Studio Lighting

I have been asked by some friends to take some portrait photo's, I would also like to take some of my family and have been thinking of buying a basic lighting kit. I was wondering if anyone could provide some advice on portrait photography and using lighting kits.

many thanks.

Mel

I have no idea.... but there is a short article here that can give you some pointers. You have to register to read the articles but it's free, so fill your boots!

Hi and welcome,

Try here, link

Low cost and portable.

Hi there,

Modest Opinion
to me it doesn't seem that you are in a position of spending much money on expensive (or cheap - [read poor quality]) studio lighting, and although this is your first post, it doesnt seem that you have much photographic experience to take the challenge of learning studio lighting so suddenly.
Studio lighting is INCREDIBLY hard to learn, and most photographers will struggle to get a decent result after months and months of experimenting.

I would strongly suggest you help us learn what your equipment you have available, and from then we can give some suggestions.

For a basic shoot you will only need window light.

A flashgun is a steep learning curve, and will give you rather pleasent results once you've learnt how to use it.

A reflector is a valuable yet inexpensive tool, and you can use it outdoors to replicate the effect of 2-3 professional lights - if used correctly.

I cannot imagine advising you on 'read this article on lighting. I have been working professionally for 2 years, and only recently I started to consider studio lights. I've studied for at least 4 months before putting teh studio together, and I have been experimenting for 2 months, only now starting to achieve interesting results.
Learning how to work with light requires a lot of reading, studying, practicing, and experimenting.

If you have any more specific queries, please let me know, and I'll be happy to give my opinion.

Kind Regards,

Nathan

even the best and most expensive studio equipment is designed to do only one thing... mimic the light you can find outside the studio, in the studio.

So you can learn portrait photography by using the lighting you'll find outside the studio.

Reflectors, window light, natural light etc...

Get your posing and metering perfected....

Then decide what type of lighting you need or can afford, for inside the studio.....

start with a decent 50mm lens, kodak greycard, then try cheap clamp styles lamps with hot or cf lights, then try flash and umbrellas....then studio flash units or hot lights and lightmeters.. you can practice with cheap stuff, then rent the expensive stuff to keep costs under control.

As Don & Nathan suggest, first experiment with window light and reflectors. You don't even have buy anything Here are some suggestions:
* Use sheets of packing polystyrene for reflectors (if your teeth can stand the squeaking noise! :lol
* A sheet of aluminium kitchen foil can be used as a silver reflector
* Use old white sheets for diffusers
* Use old dark sheets for backdrops

It's all about controlling the light It's best to learn this without spending too much money... when you've sussed out your skill levels and the possible returns, then (perhaps) invest in pro-lighting.

You can also experiment with cheap lighting - halogens etc. Or cheap, old flashguns.

Oh, yes, and practise, practise, practise.... and more practise

HTH!
Matt

also think of your tripod as a lighting accessory....
slow shutter speeds work almost as well as powerful strobes...
people used to sit for thirty sec exposures way back when...of course you might try going as slow as 1/8 of a sec but with many subjects, they can sit still for a portrait (kids being the usual exception)

Wow thank you all so much for your help and. I was reluctant to go and spend money on lighting kits etc without first honeing my portrait skills.

I guess firstly my photographic level would be considered beginner/novice. I have not formally trained/learned photography other than high school and community colleges (all 35mm SLR) - Other than that it has all been learning by trial and error.

My equipment consists of a Pentax K100D Super, 18-55mm DA lens, 55 - 200mm Sigma and Sigma 70 - 300mm lens. Cokin P Series ND2, ND4, ND8 and Gradual ND8 Filters (as well as standard UV and polarising filters) Tripod, remote.

I have only really become ore serious about photography since December last year and for most part have done mainly landscape/night photography and portraits have been candid family shots that just happened to turn out quite well.

There is a photo in my portfolio of my husband and daughter. I'd be most gratefu for some critique on it.

Cheers from Australia.

Mel

get yourself a 50mm 1.4 before anything else, and yes the photo of your family is very good.