If you had $10,000 to spend on essential items for a start up project...

[orljustin]

" I dont know ANYTHING about studio lighting or what I'm going to need. "

I can see why you'd want to start some sort of photo business, yeah.

 

[dearlybeloved]

" I dont know ANYTHING about studio lighting or what I'm going to need. "

I can see why you'd want to start some sort of photo business, yeah.

so because I dont know how to use studio lighting that makes me incapable of learning and running a business? I didn't realize that I have to know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING before doing something I want to do with my life.

 

[Superfitz]

...not much that's very sophisticated for CONTROL of the light. Needs more light SHAPING TOOLS....

While I do not share in derrel's opinions to often (especially in this case about einsteins and that company in general), I do agree 100% with his opinion of buying light shaping tools. That is one of the things I wish someone would of told me when starting out. I had all kinds of lighting. problem was that i couldn't do much with it, because I had no real modifiers except a couple of softboxes.

 

[jake337]

Maybe put aside a small chunk of that for a nice view camera, one wide lens and some good film.

Strictly for landscapes of course.

But you do have the D800e though, so maybe not.

Maybe add a tilt/shift lens to your lineup.

Blow the rest on lighting and some dank!

 

[Derrel]

...not much that's very sophisticated for CONTROL of the light. Needs more light SHAPING TOOLS....

While I do not share in derrel's opinions to often (especially in this case about einsteins and that company in general), I do agree 100% with his opinion of buying light shaping tools. That is one of the things I wish someone would of told me when starting out. I had all kinds of lighting. problem was that i couldn't do much with it, because I had no real modifiers except a couple of softboxes.

Ummm....well...thanks?? No, but really, I understand. Einsteins are built to sell on specifications, mostly to first-time buyers, or moving-on-up buyers who were unhappy with technical limitations and features/problems with lower-cost Buff gear. For a first time buyer with no practical knowledge of lighting equipment and how it "really" works, the high-tech capabilities of the Einsteins for the stated purpose of "portraiture"...well, I find the whole Einstein appeal to be overkill. And also, too much light, per flash unit...just "overkill", in features, power, price, and technical specification...just...way...more...of everything that is expensive, and not really helpful to the beginning portrait guy. Paul C. Buff has made a business out of marketing his lighting gear with good advertising copy, and compelling statistics, and has successfully unsed the same approach for decades now.

As to the light shaping tools: the Paul C. Buff kits, and Dave's final order, are lacking. I think a person needs a LOT MORE than the Buff "kits" offer. Things like mylar diffusers, barn doors, gel holders, grids....all very,very skimpy in the Buff kits....lots of emphasis on their gigantic PLM umbrella, and some softboxes...not nearly enough emphasis on accessories to refine one's lighting setups. Again...if one does not have an 11-inch parabolic reflector, grid, and two diffusers + a barn doors set for that light, one is missing a HUGELY useful class of light shaping devices. Buff seems to cater to the people who want to set up two or three softboxes, and call it good. I think Buff is doing a HUGE disservice by selling what the ModelMayhem set thinks they need, based on YouTube videos. The "real" light shaping tools are not even part of their kits. Again: diffusers, gel holders; barn doors; grids, parabolic reflectors; reflector panels, scrims, all that stuff...where is it?????

 

[Superfitz]

Ummm....well...thanks?? No, but really, I understand. Einsteins are built to sell on specifications, mostly to first-time buyers, or moving-on-up buyers who were unhappy with technical limitations and features/problems with lower-cost Buff gear. For a first time buyer with no practical knowledge of lighting equipment and how it "really" works, the high-tech capabilities of the Einsteins for the stated purpose of "portraiture"...well, I find the whole Einstein appeal to be overkill. And also, too much light, per flash unit...just "overkill", in features, power, price, and technical specification...just...way...more...of everything that is expensive, and not really helpful to the beginning portrait guy. Paul C. Buff has made a business out of marketing his lighting gear with good advertising copy, and compelling statistics, and has successfully unsed the same approach for decades now.

As to the light shaping tools: the Paul C. Buff kits, and Dave's final order, are lacking. I think a person needs a LOT MORE than the Buff "kits" offer. Things like mylar diffusers, barn doors, gel holders, grids....all very,very skimpy in the Buff kits....lots of emphasis on their gigantic PLM umbrella, and some softboxes...not nearly enough emphasis on accessories to refine one's lighting setups. Again...if one does not have an 11-inch parabolic reflector, grid, and two diffusers + a barn doors set for that light, one is missing a HUGELY useful class of light shaping devices. Buff seems to cater to the people who want to set up two or three softboxes, and call it good. I think Buff is doing a HUGE disservice by selling what the ModelMayhem set thinks they need, based on YouTube videos. The "real" light shaping tools are not even part of their kits. Again: diffusers, gel holders; barn doors; grids, parabolic reflectors; reflector panels, scrims, all that stuff...where is it?????

Funny...I meant I don't share in your opinions to often in that post. I wasn't trying to passively aggressively say I think you are always full of bunk. Now that you explain it further I couldn't agree more.

 

[imagemaker46]

I've just read though this thread and am just a little confused. Do you have 10k to spend after the gear arrives that you listed, or is the cost of the gear coming out of the 10k? You want to set up a studio in a bedroom and start taking in clients, but you don't know anything about using studio lights? You want to shoot landscapes and portraits. You live rent free. You have done all your market studies and found that their are no other professionals working in your area that have established studios. You will take in clients to practice on until you have the experience to turn pro, or you will play pro until you have the experience?

