Tips and help needed for taking studio portriats

Hi all i have the K10D and am about to get a studio lighting kit with defusers. two lights, back drop, umberella etc.. etc..

Can anybody offer good tips for shooting Portraits.

Do i still need to use a flash ??

ie apeture, exposure etc.. etc..

Any advise welcome

PETE

You almost certainly need flash. But if you are at all serious, get proper studio flash, not flashguns. These are good value:

http://www.digitaldepot.co.uk/acatalog/Elinchrom.html

Studio flash is always manual. Buy an infra-red/radio trigger rather than trip over cables.

Most flash units provide enough power for you to shoot at f11.

Start looking out for suitable models.

G

i think i might hve been a little understood.

What i am asking is do i need a flash for portraits even with studio lighting ??


Thanks Pete

Hi Pete,

what you need is light.. whether that's studio lights, flash or a combination of the two doesn't really matter. As long as you can control the strength and direction of it to your satisfaction, then that's it done.

Cheers

Liam

thanks Liam

Best to start with one light and use reflectors... when you've sussed that out then progress to more lights

Matt

Studio lighting usually IS flash, though in very old studios you might find some pre-war tungsten floods.

If you've noticed people using flashguns on their cameras, or the pop-up flash, whilst using studio flash, it is to trigger the latter, not to provide lighting.

G

This morning I took delivery of new studio lighting kit, I usually use continous light but one job coming up requires strobes so i didn't want to spend a lot of money. For £80 I got 2 x 180ws (GN4 heads with IR and wired sync as well as slave sensors, they've variable power output and 35w modelling lamps; 2x 50x70cm softboxes, 2 gold brollies, 2 air damped stands, sync and mains cables; 16 channel wireless Tx and Rx. The Postman didn't even ask for any money and the delivery time from Hong Kong to UK was just 13 days. Build quality of soft boxes, stands and brollies is extremely good, the flash heads seem very good but obviously not like Elinchrome etc but neither is the price.

I was a little apprehensive buying from somewhere so far away but the only downside is that all the instructions are in Chinese apart from, on one box, "The Perfect Choice for the Professional Camerist" - so clearly *ist users are being catered for, the mains plugs are Australian and shipping was £58.

This guy's shop is really worth checking out, I've ordered some reflectors!
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Mr-Studio-One

Ken

thanks ive had a look at his site but am very apprehensive of buying from china

Pete

Well, first, Hong Kong isn't really China in the full sense of the word. They still have their own (British-based) laws, and a degree of self-government. And, of course, a history of trading with Britain.

http://www.doj.gov.hk/eng/legal/index.htm

And second, the Chinese on the whole are reasonably honest.

And third, you've just had evidence that this particular site is above board, and deliver what they say they will.

And fourth, if you never take the odd risk, you'll never experience even a smidgen of all the riches that life has to offer.

G

point taken,

What can you suggest to buy im looking for possible two lights one with a white or silver brolly and one with a soft box i think this is what they are called also a back drop stand.

Is there complete kit for this or is it wise to buy seperate

Pete

Mr Studio One does all sorts of packages, two lamps are plenty take a look at this web site and see just how Michael Grecco lights.

http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0701/contents.html

Ok i think im going to buy off him

Im very new to portait photography so dont really know what to buy.

If i explain what i am trying to do then perhaps you would be so kind as to recommend what i need to get.

Ok i have a living which the outside light can be blocked out with blinds. Its north facing so it never gets direct sunlight so the room can be quite dark.

I want to take simple portaits using nice soft lighting without flash of course.

Im sure i need a nice back drop and soft box but what lights im not sure

Can you offer any advice

Thanks Pete

As Matt rightly says start off with one light and a reflector. A strobe with a white brolly and a softbox will give you everything from a hard to very soft key light, then use a reflector (white/silver) for fill. Lastolite do a range of collapsible backgrounds but they can have a sort of 'school photo' look to them unless you use them carefully, I have some pics taken with exactly this set up which I'll post when I can lay my hands on them.

Ken

There are a few good guides for studio flash which are worth reading:

http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/buyersguide/fullbuyersguide.cfm?buyersguidei...
especially part 3 & 4:
http://www.ephotozine.com/techniques/viewtechnique.cfm?recid=232
http://www.ephotozine.com/techniques/viewtechnique.cfm?recid=247

Additionally, I'm sure The Flash Centre have some stuff buried on their site - and you can call them for advice (especially if you're going to buy from them):
www.theflashcentre.co.uk

HTH!
Matt