Please review my starter kit for some fashion photography

[noobstrobist]

Hey guys, just signed up since im getting back into photography after 20 years

I need to start shooting models for a local graphic tee company with a heavy fashion photography influence.
So not your boring standard, here's a girl wearing a graphic tee you see on a lot of tshirt sites. It needs to be at a much higher creative level and photo quality level.

In any case, although I did quite a bit of photography 20 years ago, it wasnt digital and never strobe based, so I want to run my first starter kit by you guys. I LOVE digital, im a geek so all the technical stuff comes easy to me.

I want a "balanced" starter kit, and by that I mean, there is no point in buying a $5000 lens and shooting with a $300 lighting setup. I have a somewhat small budget for my first kit, which I want to contain "biggest bang for your buck" type of equipment, so im shooting for Alien Bees stuff, and avoiding the compatibility issues with speed rings and such, by purchasing all AB stuff.

Im shooting in a room that is 15x19 feet, so a little cramped, and not big enough for 85mm+ glass a lot of people recommend for this type of shooting. Pretty sure I need to shoot at around 50mm to fit full bodies into the frame.

I currently have a Nikon D90, with a bunch of cheapy lens you would throw away, so I need to buy ONE good lens to start with.

Below is my guess at a decent setup, that I can grow after learning to shoot well with one light and some reflectors. The room also has a long wall of windows for natural light I can use or block on one side 90 degrees to the models.

Please give me all your feedback its VERY MUCH appreciated

I priced this out to $1300 for everything. I want to try and stay under $1500.

What would you add or remove??
Am I on the right track here?

 

[Patrice]

Many like the 50 1.4 AF-D more, and it's less expensive. I think you might want to increase your budget a bit, at least for another light or two. Another AB-800 and maybe a smaller one as well with some modifiers as a hair light. A background system and some paper rolls would come in handy. Radio triggers will come in handy. Don't go too cheap on the light meter. Is your ceiling 13 feet high?

 

[noobstrobist]

Yes, will get a background system with some paper rolls... but as you can see, not much budget left.
I know you can do an awful lot with one light, especially with decent power and some reflection, so I think I need to stick to one for now, or ill blow the budget for sure. With one light, wont need radio triggers which will also blow the budget.

Ceiling is 9 feet, which is limiting but cant change that.

Interesting comparison between the D and G, and id have to agree with you.
Thats another $100 for something else, SWEET

EDIT: that comparison got shot down for technical reasons, and the D is a plastic lens. Some people have reported breaking brackets after a year of use, so im still leaning towards the newer G lens.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I just ordered this light meter: Sekonic L-358 Flash Master Meter - Silver 401-358 B&H Photo

 

[2WheelPhoto]

And heads up if you're a student BHPhoto gives HEAVY discounts, I got $60 off the ligjht meter alone.

 

[tirediron]

Yes, you can do a lot with one light, but for the type of work you're describing, I think two would be an absolute minimum. I don't see any mention of grids, snoots, etc which are also necessary. Save money where you can - stands, meters, and stuff like that can be found at significant savings on Craig's List. Even with two lights you can get away without radio triggers, but it's more reliable with them. I would third the recommendation for the 50mm 1.4D; I would also look at the 35mm f2; (lenses are a great buy used!) for those times when you might want a wider shot.

 

[noobstrobist]

For a bit more, I can ditch the reflectors and get another B800 with an umbrella for this setup:


1) Two B800's
2) 47" Octobox for one B800
3) 48" white/silver bounce Umbrella for the other B800
4) 13ft Heavy stand for the Octobox
5) 10ft general stand for the Umbrella
6) 10x12 white background kit
7) Nikon 50mm 1.4G
8) Polaris light meter
--------------------------------------------------------------
$1607 - $107 over budget. Nothing on craigslist near me at the moment. Really nowhere to shave any costs IMO.

 

[noobstrobist]

Sweeeeeeeet.... just realized the 50mm 1.4D has a metal mount, not plastic. So im fine with that.

