Lighting

[drewan]

I'm gradually building a beginner's portable photo and video studio here at work. I have a still camera that has been working very well for us for a couple of years now, but I've never been able to do good portrait shots because we just didn't have good lighting. Now I've finally gotten a small budget to buy lights and I'm not sure what to get.

Searching through Amazon and a number of the photography equipment websites, I think I've narrowed my choices down to either the JTL TL-1500 Softbox kit, or the JTL TL-1500 Umbrella kit. They both appears to be a good compromise on ability and price, though the softbox kit is much more expensive. Both are continuous light sets.

This will be my first set of lights, so I'm thinking to just go with the less expensive umbrella kit.

I have setup and worked with three-light lighting in the past, but it's been a while. I'm hoping that this will help improve portrait photos here.

Anyone else have a kit that they would recommend over these kits?

The next item to look for would be a backdrop stand and a good neutral backdrop.

I haven't ordered any lights yet, but I did order the video Light Like A Pro by Jerry Day Productions. Yes, it sounds a little hooky, doesn't it. But I'm a visual learner, so I'm expecting that this will provide some nice tips.

Comments

[bovil.livejournal.com]

Check out Alien Bees and Photo Basics by Wescott.

Alien Bees is the bargain winner for 110v photo strobes that don't require a big transformer box (but can be used with one). Only complaint I've heard is that the modeling light lamps that come with them are a bit off on the color balance. This is a problem for things like catalog photography where you're trying really hard to match colors before you shoot. It's fixable, though, by replacing the lamps.

Wescott has their series of "Educational kits" and, aside from using mats to position people being a bit clumsy, are apparently very good.

Oh, and sign up for strobist_bs, the RSS feed from the Strobist lighting education blog. It's very good.

[johncamlive.livejournal.com]

hehehe
we are in the same boat. I debate these things all the time,
go with a sageish brown.
White is for special shoots and black is for mood shots.
I like alien bee's for lighting.
They are average priced. Don't waste your money, you'll
just spend more later.

John