Equipment for intimate photography

05/15/2005 06:27:02 PM · #1

I want to someday start a business of intimate photography. I want to eventually have a home studio, but right now my budget won't allow for an in-home studio so I would be going to the clients home. I don't know alot about flash equipment yet but I would like to be able to use the equipment I buy now later in my studio. If I buy lighting from somewhere like AlienBees will I be able to plug into a regular 110 outlet at my client's home? Do these things come with clear instructions or do they assume you know? Will someone give me a beginner's explanation(just pretend I'm in pre-school-I won't be offended) on the basics I need for lighting this type of photography from the camera to the electrical outlet. And any other advice will be greatly appreciated.

05/15/2005 06:28:37 PM · #2

thanks for asking this! I've wondered some of the same questions for a while... somebody please help us!!

:-)
Sara

(sorry I wasn't the help you were looking for!!)

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

05/15/2005 06:38:18 PM · #3

Well Saracat, I am glad I'm not the only one wondering around in the dark. Looks like lots of people are looking at my post- they may think I have equipment for sale-I should have made it clearer that it was a question. First post I have ever done. My boyfriend who knows about electricity just told me that 110 and 120 are the same , and the lighting I was looking at at AlienBees mentioned 120. I was worried it meant 220( like for dryers). Let's hope someone takes pity on us and shines some light on this subject.

mrorange002

Canon EOS-5D

05/15/2005 06:39:31 PM · #4

plug and play.

read this tutorial by Kevin Riggs: Intro to flash

05/15/2005 06:47:39 PM · #5

Ericlimon, you are wonderful. I skimmed thru your info and it answers alot already. I will take time to read it completely now. Thanks so much! Do you do any intimate photography? If so, what would be the minimum amount of equipment you would suggest to get me started? And do you have anymore advice?

05/15/2005 06:49:41 PM · #6

Yeah, like how do you ask somebody about posing for this sort of shot?

:)
Sara

05/15/2005 06:53:08 PM · #7

my guess is that this would NOT work.... or maybe it would....
"Hey baby, why don't you get nekkid and let me take photos of ya?"

05/15/2005 06:53:54 PM · #8

ROFLMAO
No, really?

DanSig

05/15/2005 06:57:44 PM · #9

hmm.. minimum equipment for intimate.... I'd say 9" would be a great starter :P

but my 20D with 580EX flash and the Gary Fong LSII is great for a starters kit, another slave and transmitter is a great addition.

when starting as a "intimate" photographer you might want to keep yor starters kit just light enough to grab it and run when the husband gets home ;)

trying to pack a couple of AlienBees and reflectors while the husband gets out of his car might be pushing it ,)

05/15/2005 07:01:40 PM · #10

I have a couple of friends that have asked me to take photos of them for their boyfriends.They were really pleased with the results. I figure it's an area where the competition in my area is limited. I intend to create a tasteful brochure and ask some of the places like the beauty shops or tanning salons if they will pass them out for me. I have done searches on the internet and got alot of good info from alot of websites. I guess this isn't really discussing equipment-maybe we should ask these questions under another thread?

05/15/2005 07:01:50 PM · #11

Originally posted by DanSig:

hmm.. minimum equipment for intimate.... I'd say 9" would be a great starter :P

*giggle*

Originally posted by DanSig:

when starting as a "intimate" photographer you might want to keep yor starters kit just light enough to grab it and run when the husband gets home ;)

trying to pack a couple of AlienBees and reflectors while the husband gets out of his car might be pushing it ,)

Who said we were shooting the wife??
(I keep trying to get the male nudes challenge accepted!)

:-D

Thanks for the note about keeping the kit light.
Sara

05/15/2005 07:06:48 PM · #12

the husband warning may still apply to a male nude...... just a thought though... what would the WIFE do if she came home early.... I think the suggestion for a light kit is still valid.

05/15/2005 07:07:11 PM · #13

Dansig, you are funny, I believe you are in the wrong forum, didn't we meet in another chat room? Just kidding. I will take one piece of your advice and that is to keep the equipment light for traveling. By the way, it could be the "wife" coming home. I intend to have a signed contract on hand to present to explain my presence in any case and keep everything strictly business!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/15/2005 07:09:00 PM · #14

Originally posted by pixieland:

I intend to have a signed contract on hand to present to explain my presence in any case and keep everything strictly business!

party pooper... ;)

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

05/15/2005 07:09:05 PM · #15

Depending on how ugly your subjects are, you might want to go with a REAAAAL dim light. /me ducks out of the way of the PC police.

05/15/2005 07:13:28 PM · #16

Seriously, could I get by with a softbox and possibly a hairlight for now? I am definitely not the party pooper type, just trying to behave myself here. You guys make it tough!!

05/15/2005 07:15:04 PM · #17

that's what we're here for. /me puts on serious face
as for lighting I would think that a softbox and a decent flash would probably do well for beginning, and heck, you might not even need the soft box...

05/15/2005 07:15:29 PM · #18

Originally posted by pixieland:

Seriously, could I get by with a softbox and possibly a hairlight for now? I am definitely not the party pooper type, just trying to behave myself here. You guys make it tough!!

Why behave? I gotta behave all the time around my kids.

Sara

PS - what's a hairlight?

05/15/2005 07:16:34 PM · #19

Originally posted by Jacko:

Depending on how ugly your subjects are, you might want to go with a REAAAAL dim light. /me ducks out of the way of the PC police.

Blacklight maybe?
;-D

Sara

05/15/2005 07:32:47 PM · #20

I thought the softbox or umbrella would give a more pleasing effect, isn't just flash too harsh? Another silly question, do the monolights come with whatever it takes to attach the umbrellas or is that some gadget you have to buy separately? Saracat, yeah, I meant backlight, I've heard it called both. I asked for more advice from anyone who might have done this type in the"questions on photography " area. going to go now and check it out.
By the way, I can hang with the best of them when it comes to a party but didn't want to be kicked out on my first time here. That usually comes later!

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX APO RF HSM for Canon

05/15/2005 07:41:57 PM · #21

Well, so far the only advice I got under the other topic is to be able to run fast. More answers to intimate photography under "hardware"- go figure!

gusto

Canon EOS-7D

05/15/2005 07:44:15 PM · #22

Get the AB's you can hook whatever you want to them, we shoot cheerleader competitions with 4 AB 1600s set at various power ranges and can light up an entire Convention center with perfection. get the 1600s and you can reduce the power to suite your needs. You can attach soft boxes, umbrellas, and bounce off of foam coar board or whatever you like, did I mention the AB's are built like a rock and come in all sort of funky colors...