Which means I can get a two light setup with a octobox/B800 and Umbrella/B800 for $1523.
1) Two B800's
2) 47" Octobox for one B800
3) 48" white/silver bounce Umbrella for the other B800
4) 13ft Heavy stand for the Octobox
5) 10ft general stand for the Umbrella
6) 10x12 white background kit
7) Nikon 50mm 1.4D
8) Polaris light meter
------------------------------------------
$1523

I can use one of the sync cords between my camera and one of the B800's. (each B800 comes with a sync cord).
Run the other B800 in optical slave mode for now. I read all the alien bees come with built in optical slave, which should work ok since ill only be shooting inside.

Hows this setup sound???

 

[henryp]

And heads up if you're a student BHPhoto gives HEAVY discounts, I got $60 off the ligjht meter alone.

Anyone who wants to pursue this should start at bhphoto.com/edu

 

[Derrel]

I would pass on the single B800 monolight and buy THREE Adorama Flashpoint 320M monolights with stands and umbrellas. It is far,far better to have THREE, 150 watt-second lights than only one slightly more-powerful light...one light is nice, but you WANT to have at least three, to as many as five lights--for many types of shots!!!

Skip the 50/1.4 G...the 50/1.8 AF-S G is just as good, or better. That savings alone will allow the second and third lights!! The $170 spent on the octabox is too much money...get a beauty dish and grid instead, and buy two Lastolite Umbrella Boxes with the 7mm shaft size. That will give you a dish + grid + two umbrellas to start with.

With today's amazing ISO 200-250-320-400 perfromance under flash illumination, 150 watt-second monolights in small locations are what you actually WANT TO HAVE. Lower, more-adjustable power settings!!!

I would also suggest buying a set of honeycomb grids and barn doors, which are very useful for accent/hair lighting, and for such uses, 150 watt-seconds is a HUGE amount of power, and you will often be using a grid-equipped light at a very low power level, like 20-40 watt-seconds when it is paired with light being shot through a modifier like an umbrella or beauty dish.

 

[DCMoney]

Is the 70 dollar reflector going to be better than the 13 dollar one off amazon?

 

[tirediron]

Is the 70 dollar reflector going to be better than the 13 dollar one off amazon?

Probably.

 

[noobstrobist]

Actually went through several more iterations and ended up with 3 lights.

2 Alien Bees B800's
1 Einstein for the main light. Higher quality.
Ditched all the soft boxes, and got 2 different size PLM umbrellas with diffusers.
I saw some side by side photos of PLM's versus Soft Boxes, and the light was very very similar when the PLM's had diffusers attached. A little more punchy and I preferred it.

This setup is a lot more versatile I think. 2 background lights will make things easy. An 86" PLM with the higher quality Einstein light is going to be awesome.
Reflectors can fill the rest of the gaps for now. Not thrilled with the look of beauty dishes.

Was able to afford this because I realized I already had the nikon 1.8D lens. Went over budget a bit, but that is a nice setup with a pretty good main light with lots of control even at the lower power settings.

The PLM's setup/break down far faster, are much lighter, cost less and store away easily.

I would pass on the single B800 monolight and buy THREE Adorama Flashpoint 320M monolights with stands and umbrellas. It is far,far better to have THREE, 150 watt-second lights than only one slightly more-powerful light...one light is nice, but you WANT to have at least three, to as many as five lights--for many types of shots!!!

Skip the 50/1.4 G...the 50/1.8 AF-S G is just as good, or better. That savings alone will allow the second and third lights!! The $170 spent on the octabox is too much money...get a beauty dish and grid instead, and buy two Lastolite Umbrella Boxes with the 7mm shaft size. Th at will give you a dish + grid + two umbrellas to start with.

With today's amazing ISO 200-250-320-400 perfromance under flash illumination, 150 watt-second monolights in small locations are what you actually WANT TO HAVE. Lower, more-adjustable power settings!!!

I would also suggest buying a set of honeycomb grids and barn doors, which are very useful for accent/hair lighting, and for such uses, 150 watt-seconds is a HUGE amount of power, and you will often be using a grid-equipped light at a very low power level, like 20-40 watt-seconds when it is paired with light being shot through a modifier like an umbrella or beauty dish.