What Do I Need??

[dizneegirls]

Hi, I am looking to get a few things to try some family photos at home. What kind of equipment would I need to get started? I have a regular digital camera-Canon S5 IS. I have been looking at some sets on ebay that basically have the umbrellas, lights and a few things like that-what else should I get? I appreciate any advice :)

[dizneegirls]

Does someone have time to give me a few tips on this? I would really appreciate it......

[My2Girls66]

I bought a basic Smith Vector kit from Ritz for just under $300. It came with 3lights. (2 lights with white umbrellas and a hair light). I also bought an inexpensive background stand from an online retailer($70) and a flat white sheet and a black one for backgrounds. I honestly haven't used it much, my kids have messed with it much more. Especially my 18y.o. She has used it for some video projects for school and some projects she needed photos for for her art classes. Right now a friend of my daughter's is borrowing it.

[My2Girls66]

At Ritz, they also recommended getting a background light and eventually a softbox but that basic kit is good for getting started.

http://www.smithvictor.com/products/detail.asp?prodid=435&id=14&pid=1&s1=Lighting+Kits&s2=Photoflood+Kits&nm=KT900+KIT
http://www.adorama.com/PABSS9598.html
The stand isn't the sturdiest and you can't adjust the length of the top bar but it does the job. We haven't hurt it yet.

[handicap18]

When I do portraits of the kids I put my camera on a tripod and use the remote shutter to take the picture. For lighting I use my hotshoe flash with the diffuser attached. I also add extra lighting on each side of the place where the kids will be sitting. 1 pointing towards the background and 1 pointing towards where their faces would be. For this lighting I just went to Home Depot and bought the $10 housings that have the clamp attached to them I then clamp them to a tripod. I usually use 60 or 75 watt soft white light bulbs. I used 40 watt the first time with this setup, but it wasn't bright enough. So usually 75 watt towards the background to help with the shadow and 60 watt towards their face to fill in shadows from the flash on the camera.

The biggest problem I run into is not having enough room between the kids and the backwall. I still get a bit of shadow, but the images overall come out great. I also use my sharpest lens which is my 50mm f/1.8. I typically use it at f/5.6, 1/60th shutter and ISO 400. At f/5.6 I get enough blur of the background to keep the kids the focal point of the photo, but its not so out of focus that you can't see what it is.

I also take the photo a bit on the wider side. This way I still have room to crop down to 5x7, 8x10 or 11x14. These demensions don't have the same ratio as 4x6 with is what my camera produces (ratio wise).

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e234/handicap18/Mary%20Elizabeth/DSC_90558x10.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e234/handicap18/Special%20Events/Christmas%202006/DSC_4212b.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e234/handicap18/Matthew/DSC_5369_8x10.jpg

[DueyDooDah]

If you have no intention of going pro, then the absolute basic kit is:

2 standard 250W photoflood bulbs (main and fill)
2 flood reflectors (to focus the light, also great for backlighting)
1 spot reflector (to give more definition than the flood)
3 clamp-on units (holds lights to stands)
3 light stands (holds lihts up)
extension cords (to get power)
1 16x20-inch sheet of white cardboard (reflector for soft fills)
Plenty of thumbtacks or pushpins (holds up bacgrounds and other things)
Masking tape (same)
Enough electricity (ensure you don't overload circuits)

Some people recommend you start with a single light to learn the effects of the different placements can make.

Note that the setup above will be hot. The "models" will not like you after a few minutes under this setup. Going with more expensive strobe setups (such as Alien Bees, etc.) make it more comfortable for your helpers.

One big advantage: you can see what the lighting looks like as you set it up. Strobes will require you to shoot, look, reset lights.

Another advantage, you will spend very little for this setup.

[dr_zero]

Check out some of these links
The tinker tubes book shows you how to make all kinds of neat stuff from light holders to backdrops etc

http://www.software-cinema.com/page/tinkertubes

And speaking of backdrops

http://photography.about.com/od/doityourself/ht/OMBackground.htm

http://www.diyphotography.net/homestudio/chaep-diy-muslin-photography-background


I made one from some muslin and dyed it with tea to give it a light brown/tan look way back when :)

[pointandshoot]

Hi,

I use studio lights occasionally. If you have a camera shop close by that rents, I suggest trying that first. For about $60 I can get a backdrop, and a couple of flash units for a weekend. It is an inexpensive way to learn before you jump in to owning your own set.

Chuck