I was using umbrellas with them to soften the light up. Problem was that I was not getting enough light. I was shooting at minimum F# and fairly long shutters... sometimes 1/30sec or so which is hardly ideal. That's not to say I didn't get some really nice shots with them, but they are hot, hard to work around, and you are really limited on how much area you can cover with them. I was limited to about 2 people.

With the strobes, I don't think 20 people is out of the question, if I had enough background to jam them all in (which I probably do). I have quite a bit of control with them as they came with a snoot and honeycomb and umbrellas, plus I bought a softbox. I would say that if you get strobes, get a softbox. I bought way more watt-sec's than I actually needed. I think for 99% of the photos I will be taking, 150-200 would have been plenty. Instead, I have twin 440's and a 120. I'm still learning how to use them. I need to get some time and a patient model to help me. My kids have very very little patience to sit around and wait for me to move stuff around.

I did some really nice pictures with the worklights, but I was really limited with what I could do. I feel like I have a lot more freedom with the strobes. If you are going to invest in strobes, get at least 2, but 3 is better. a litedisc or reflector disc can take the place of one too. I think the soft box is a must.

I shot these pictures Sunday with my strobes.



The rest of the pictures from Sunday are at here.

Best of luck to you. I'd vote for the strobes, if you have the cash.

Bob
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