Need continuous lighting kit advice

[vito]

<p>Sometimes I get to shoot family portraits in picnic-like environment in the afternoon. I am looking for a simple, inexpensive lighting kit with stands that will make this easier. I tried mounted flash and it helps, but it can never be as good as soft light. As you can imagine, I will be shooting in the shadow of a tree or in the open if its coudy. Could one of these do the trick? <a href="http://www.adorama.com/PAINT117.html">http://www.adorama.com/PAINT117.html</a><br>

Any advice would be appreciated.</p>

[summerleif]

<p>After some experience, you will find that studio strobe flash is easier to work with than continuous lighting. Continuous lights that are 5600 kelvin (temperature/color), are not cheap either, at least as much as good quality strobe flash. You'll need a light meter too, but that comes with the territory.</p>

[richard_cochran]

<p>If you're talking about outdoor lighting in the shadow of a tree, you need light that is approximately (within a few stops) as bright as open shade. It'll need to be a few stops brighter than open shade if you want to use it as your key light. No affordable continuous lighting comes anywhere close. </p>

<p>If you insist on avoiding strobes, then use the sun as your light source and learn how to modify it with scrims, flags, and reflectors. A simple setup that works in the afternoon is to put the sun behind your subject as a hair light, put a reflector in front of your subject as a main light, and use the open sky as fill.</p>

<p>Otherwise, studio strobes (monolights or pack/head systems) with suitable modifiers are the way to go. There's a reason that studio strobes are by far the most popular type of light used in professional portrait studios.</p>

[vito]

<p>Thank you for your replies.<br>

I had no idea strobes were more popular. Actually, I do not insist on having continuous set up, strobes are ok. Can anyone recommend a specific manufacturer / model? I am lost in Adorama's list.</p>

 

[chad_hoelzel1]

<p>Since your trying to fight the sun (even in shade) for light output to get rid of shadows or make the strobe the primary light source possibly I wouldn't go to weak.<br /> Maybe something like this..... http://www.alienbees.com/flash.html<br /> With this to power it.... http://www.alienbees.com/VIIsystem.html</p>

<p>They have good packages.... I'd also consider wireless to the system so your not tripping on wires<br /> http://www.alienbees.com/remotes.html</p>

<p>Unfortunately simple and inexpensive are a little more difficult.... Depending on the size of your group you might want to look at just regular flashes from whatever camera brand you have and take those wireless.</p>

<p> </p>

[devon_mccarroll]

<p>+1 for Alien Bees. Fantastic customer service, lots of modifiers, and the Cybersync radio trigger/receivers are great too!</p>

[kavan_murphy2]

<p>A friend of mine has purchased from <a href="http://www.skaeser.com">www.skaeser.com</a> and another friend has bought from <a href="http://www.videolighting.com">www.videolighting.com</a>, though the latter seems to mostly have continuous lighting options for video. The first link does have studio strobes, though. Prices at both places are really good and I've seen the products from both and they seem to work great from what I've seen. Just wanted to throw those out there.</p>