2 Alienbee 800's, stands, umbrellas, backdrops. Am I out of my mind?

[keith204]

Coming up I have a few portrait shoots. All of the sudden there are several people wanting family portraits, and a corporation that's made the INC 500 list that wants me to do executive photos.

I have photo money saved up for the "new" 5D, but with these opportunities, I am thinking my money would be better spent on some good equipment for on-location portraits.

Here is what I'm currently looking into:

• Alienbee 800's kit $750 shipped - http://www.alienbees.com/digi.html - (extra $110 to upgrade to 800s). Includes 2 umbrellas, stands, cases, and sync cords.
• Portable backdrop kit - ~$99 from Adorama, etc
• Backdrops - what's the best way to get good professional solid-color ones like in stock photos? (greens, blues, greys)
• Softbox - benefits over umbrellas? Do I really have to spend $250+ for a softbox!?

If you could give any advice that would be great. How much would this equip benefit me?

 

[William Petruzzo]

I shoot all my on-location studio stuff with two Alienbees 800's. They're really excellent lights, but clunky if you don't get a set of Pocket Wizards to control them. I often find that I'd like a third light for hair or catch purposes. The AB 400 would be sufficient for that.

As far as backdrops are concerned, if you go the fabric rout, you'll be fighting wrinkles until you're blue in the face. I eventually bought some backdrop paper on a roll. It's cheaper, but way more forgiving in terms of delivering really polished backgrounds.

As for the softbox, it's my number one favorite piece of studio equipment. It smooths light out like no umbrella will. I would definitely recommend you purchase one. The one from Alienbees is cheap and works, but it's a pain in the butt to set up and take down. If you spend more, you're likely to get one that's easier to assemble.

In a nutshell, the lights are great. Paper backgrounds the easiest to shoot. And definitely buy a nice big softbox.

 

[keith204]

How do I know which softbox will hook up to the alienbee 800?

 

[William Petruzzo]

That's a pretty good question. The first studio lights I bought were were the alienbees and I still use them. I've used friends lights before, but I'm only well acquainted with the alienbees ones. I guess I just figured there was some kind of standard. Maybe there's not.

However, apparently alienbees has released some new foldable softboxes that promise to be easy to set up. Of course, I wouldn't be able to vouch for them, but the rest of their promises have been well kept, so I'd be apt to believe them.

 

[sabbath999]

Let me know how it works out... I am going to get lights one of these days.

 

[keith204]

Here's my list so far... man that's expensive. What would you do different?

 

[Johnboy2978]

I really think for the $ you can't go wrong with alien bees. Others will disagree, but you could also spend $30k+ on Briese studio light, and in the end, the "average" customer won't see the difference in the prints if you know what you're doing. I would add a wireless flash trigger to that. Most of the softboxes with A/B require the heavy duty lightstand which I think you added?

 

[keith204]

I really think for the $ you can't go wrong with alien bees. Others will disagree, but you could also spend $30k+ on Briese studio light, and in the end, the "average" customer won't see the difference in the prints if you know what you're doing. I would add a wireless flash trigger to that. Most of the softboxes with A/B require the heavy duty lightstand which I think you added?

The wireless flash triggers in there are in the list as "skyports" - as in, the cheaper alternative to pocekt wizards. Is this what you are talking about?

 

[Johnboy2978]

sorry, overlooked it.

 

[keith204]

I really think for the $ you can't go wrong with alien bees. Others will disagree, but you could also spend $30k+ on Briese studio light, and in the end, the "average" customer won't see the difference in the prints if you know what you're doing. I would add a wireless flash trigger to that. Most of the softboxes with A/B require the heavy duty lightstand which I think you added?

uh oh, the lightstands I have picked out so far are the 10ft ones for $39 each. The 13 foot ones are the "Heavy duty" stands, for $69 each.

