equipment advice for portable portrait studio

[george_tietz]

Hi Y'all,

 

I have mulled over several options for my goal and I think it is

time to get some advice from smart people. I'd like to have a good

enough set-up to produce people, pet, senior, glamour etc. portraits

along with some event photography and maybe art work (product

shots). My setup currently is 20D, kit lens, 50mm 1.8 and 70-200 f4L

sigma super 500 Dg flash, remote release and tripod. My budget $700,

I have ruled out getting another lens for now although the 24-70L

would be awesome. I am thinking to get this running I need:

1.stroboframe and hotshoe cord

2.another flash to use as slave

3.another tripod

4.omnibounce or flash soft box

5.chroma key back gound

6.reflectors

7.posing stool or bench

I appreciate any specific suggestions on equipment brand or

suggestions on other equipment I might need to fill this out.

I have learned so much from this forum.Thanks in advance.

[barry_davis___st._louis__m]

I just bought a real nice "Kaeser" backdrop system and a muslim backdrop (10x20) for use in portraits. Its portable for my weddings when the existing venue really is yucky! Both on ebay!

[yakim_peled1]

<p> 1. Only <b>you</b> know what is best <b>for you</b>. </p>

<p> 2. If I were in your shoes I'd probably get the 17-40/4 to replace the kit lens. Then again, I am not you and may have different priorities.</p>

<p> HTH. </p>

 

 

 

<p>Happy shooting, <br>

Yakim.</p>

[chrisjb]

Hi, what Yakim said. with your thinking at present you seem to be guessing,eg chromakey backdrops need good even lighting to work properly, 700 won`t get far unless you get what you really need to start, 2 suggestions, find a good book and start with the very basuc setups, (1 main light, 1 back light, umbrella & stands). Go look at the portable photo setups in your local shopping centres and watch what they do & use. Can`t get much more portable with the space they get.

 

HTH goodluck

[gluteal cleft]

For now, I'd stick with the 50mm lens, it will be a good start.

 

For lighting, you could pick up a TTL wireless slave flash like the 420ex (or another 500 DG Super), put it on a light stand with an adapter an an umbrella, and probably come out for about $350 for new parts.

 

Of course, you could go with cheap manual flashes and PC cords as well, which would shave up to $200 off of the cost of lighting.

 

Either way, that leaves about $350 for your backdrop and some sort of softbox for the on-camera flash, which should be plenty if you're resourceful.

 

steve

[george_tietz]

thanks for your help on this tried refining down a little

 

2 vivitar 283's/ paper back drop homemade pvc stand/ drum stool/2 light stands/ light meter/ hotshoe cord so I can position flash any where/ foam poster board for reflectors and to build soft boxes

 

or I might just get an alien bee set

 

17-40 would be awesome also but I am not going the lens route I need to start doing this with what I have make some money yeah go for the glass

[gluteal cleft]

Before you get too excited about the 17-40, take some shots with your existing lenses and see the 17-40 really is the focal length that you need. "Traditional" portrait lenses are from 85mm to 135mm, which on your crop factor run from 53mm to 85mm. A shorter lens can help with group photos, but all in all, there's a reason that portrait photographers use longer lenses. Yes, you have to back up, but you get a more flattering portrait in return.

 

I have shorter lenses than my 50mm, but I only use them if there's just no other way to get the portrait. Every once in a while I'll rent an 85mm f/1.2 for really important portraits, and the pictures are knock-your-socks-off good.

 

steve

 

 

steve