I'm not getting the lens afterall... Instead...

[DVC Jen]

I am getting a decent lighting set up - alien bees. Not sure exactly what I am getting yet.

After really thinking about it - I honestly feel I would benefit from some decent studio lighting instead of the four hot lights that I have now. The other day when I was taking the photos of my girls for our christmas card - one of them started smoking!

They are not giving me the light output I want. I have burned myself on them one too many times and the smoking thing really scared me.

It isn't like I do a lot of portrait work right now - but I am doing my best to learn everything I can - reading everything I can, practicing as much as I can (or as often as I can find a victim) and my interest is really going in that direction.

So.... in the long run I think a decent set of lights and some nifty things to go with them is going to be a much better investment than a fancy hunk of glass.

I am not giving up on my "big white lens" - just putting it on the back burner for now.

So - anyone have any suggestions on alien bees and what I should get?

 

[MICKEY88]

The other day when I was taking the photos of my girls for our christmas card - one of them started smoking!

you need to learn to set up the shot a little more quickly, if one of your girls started smoking, you were obviously taking way too long..

 

[KrazyPete]

one of them started smoking!

It's a bad habit and I can't believe that you allow it in the first place.

 

[manning]

Is that one of the girls or one of the lamps smoking?

 

[Miss Kelly]

At the previous replies!


I'd probably start with 1-2 lights. I love my Giant Softbox, so I'd recommend that. Also, I would personally recommend a light meter and "The Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers" by Christopher Grey.

 

[Miss Kelly]

One last thing, get the radio transmitter and receivers! So much better than a sync cord!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I'd start with a pair of 800s. Don't get 1600s as they will be too powerful and they don't scale down enough. If you are doing all individual portraits, two 400s would be OK. I'd recommend a matched set (either 400s or 800s) because it makes working with the modeling lights easier.

I have both Light: Science and Magic and Master Lighting Guide of Portrait Photographers. They are both good books, but I much prefer the former...if you are willing to study it. It is heavy on the general theory, so it gives you a better understanding of why you should do things.

You'll need more space for a studio than you probably realize. We were planning on using a 12' x 14' guest room upstairs, but it's just too small. Instead, we convert the garage when we need a studio.

A lot of people dis the Alien Bee light modifiers. I don't have any experience with anything else, so I can't really say much. I use an AB lightbox, shoot thru umbrella and reflective umbrella. They all seem to work well enough for me.

 

[SharonLowe]

I am getting a decent lighting set up - alien bees. Not sure exactly what I am getting yet.

After really thinking about it - I honestly feel I would benefit from some decent studio lighting instead of the four hot lights that I have now. The other day when I was taking the photos of my girls for our christmas card - one of them started smoking!

They are not giving me the light output I want. I have burned myself on them one too many times and the smoking thing really scared me.

It isn't like I do a lot of portrait work right now - but I am doing my best to learn everything I can - reading everything I can, practicing as much as I can (or as often as I can find a victim) and my interest is really going in that direction.

So.... in the long run I think a decent set of lights and some nifty things to go with them is going to be a much better investment than a fancy hunk of glass.

I am not giving up on my "big white lens" - just putting it on the back burner for now.

So - anyone have any suggestions on alien bees and what I should get?

Alien bees - the most important thing to select is the right color

I love my bees (martian pink, I might add) - I have 3 800s and 2 400s - could do with less but I have used them all together at least once. I like the 400s in my small studio for several things - nice rim/hair lights, nice for close-up photography (a studio isn't just for portraits - in the winter, I do lots of indoor flower and other photography in mine), 2 pointed straight back with softboxes at a white background to keep it solid white, etc. But, if I was just starting, I would at most get 2 800s and 1 400 with some soft boxes and maybe one umbrella since they are so easy to use and set-up. If you can afford it, go with a wireless transmitter and receiver - does away with a lot of cords that can be tripped over. I prefer my Pocket Wizards to the alien bee ones. You'll need some decent light stands too - go with heavy duty stands for your 800s but if you get a 400, you can get a standard stand - they are smaller and lighter, which can be useful. Oh and of course, you need a light meter to do it right. You don't need a fancy one but plan on a budget of up to $200 for a basic one. If you want one that works wirelessly, you'll have to spend loads more (next Christmas?).

For practice without live models, go on ebay and search for wig heads - can find them pretty inexpensive and they are great for seeing the effect of different lighting strategies. Best thing about them is they sit there quietly no matter how long it takes you to set up

Ebay is a good source for backdrops and other accessories too. I got a nice posing stool with arm at a good price on ebay.

Foam core is good - both black and white - for reflectors/bouncing.

