Looking for Studio Lighting Options

[saturndb]

Ok I bought a new camera and now I am thinking of setting up a small home studio. it will only be used to take pictures of my son. so I am not looking to spend alot. Any ideas or suggestions, Ideally looking to spend less then 300.00

 

[MICKEY88]

I've thought about getting this for a travel kit..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320469076570&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[pointandshoot]

Maybe consider going the strobist route.

http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/

You can pick-up at stand, umbrella, sync cord, and a manual speedlight for around $200 or less. If you want a bit fancier, buy a speedlight for your camera brand and use an off camera ETTL cord from Flashzebra. This can let you use the camera for flash exposure in additional to manual settings.

Another approach is an Alien Bees single light kit for around $300.

Do you plan to shoot inside or want to shoot outside as well. The speedlight is more portable for the price but has less power.

 

[saturndb]

Maybe consider going the strobist route.

http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/

You can pick-up at stand, umbrella, sync cord, and a manual speedlight for around $200 or less. If you want a bit fancier, buy a speedlight for your camera brand and use an off camera ETTL cord from Flashzebra. This can let you use the camera for flash exposure in additional to manual settings.

Another approach is an Alien Bees single light kit for around $300.

Do you plan to shoot inside or want to shoot outside as well. The speedlight is more portable for the price but has less power.

I plan on shoting inside only. It would just be for fun. I have a 5D Mark II. I just want to get a idea of the feel and how to on studio lighting, nothing fancy, but want a set up that will do a good job. i have seen some cowbiy studio light on Amazon for under 100.00 that might work. Thought they do seem under powered.

 

[handicap18]

You already have 2 speedlights. Doesn't Canon make a wireless trigger for their speedlights? Use the 2 speedlights off camera on a tripod. You can either put diffusers on them or get some inexpensive softboxes made to fit on speedlights (can find them on ebay).

For an in-expensive setup I use my 2 Nikon speedlights with Gary Fong diffusers on each. Nikon makes a wireless trigger that slips onto the hot shot of the camera, however, my camera's popup flash will also serve as a trigger for the 2 speedlights. IIRC, only the Canon 7D can do this in camera, but I do believe Canon has a similar wireless trigger to fit onto the hot shoe. Or maybe the Pocket Wizard.

Here is a shot of my youngest DS I took with my setup:

 

[AlbertZeroK]

I agree, if you have two speed lights, just get some light stands, umbrellas and an ST-e2 controller. There is also a cheaper ST-e2 knock off out of china, featured on Strobist, you might check into that as well.

There is also nothing wrong with one light, a bounce card and an off camera cord. But for $300, I'd skip any type of formal studio lighting.

Of course, don't forget, you can always shoot through a bed sheet stretched across a PVC frame ($10 if you get the sheet at good will). For light, you can use regular work lights. Just make sure you control your heat and don't get the work lights too close to the bed sheet.

There are alot of CHEAP but good options to the $300 studio lighting kits and unless you want to get into something like a cheap set of Alienbees with accessories ($1500 is what I spent on my two light set up), I would skip traditional $300 studio light sets.

The advantage to a flash on a stand with an umbrella is that it's VERY portable. This is my stand on the stage at a pagant, it was hid behind the curtain from the audiance and worked great!

 

[mabas9395]

With your gear list, I'd go with a Canon 580ex II that you can use as a Master (though I don't think your 270 will Slave). Add some soft boxes or umbrellas, stands and an extra long ETTL cord from flash zebra and you have a pretty nice, cheap, portable, 2-camera, off-camera flash setup.

And I'm not sure that an ST-E2 is the way to go. http://speedliting.com/how-to/resist-the-st-e2-temptation/

 

[bob100]

Ok I bought a new camera and now I am thinking of setting up a small home studio. it will only be used to take pictures of my son. so I am not looking to spend alot. Any ideas or suggestions, Ideally looking to spend less then 300.00

I would get a set of RF-602 triggers, light stand and umbrella (total $60)
and start shooting.