 

[SpeedTrap]

Ok, I use AB, so here is my opinion,
The 800’s will work fine for what you need, but forget the bags, they are ok, but you can get a Rubbermaid style container to put them in with the cords, just wrap them in your backdrop. I have been doing that for a few years.
The skyports work fine, but unless you need longer range, and I have never needed it, there are less expensive triggers, or heaven forbid, you run a sync cable(Every AB ships with one).
Get the large collapsible soft box, it is easy to use and gives great light.
As for the stands, get at least one of the heavy 13 ft stands; they are much more stable with the soft box on.

 

[keith204]

Good advice.

I modified my cart to include 1 10ft stand, and 1 13ft HD stand. Also, I dumped an 800 and added a 1600. I get called for on-location events every once-in-awhile (ex:Christmas party for foster kids last year) and these are usually huge rooms where the flexibility of a brighter light for room fill could help.

Well, I'll probably order tomorrow morning first thing. AB gives a student discount (woohoo!) so if I call in and prove to them I'm a student, that's 10% off the entire order.

Thanks for the help! Let me know if you have any other advice. Thanks!

 

[William Petruzzo]

Also, I dumped an 800 and added a 1600. I get called for on-location events every once-in-awhile (ex:Christmas party for foster kids last year) and these are usually huge rooms where the flexibility of a brighter light for room fill could help.

If I were you I would keep both 800's and either get at 1600 later when you need it, or add it to the package now. I originally had one 400, two 800's and one 1600. The 1600 almost never saw use because in smaller rooms I often had trouble scaling things back enough to use be creative and flexible with my aperture settings. The light is just too bright. In the long run, it got used about 15% of the time. Even in large rooms and outside the 800's have always been more than sufficient, even running at less than full power. Ultimately, I sold the 1600 because it was never used and I had other more pressing equipment needs.

Also, I have both heavy duty stands from AB as well as the general stand. I wouldn't bother with the 10 foot stand. You're probably regularly going to want it extended beyond six feet, at which point it becomes a bit wobbly with one of the lights and umbrellas on top of it. I'd stick with the heavy duty stands, unless you plan to use the lightweight stand for an off camera speedlight or maybe as a reflector holder.

 

[keith204]

If I were you I would keep both 800's and either get at 1600 later when you need it, or add it to the package now. I originally had one 400, two 800's and one 1600. The 1600 almost never saw use because in smaller rooms I often had trouble scaling things back enough to use be creative and flexible with my aperture settings. The light is just too bright. In the long run, it got used about 15% of the time. Even in large rooms and outside the 800's have always been more than sufficient, even running at less than full power. Ultimately, I sold the 1600 because it was never used and I had other more pressing equipment needs.

Also, I have both heavy duty stands from AB as well as the general stand. I wouldn't bother with the 10 foot stand. You're probably regularly going to want it extended beyond six feet, at which point it becomes a bit wobbly with one of the lights and umbrellas on top of it. I'd stick with the heavy duty stands, unless you plan to use the lightweight stand for an off camera speedlight or maybe as a reflector holder.

Great info, great to know. I reduced it to an 800. now I have 2 800's in the cart . Man I'm glad you guys are talking me through this before I make a stupid decision!

I played with off-camera lighting a bit about a year ago and it was fun, but I never got serious because the cheap ebay gear was too fidgety to use for real. I am more than excited to be building a kit like this. Can't wait to use it!

bpetruzzo, what are you saying about the 10ft one? right now I have a 10 foot and a 13 foot in my cart. The 13-foot will hold the softbox, and it is a "heavy duty" one, at least in Alienbee terms. The 10-foot one will only hold an umbrella and the alienbee I imagine. Is there something I am overlooking?

 

[Johnboy2978]

I have 2 of the 800's and I went with the generic stand for one and the heavy duty for the other b/c I also bought the large octobox. IMO the stands that come with it are in my experience sturdy enough to use if it's going to hold nothing more than a light and umbrella. At the time, I didn't have the extra money for 2 HD stands. If you can afford the extra $40 or whatever it is per stand, it's probably better to do so rather than upgrading later (just like everything else in photography....cry once instead of everytime you use it).