Mark is right about how much room you "need." But, I make do in a small spare bedroom for anything but large groups. Since most of my portrait work is outside the studio, I don't feel the need for a huge one. And, I like shooting other things in the studio and hate the thought of having to set it up from scratch every time I want to use it.

 

[DVC Jen]

Yes! It was the light that started smoking NOT one of my girls.

I am going to have to start double and triple checking everything before I hit that post button. You people are relentless.

Thanks for all of the advice. I am considering the "busy bee" package.


Ready to build your hive? This is our complete package, allowing you to set up your entire studio. You’ll start with four of our B800 Flash Units, ideal for a main light, fill light, background light and hair light. With the four units in the same power model, you can adjust the output of each unit individually, and still maintain an accurate WYSIWYG preview of the scene by setting your modeling lamps to track the changes made. The Giant Softbox, placed on one of the 13-foot Stands, will perfectly soften your main light. Either of the umbrellas on the 13-foot or 10-foot Stand will work great for a fill light. With the Silver and White Umbrella and Shoot-Thru Umbrella, you have the flexibility of a high contrast silver bounce, a softer white bounce, and a soft diffused throw. The set of four Honeycomb Grids will allow you to control the coverage of your background and hair lights, tightening the beam spread on a unit to 10º, 20º, 30º or 40º depending on your needs. With your complete setup, you’ll have complete hand-held control with our LG4X Wired Remote, allowing you to move around your workspace, while simultaneously adjusting the flashpower and modeling mode on all four lights. Finally, your complete studio can become your complete location setup as well with our four AlienBees Carrying Bags and our Light Stand Carrying Bag. Each single light carrying bag will hold one bee with its reflector and cords, with extra room for the remote or one of the grids as well. The light stands and umbrellas can be packed in the stand carrying bag, with the softbox traveling in its own provided bag when needed. For busy bees who are ready to get flashing, this is the complete kit for you.


How does that sound? I will also check into all of the books that was recommended. Since I quit my job last June I have been reading and learning so much - but I know I still have a lot left to learn.

I currently have a book on lighting checked out from the library - just haven't tackled it yet. It is always easier for me to read and then try something I read out to fully grasp it rather than read and try to remember. So I will put the books that have been suggested on my Christmas list.

As far as space - we don't have a spare room. We don't have a spare inch. Our house is pretty small just 1600 sq ft (it was a huge jump from the 820 sq ft home we had in california). I can use the garage if I need to - but mostly so far I just push all of the furniture in the living room out of the way and set up in there. We have a pretty open floor plan and our living room is fairly large - not real wide - but deep. So it works - for now. At least until I can kick one of those smokin kids out.

To be totally honest I have this fear that I am going to get all of this equipment and stand there looking at it with no clue how to use it all. So - I will probably be asking LOTS of question of the experienced AB users out there.

OK - I better stop typing and get my youngest to school.

OH - Sharon - I totally agree about the color of the lights being of great importance - and I also think pink would be a "smokin hot" color. Let's just hope it is the ONLY smoking hot thing about these lights.

 

[SharonLowe]

Yes! It was the light that started smoking NOT one of my girls.

I am going to have to start double and triple checking everything before I hit that post button. You people are relentless.

Thanks for all of the advice. I am considering the "busy bee" package.


Ready to build your hive? This is our complete package, allowing you to set up your entire studio. You’ll start with four of our B800 Flash Units, ideal for a main light, fill light, background light and hair light. With the four units in the same power model, you can adjust the output of each unit individually, and still maintain an accurate WYSIWYG preview of the scene by setting your modeling lamps to track the changes made. The Giant Softbox, placed on one of the 13-foot Stands, will perfectly soften your main light. Either of the umbrellas on the 13-foot or 10-foot Stand will work great for a fill light. With the Silver and White Umbrella and Shoot-Thru Umbrella, you have the flexibility of a high contrast silver bounce, a softer white bounce, and a soft diffused throw. The set of four Honeycomb Grids will allow you to control the coverage of your background and hair lights, tightening the beam spread on a unit to 10º, 20º, 30º or 40º depending on your needs. With your complete setup, you’ll have complete hand-held control with our LG4X Wired Remote, allowing you to move around your workspace, while simultaneously adjusting the flashpower and modeling mode on all four lights. Finally, your complete studio can become your complete location setup as well with our four AlienBees Carrying Bags and our Light Stand Carrying Bag. Each single light carrying bag will hold one bee with its reflector and cords, with extra room for the remote or one of the grids as well. The light stands and umbrellas can be packed in the stand carrying bag, with the softbox traveling in its own provided bag when needed. For busy bees who are ready to get flashing, this is the complete kit for you.


