studio with future potential

[limeblu]

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[KmH]

What country are you in? You show no location in your profile.

I does no good to recommend products you cannot get where you are.

 

[Scatterbrained]

.......
help me ticmmhieve my goals without Worthington about issues..........

I have no idea what this means.

Knowing what country you're in and what your budget is would be quite helpful. It would do no good to recommend a Broncolor Move pack and heads if your budget is more in line with a pair of Einsteins.

 

[limeblu]

I have changed that sentence so it now is correct, it was late and I was using a stupid phone that does whatever it pleases. I am located in Canada so pretty much anything in Canada and the US. I am not concerned about the cost as much as I am about product integrity, I like when things are well built and you can see and feel it, when the little things are taken care of. I am not saying I have or want to spend tons of income just to say I have the best, I would spend less as long as its proven. I just want to know a few tried and true brands that have been put through their paces. But also, I only want to buy once so it has to be a product line that is for lack of a better term, modular.

 

[curtyoungblood]

A couple of thoughts: I think that the studio equipment is the last piece of the puzzle. Do you already have professional quality lenses and camera body? If not, use your funds to buy that. Studio portraits aren't the most popular right now, and you can make quality portraits outdoors with a reflector.

also, a general budget really is needed. Good quality lighting equipment can be anywhere from a couple of thousand to tens of thousands to completely outfit a studio.

 

[astroNikon]

A couple of thoughts: I think that the studio equipment is the last piece of the puzzle. Do you already have professional quality lenses and camera body? If not, use your funds to buy that. Studio portraits aren't the most popular right now, and you can make quality portraits outdoors with a reflector.

also, a general budget really is needed. Good quality lighting equipment can be anywhere from a couple of thousand to tens of thousands to completely outfit a studio.

I was thinking the same things.
Also, need to know your current equipment ... ie, is it capable of controlling the strobes or do you need additional equipment for that too ?
Thus, at the very least needed before ppl can respond:
Budget
Current Equipment
Size of "potential" studio (floor space & height)
.... (or instance, my home studio has limited space thus limits me from using strobes, large diffusers or tall portraits !! )

 

[KmH]

Knowing how to light for portraiture - being aware of lighting styles and lighting ratios would tell you what you need to get started.
From that you would research what products are available.

The physical dimensions of the studio space need to be considered.

You will need at least 2 lights (key, fill) plus some lights for the background, but having 5 lights to light your subjects will give you more lighting options from the beginning (key, fill, accent/kicker, hair, rim).
Some pros prefer studio monolights, like what Profoto, and Elinchrom offer
Some prefer a head and power pack light system, like what Speedotron has.

As far as light modifiers some prefer to use umbrellas (Westcott), some use brollys (Photek), some use softboxes (Chimera), and many use all 3.
You will need to have a variety of sizes from the beginning. You use the smaller sizes for head shots and the bigger sizes as more of a person is included in the portrait or when more than 1 person is in the portrait.

You'll need some reflectors and some diffusion panels in a variety of sizes. Lastolite is a good brand.
You'll need a posing stool(s), a camera stand, gaffers tape, extension cords, yada, yada, yada. (Manfrotto, Foba, Arkay, make camera stands)

Light stands should go up at least 8 feet, be sturdily built and stable, but you'll want light stand weights anyway. I recommend Matthews brand light stands (C-stands) and boom arms for lights.

 

[JerryVenz]

Nice, for a change, to see someone asking this question and stressing long lasting, quality equipment instead of the usual low budget, do it on the cheap, in my living room, on weekends, that I see most often!

FIRST, I'd like to see your website (you'd better already be doing this professionally) to see if you know how to use what you already own!

SECOND, What type of studio work do you plan on doing? If you will be doing portraiture that's pretty easy to setup but if you're going to be doing commercial work like cars--then it's a whole different ball game!

I have build several studios these past 25-years and I'm helping get my son's new studio set-up now--I love this stuff?

So, with those questions answered, I'd love to help. Jerry V.