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Posted

Here is the list of items i put together that i am thinking about buying. if

anyone can take the time to let me know if this set up will be enough for indoor

family portraits and also single portraits. a few questions....is it good to

have the B1600 and and 3 B800's? or should i just get all 4 @ B800? second, i

plan on using a hair light. should i have a soft box for that?

this entire order will cost me 2005.00. if anyone has a comparable entire kit

that you think may work better and is within this price range or LESS. please

let me know. i'll be holding off on this purchase until i know i will be

getting quality for my price range. thanks for your time.

item# item description

B1600 AlienBees B1600-Star White (1)

B800 AlienBees B800-Deep Space Black (3)

LB11 Boom Arm Attachment with 11-pound Counterweight

CB1 AlienBees Carrying Bag (4)

HG4X Four Honeycomb Grids

LG4X Four-Channel Wired Remote

LS1100 Backlight Stand

LS3050 10-foot General Purpose Stand (1)

LS3900 13-foot Heavy Duty Stand (2)

LSB48 Stand Carrying Bag

RFT1RX Radio Flash Trigger One Receiver

RFT1TX Radio Flash Trigger One Transmitter

SB3060 Giant Softbox (with LGSR)

U32SW 32? Silver/White Umbrella

U48TWB 48? Shoot-Thru Umbrella

UBR Background Reflector

 

Joe

Posted

Personally, I'd stick with four of the 800's. That way you'll get a more visibly workable ratio out of the modeling lights, should you use them. For at-home portraiture, especially of the single-subject variety, it's very unlikely that you'll be running those 800s at anywhere close to their full capacity. The 1600 might be nice if you have to really cook a background, or if you start shooting outdoors and need to fill shadows on a bright day... but I feel you'll be happier with four of the same strobe.

 

Also: get, or make, some sandbags. When I hear "family" and "home" I think of kids and pets. And it's really nice to stabiliize those stands as much as possible. Also consider some gaffer's tape if you'll be seeing a lot of foot traffic around your cabling.

Posted

thank you, you also answered another question i always wanted. i always read that gaffers tape was a must have in a photographers bag. didn't know what it was used for. but i had assumed it was for the cables. now can you tell me what makes it better than just using duct tape?

alien bees are "professional" enough for a home photographer just doing families i know and things of that nature?

Posted

Gaffer's tape is stronger than ductape, usually stickier, and releases cleanly, without leaving a residue (unless it's gotten hot or been on a long time). It also has a nice matte finish and is available in many colors, which means it's easier to hide in a shot.

 

Alien Bees are a great start into a home studio, they aren't built for the pro photographer who shoots all day every day at high power, but for a home user they are a great value. I don't think much else can compare at their price point.

Posted

A couple of my friends have the AlienBees and I've have the chance to work them on several occasions. I'd say they were a great way to start! The heavey stands are nice and stable. The lights are Not the MOST durable and not the absolute BEST quality, but for the price they are unbeatable.

 

I suggest getting all your lights the same power. Will make calculation a lot easier! All the other accessories are just a matter of taste and personal preference. Case in point: I like a long narrow strip for a mainlight that lights from over the backdrop and another medium sized softbox as the fill. I also like to use barebulb for kickers and the backlight backlight. One of the local wedding photographers uses a 2-light setup with white reflective umbrellas to achieve stunning results. Bees are Good.

Posted

I would, personally, not recommend this set up.

 

One, I HATE monolights for this many lights. You have to synch each of those lights, and lower them to change their power settings-- yes, you have a four channel remote to get around this-- which is nice. However, if you are starting w/ a 4 light set up, how long will it be before you want a basic 5 light set up? It's 4 channels, after that, you are walking and changing.

 

The other thing is, you may find that starting out w/ 4 lights is overwhelming. I'd start out w/ one or two. Just my suggestion.

 

If you plan on getting a 5 light system, get a Speedotron Blackline system (Brownline recycles too slow if you ever get higher wattage).

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/50053-REG/Speedotron_11288_805_Deluxe_2_Light_800.html

 

That's what I started w/, and love it. There's also a 400watt pack that is cheaper, and comes w/ heads that aren't fan cooled. The goal for a 5 head system here, is to have two power packs, and 5 heads-- many nice options.

Posted
Isn't "a basic five light set up" an oxymoron?<p>Get two lights and some Pocket Wizards and a set of soft boxes (small, large and strips). Then learn how to use them well... t<div>00MzmP-39196784.jpg.59e9dc1eff78a280ccc9fc0e185a4e39.jpg</div>

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