What is your real background in photography? Not the paper real, but the practical experience real.

You might want do a local search on Google and look at what the 10 pages of Auburn photographers shoot.

 

[tirediron]

" I dont know ANYTHING about studio lighting or what I'm going to need. "

I can see why you'd want to start some sort of photo business, yeah.

so because I dont know how to use studio lighting that makes me incapable of learning and running a business? I didn't realize that I have to know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING before doing something I want to do with my life.

You certainly don't, no. I think the point that orljustin was trying to make was that you should however, have an understanding of the basics. One of the most common mistakes I see is that of people who want to buy gear, but don't really know what gear they want or need. They just want to buy something, and more often than not, it turns out to be the wrong thing. My suggestion is that you spend some more time learning both the craft and the business side before you actually declare yourself a business. Any "general practicioner" should have a basic understand of studio lighting and the type of equipment required, as well as most other aspects of photography.

 

[manaheim]

You certainly don't, no. I think the point that orljustin was trying to make was that you should however, have an understanding of the basics. One of the most common mistakes I see is that of people who want to buy gear, but don't really know what gear they want or need. They just want to buy something, and more often than not, it turns out to be the wrong thing. My suggestion is that you spend some more time learning both the craft and the business side before you actually declare yourself a business. Any "general practicioner" should have a basic understand of studio lighting and the type of equipment required, as well as most other aspects of photography.

Think about it this way... Would you open up shop as an auto mechanic without training? Just buy the tools and go to work?

 

[Derrel]

No offense take superfizz! I 'thought' I knew whatcha' meant to say, but I did wish to explain myself a bit more. As far as portraiture, I've worked in multiple portrait studios and have shot freelance and hobby portraits of many different types since I bought my first set of studio lights back in the mid-1980's (I went Speedotron Brown Line then). I've used Speedotron Black Line and Brown Line, plus Norman, Dynalite, and Photogenic pack-and-head flash systems, as well as White Lightning, JTL, and Sunpak MS4000 monolights, and Metz, Nikon,Vivitar, and Crown speedlights, so I'm pretty familiar with different "styles" of flash gear that's been made over the last three decades. "MY" opinion is that the heavy emphasis on incremental output control via sliders, switches, and rheostats---is mostly an ADVERTISING method that sways many,many people. Einsteins have very advanced specs and capabilities, at a fair, but high-ish price for a PORTRAIT beginner's needs. The design emphasis of Einsteins is, IMHO, all wrong for a PORTRAIT start-up...it's money spent on the wrong capabilities, IMHO. MORE light units, of simpler, and lower, capability, and with more light-shaping tools, would be my suggestion. That's what I wanted to convey. Eisnsteins are overkill for Dave's situation, I think. He needs butter knives,and plenty of 'em, not oyster forks...

Somebody asked me if my studio strobes offered 1/10 stop output control. I said, "Hell yes! I move the lightstand forward or back two inches! THAT'S my 1/10 f/stop control right there!" (Now, in all fairness, my Speedo Black Line packs offer 1/3 stop, click-stop rheostats, but my Brown Line packs do NOT--they are very simple.)

Anyway...I sort-of know Dave from the TPF PM system, and have helped him out in the past.That's the only reason I spent so much time on his case here. As far as starting out "cold"...I dunno...I see a LOT of very average shooters doing photo businesses. It's sort of the new thing. In today's market, there are a LOT of new entrants. It has been this way for many years now. Some people make it, others fail. We all know that. Some people thrive under pressure, others cave. Just OWNING a studio lighting set-up is much,much more than most Facebook photographers own I think. UNDER-CAPITALIZATION is a bad thing, and many businesses fail because they are under-capitalized (and possibly also under-equipped). I dunno...if he weants to make a go of it, and actually buy some tools and start earning-and-learning,well more power to him. He might fail. He might succeed.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

I'd get a D3x.

I'm sorry, but I stopped reading your post after this.

Did you even read his post? He already has a D800e.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

" I dont know ANYTHING about studio lighting or what I'm going to need. "

I can see why you'd want to start some sort of photo business, yeah.

Holy unnecessary snark, Batman!

 

[orljustin]

" I dont know ANYTHING about studio lighting or what I'm going to need. "
I can see why you'd want to start some sort of photo business, yeah.

so because I dont know how to use studio lighting that makes me incapable of learning and running a business? I didn't realize that I have to know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING before doing something I want to do with my life.

It probably makes you incapable of running a _photography_ business, or at least it's going to hamper you.

This thread reads like another "I got a camera, and I've got an extra $1k, so I'm a business, and what do I need to buy?".

 

[tirediron]

...It probably makes you incapable of running a _photography_ business, or at least it's going to hamper you.

Really? You don't think that is just a little over-stated?

 

[dearlybeloved]

I dont really have to divulge my personal story and what im trying to do but for the sake of clarification and staying on the right subject ill say this. I've got $25,000. I've got about 4 years in experience with photography and I have no ever owned studio lighting. I want to make a living doing what I love so I want to drop $10,000 on gear and learn how to use it and then in the meantime build a portfolio that will blow my competitors out of the water and hold an exhibit at a local venue of my work to throw my hat in the ring (like i was suggested before).

I have thrown some of my stuff up on my tumblr blog of some past and recent stuff. its not much of what i've got but what im willing to share until i get everything together for my official website.


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