How does that sound? I will also check into all of the books that was recommended. Since I quit my job last June I have been reading and learning so much - but I know I still have a lot left to learn.

I would save a bit on the lights and change 2 of them to 400s - you don't really need 4 800s. Then, I would take the money I saved and get the wireless transmitter instead of the wired transmitter. The kits are customizable - basically you pay for the lights and get a discount on all the accessories depending on how many lights you buy. That wired kit was a mess of wires! Just make sure the wireless system only requires one receiver and one transmitter.

 

[DVC Jen]

Thanks Sharon. Less wires sounds good to me. I have nightmares about tripping over them or worse - someone else tripping over them.

I really just don't feel confident that I am going to understand the whole system right away. I am determined though - I will figure it out - eventually.

 

[MICKEY88]

Thanks Sharon. Less wires sounds good to me. I have nightmares about tripping over them or worse - someone else tripping over them.

I really just don't feel confident that I am going to understand the whole system right away. I am determined though - I will figure it out - eventually.

don't pressure yourself to understand it right away, if photographers understood right away, the books that have been recommended wouldn't exist, no one would need them..


just experiment. and take comfort in the fact that with digital you can play often with no film cost...

 

[Suburbanmom]

Can I ask where you are considering ordering the lights from (if you were to get them online, that is)? I'm starting to think about lights myself and have found a kit from photbasics that looks interesting, but I would like to look around abit more. I'm starting with nothing (I only have my SB-800 speedlight). Just being curious. Thanks in advance!

 

[Miss Kelly]

Can I ask where you are considering ordering the lights from (if you were to get them online, that is)? I'm starting to think about lights myself and have found a kit from photbasics that looks interesting, but I would like to look around abit more. I'm starting with nothing (I only have my SB-800 speedlight). Just being curious. Thanks in advance!

www.alienbees.com

 

[Miss Kelly]

Ditto what Sharon said. And to be completely honest, I don't think you should start off with 4 lights. I only have 2 lights and I don't feel limited at all. Of course, one day I want a hairlight and a background light, but for now I'm good. And don't pressure yourself into learning everything right away. It took a long time for me to master my lights.

 

[DVC Jen]

Ditto what Sharon said. And to be completely honest, I don't think you should start off with 4 lights. I only have 2 lights and I don't feel limited at all. Of course, one day I want a hairlight and a background light, but for now I'm good. And don't pressure yourself into learning everything right away. It took a long time for me to master my lights.

Kelly I thought about just getting two - but I know myself enough to know that if I do that - I will regret it.

I may and more than likely will not use all four of them at the same time very often - but if I want them or need them and don't have them - I will be kicking myself.

 

[SharonLowe]

Thanks Sharon. Less wires sounds good to me. I have nightmares about tripping over them or worse - someone else tripping over them.

I really just don't feel confident that I am going to understand the whole system right away. I am determined though - I will figure it out - eventually.

I'm a klutz so the fewer wires, the better chance I have of not tripping and knocking everything over!

Oh, eggs make a great subject too to see what different lighting styles do. I suggest a plastic or wooden one though.

 

[DVC Jen]

OK I have another question. If I went with 2 800's and 1 400 - would i use the 2 800's to blow out a white background for high key? Or 1-800 and a reflector? And then an 800 for my main light and a 400 for a fill light?

Right now I am using 2 - 250 watt tungsten hot lights on the background and it doesn't quite totally blow it out so I spend a lot of time in post - and I want to get away from that if possible.

 

[DVC Jen]

And another question... am I going to need sync cords or what? I am not going to be able to afford the remote stuff and after reading the warning about radio waves it probably isn't going to work for me anyway considering the hubster is a ham radio operator and is looking to get his own tower soon.

 

[SharonLowe]

OK I have another question. If I went with 2 800's and 1 400 - would i use the 2 800's to blow out a white background for high key? Or 1-800 and a reflector? And then an 800 for my main light and a 400 for a fill light?

Right now I am using 2 - 250 watt tungsten hot lights on the background and it doesn't quite totally blow it out so I spend a lot of time in post - and I want to get away from that if possible.

The main thing about the white background is that you want the light directly shining at it (not at an angle), covering the whole background, and usually 2 stops brighter than your main light. Usually, it requires 2 lights, one on each side, directly on, but if close enough, you can probably use one. Your 400s could do it but as I pm'ed you, you might want to consider 3 800s and 1 400 - that would give you 2 800s to blow out the background, an 800 for a main light, and a 400 for a hair light with a reflector (foam core is fine) for fill.