What type of proffesional lighting do you suggest?

Question

Studio lighting for a photography studio. what kind of lighting do they use and what are the types and or brands that are the best?

thanks =]

Answer 1

Almost all studios use electronic flash. A basic setup that will handle most things like portraits and many product and still life type shots would be something like the Alien Bees. They are available as kits and you can get one with 3 lights for portraits with umbrellas, lightstands and a softbox reasonably priced. With some sort of backdrop setup you'll be able to do very nice portrait lighting. Just search under Alien Bees for their site. They have earned a very good rep.

You will see various flash outfits on e-Bay that come out of China. I don't recommend them, though they are cheap. I won't claim I know that they are bad or good, I don't. As a working pro, I am very sensitive to two things: price and quality. If the quality isn't there, I don't care about the price. Since I don't know anything about their quality and nobody I know has ever used them, they are something I wouldn't recommend.

There are various other things you need, too. These are called light modifiers and come in a wide variety of types for different puposes. There are bounces, scrims, flags, gobos, bookends, grids, barndoors, snoots, light panels and filter holders.

As Antoni sagely noted, if you had all that stuff, what would you do with it? Studio lighting is one of the harder aspects of photography to master. I know, I am just getting into serious studio lighting as I move toward commercial photography. I now know why it can take hours and sometimes days to get the lighting just right.

Painters have their paint, sculpters whatever they sculpt and photographers have light and its qualities. Without understanding light in all its aspects, you won't ever really have much of anything.

Like Antoni said, and it is great advice, learn about light and lighting. Then you will be able to think about the equipment you need to do the job. It doesn't need to be much, if you know what your doing.

This shot is a desk lamp on the floor and two pieces of typing paper as bounce fills. One to the left and the other underneath the cup to lighten the shadow within the handle.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Vance.Lear/CoffeCup/photo?authkey=BKLmv3z2p5s#5114716988976838578

It's not a great shot, I just wanted to see how much I could do with how little, but no aspect of the lighting is not absolutely controlled. I wouldn't have gotten anything better if I had set up my strobes. I wouldn't have had to lay on the floor to take the shot, but it wouldn't have been any better.

Vance

Answer 2

You got some good answers from Vance and Antoni but I will add the following. 1. You never stated how much money you want to spend. This type of lighting runs from the inexpensive to the top of the line and can cost more than a new Ferrari for just one light. 2. You never stated what kind of lights you wanted. Tungsten or electronic flash. 3. What kind and size of the studio you are setting up. Is it a studio for Portraits of people or animals or are you doing small still life subjects or do you plan on shooting 18 wheeler trucks? This all has factors in purchasing lighting equipment because each has its own characteristics and price tags.

Plus I have used a flashlight to do some shooting so there was no studio lights used.

Go to this website and look and you can get an idea of what the power of the units are the prices.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Hope this gives you an idea,
Kevin

Answer 3

As is so often the case antoni m is right. Take a photography class before buying a lot of equipment you have no idea how to use.

I am always amused by people who think buying an expensive camera and some lenses and lights makes them a "Professional Photographer". It doesn't work like that.

An incompetent, unskilled photographer with the most expensive, technologically advanced DSLR will still produce mediocre photos. Give antoni m a disposable film camera and he will give you excellent results.

Answer 4

if your car has not been in a crash it is usually a wire ribbon in the steering column that breaks this problem may later start affecting your horn also but to be on the safe side take it to a mechanic the mechanic will be able to reset it if every thing is OK

Answer 5

ok so we tell you then what?

goto "photography" school and learn lighting first (they will tell you the lights to buy) - whats the point of having them and not knowing how to use them?

i use dedos alot, they are adjustable wattage wise, they have zooms, barndoors, and its easy to attach diffussing materials and gels to them. i also use chinesse lanterns, blonds and redheads (film/tv lighting.....blonds 2000w, reds 800w, dedos 100-800 watts)

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