Need to purcahse studio equipment

HHDesigns · Mar 3, 2012

I have been doing photos professionally for the last 2 years. However I am in need of studio equipment for an upcoming event. I purchased a studio beginners set off of amazon, and it sucks. The lighting is all wrong. I would like for a basic outline on what is good brands, what is necessary, etc. I was thinking shadowboxes, better backdrop stands, but im not sure which kind to buy. I have done some research but I feel like there are to many types and I am just lost. haha Thanks for any advice.

Ballistics · Mar 3, 2012

You need to be more specific. What kind of event is it? Indoors? Outdoors?

HHDesigns · Mar 4, 2012

it is an indoor shoot for a formal cotillion dance. I am also going to be doing the local middle school sports this next year, and those will be indoors/outdoors. for those i was thinking shadow boxes. eventually i will need both but for now i really need to get the indoor equipment. like i said im really lost on which kind and what to get exactly. any advice is really appreciated!

Audible_Chocolate · Mar 4, 2012

Good thread! I'm also looking for good bang for the buck equipment.

Derrel · Mar 4, 2012

Audible_Chocolate said:
Good thread! I'm also looking for good bang for the buck equipment.

Adorama's Flashpoint monolights, like the 320M, offer a LOT of value per dollar spent. These can even be bought with a small, 15-ounce, DC battery pack for a very fair price. These monolights and a light stand cost MUCH LESS than one, good camera-maker speedlight flash. Check the Adorama web site.

Calumet, a large company that has retail stores AND does web sales, has the Genesis 200 , two-light kit on sale right now.

petto · Mar 4, 2012

I am in the same boat but think I have decided on this set:
Paul C. Buff - The Busy Bee Package
It has 3 lights, will allow me to wireless trigger the lights, and the price is good. Not top of the line lights but not crap either. Seems to be a good entry level system and many on here speak well of the Alien Bee lights.

HHDesigns · Mar 5, 2012

is that set a "good" one.. and is that ideally everything i would need?? lol and which background type is better i think i have found 3 different kinds. the first one i got was a cloth one and i noticed that it was hard to get the wrinkles out of.

jamesbjenkins · Mar 5, 2012

Check out Paul C Buff. They make the Einstein, AlienBees and WhiteLightning lines of strobes in addition to a ton of accessories. They're the best option I've found south of your big boys (Profoto, Broncolor, etc.)

www.paulcbuff.com

tirediron · Mar 5, 2012

HHDesigns said:
I have been doing photos professionally for the last 2 years. However I am in need of studio equipment for an upcoming event. I purchased a studio beginners set off of amazon, and it sucks. The lighting is all wrong. I would like for a basic outline on what is good brands, what is necessary, etc. I was thinking shadowboxes, better backdrop stands, but im not sure which kind to buy. I have done some research but I feel like there are to many types and I am just lost. haha Thanks for any advice.

This is the key phrase. Professionals use professional equipment. PCB gear is good, but IMO, it's not professional grade. You need to be thinking of a budget of at least $750/head and I would not consider anything less than a three-light system. Good equipment is a long-term investment in your business and rarely proves itself not to be worth the initial outlay.

HHDesigns · Mar 5, 2012

I defiantly have the funds to get what is needed. Im just lost as to which brand is best. So is the general consensus pcb has what i need or is there another brand i need to look at?

cgipson1 · Mar 5, 2012

You need to define a budget! If you have that much cash to throw around, and are a "Professional".. why were you buying low end junk off of Amazon? What have you used in the past? Or do you shoot mostly ambient "natural" light?

A decent set of lights and modifier can cost anywhere from a couple of grand and up (way up!)

HHDesigns · Mar 5, 2012

i was doing all natural, web design and graphic designs. Photography is my passion! the others defiantly have brought income to the cause. The amazon stuff was a shot in the dark. I thought it would give me a starting point to develop what i want, and it back fired. I also wanted to see if i enjoyed studio shots, I had a friend do a trial and error shoot with the cheap stuff and i enjoyed it.. so now i want the real stuff haha.

tirediron · Mar 5, 2012

Go to the [reasonably] closest large real camera store and find out what brands they carry. When you need a new flash-tube at the last minute, or you tear your SB diffuser, or whatever, it's nice to know that you don't have to wait for 2-4 day shipping. Even over-night courier shipping can be too long for some projects. There are many, many brands of good lights out there, but they all cost a similar amount for similar quality. As with most things, you get what you pay for.

kundalini · Mar 5, 2012

tirediron said:
...... PCB gear is good, but IMO, it's not professional grade. .....

Is that opinion for their entire lineup? Just curious. If you're an enthusiast, would PCB be acceptable? What has formulated your opinion of PCB? Not everyone chooses Bees.

tirediron · Mar 5, 2012

kundalini said:
tirediron said:

...... PCB gear is good, but IMO, it's not professional grade. .....

Click to expand...

Is that opinion for their entire lineup? Just curious. If you're an enthusiast, would PCB be acceptable? What has formulated your opinion of PCB? Not everyone chooses Bees.

Ehhh, good point. I [incorrectly] tend to paint all PCB gear with the AB brush. :er: I have no first-hand knowledge of the other lines that he produces and my comments were in fact meant for ABs.