grow light equipment
Softbox lighting vs. umbrella lighting???
I am fairly new to photography but have had several people look at my work and ask me to take their senior pics, maternity pics, etc. I will gladly take pics for people if we are outside and they turn out great. However, when it comes to indoor/studio pics I turn them down because I don't feel like I have the appropriate lighting/equipment necessary.
I would like to purchase some studio equipment but need HELP! I don't need to know the cheapest stuff out there, as this equipment will hopefully be used for many years and help my hobby-to-business grow! I need to know WHAT to buy as far as lighting, and anything else that you would recommend, (I don't even know the difference!). If I'm going to do this, I want to do it "right" straight from the beginning! Brands, websites, etc would be a big a big plus in heading me in the right direction! Thank you!!!
I'm going to recommend using Monolight Strobes.
Buy a couple of PocketWizards. PocketWizard is pretty much the defacto standard for wirelessly triggering strobes. Get the Plus II if you are just working in your own studio and want simple firing. Get the MultiMAX if you'll also work outside your studio or want to do some more advanced lighting.
Other accessories you'll want to get are a flash meter, some reflectors (you probably should have these if you have been doing outside pictures), some stools, some table tops, and muslin backgrounds.
Now for flash brands. This is almost like asking Nikon vs Canon vs Olympus vs Sony. Several people have there preference and recommend that. I know some people that use Photogenic, Photoflex, Norman, and Interfit. Myself, I use Paul C Buff White Lightning units. Paul C Buff also makes the Alien Bees. Alien Bees are a good value for those wanting to get started in studio equipment. I would recommend you getting the "Busy Bee" package with 1 1600 Watt light, 2 800 Watt lights, and 1 400 Watt light. These will last you for years to come.
BTW: The main difference between the White Lightnings (WL) and Alien Bees (AB) is that WL can be adjusted over a 7 stop range instead of the 5 stop of the AB. The WL has seperate sliders to adjust the strength of the strobe and the strength of the modeling light while the AB only has 1 slider for both. WL have a metal casing while AB has a plastic casing.