Does anyone have real-world experience using fluorescent lighting for portrait photography?

Question

I am looking at starting a part-time portrait business and looking into flash versus flouorescent lighting.

Answer 1

If you are going to do a portrait business, DO NOT go with flourecent lighting. Color balancing against that will be a huge headache. Instead go with continuous lighting solution such as the Photogenic DigiLight CL500 // http://photogenicpro.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=36&DEPARTMENT_ID=64

Answer 2

Don't use fluorescent lights . However, if you MUST, you could change the bulbs out of the normal cool white bulbs to special daylight bulbs. They are more expensive and not too easy to find (like at the hardware store). And you can't just leave them in the ceiling light fixtures. They would have to be in a fixture that can be moved and controlled. (Best to stay away from these.)

This type of light gives a very flat light. By that I mean it's rather soft and has low contrast. In portrait lighting you want something with a crisp light and something that you can control. There are tons of books on this subject. You might go to Borders or Books-a-Million and do a little reading.

I was trained in flash so that is the way I work. I find them easy to work with in my style of photography. Some photographers use what are called Hot Lights. Don't care for them .

If you look at flash you might try Dynalites or White Lightenings. They are not too expensive and are dependable. A lot of companies are putting out new systems every year so you'll need to do a little research to find the one best for your purposes.

Answer 3

Fluorescent light is LOADED with invisible spectrum which film and digital sensors are somewhat sensitive to. Your colors (particularly on fabrics) will be all over the place, and your lab will hate you. Don't do it.
Try to locate some used studio equipment with flash heads and a single power pack. Novatron has some good equipment a reasonable prices. Best of luck!

Answer 4

The fact of the matter is that every fluorescent lamp -it's a lamp not a bulb -, every cold cathode, tube, 95 % of all " neon " tubes that use argon , krypton or helium gas , and every HID lamp that has the the word " mercury " in the description that has ever been made has mercury in them Those lamps have been randomly tossed in the trash for at least 50 w/ no documentable ill effects to the environment

Answer 5

Ugh! Don't do it. Fluorescent lighting is not a good idea.

Answer 6

i do not recommend using flourescent light for anything!