ryangautier

Amy,

I am not very far from there and if you want you can contact me and we can talk.

Let me know. i actually live in Clearwater, FL which is about 2 hours from there.

Ryan

I JUST (as in 5 hours ago) signed up here to be a member. I signed up because I want to contribute and think this is a great place to talk about photography and I have already made back (the $25) in knowledge by just meeting one of the many contributors here on photo.net.

I also at the same time got the insurance from here. I had quotes for the same coverage for at least $200 MORE than the provided ones here so that too made worth signing up.

I wish they had $2m in coverage but I can probably get away with 1 for now (I am small time :) )

Ryan

So Sheila I noticed this over on FM. Any update?

Ryan

Marv,

I will tell you that i have quickbooks and just haven't had the time to actually use it. I just don't have the time this minute to set it up and then use it the way I would like. i would love the way it works. You can input clients print receipts, track orders, thank yous, etc etc..

I will soon, but right this minute it's too much work for me to set that up. There are soo many things that it does and it can track EVERYTHING, if you have the time I would def set it up

Ryan

I can't rethink the sitting times. It will take longer but I have 4 hours to do this in and I have to get as much done as possible.

Thanks again for all the comments. That Dofmaster.com is incredible. Thanks. I wanted to ask do i really need a Boom stand or light right now?

I think I have decided (almost anyway) of going with 3 AB800's for now and try that out.

What modifiers do I use to start? Should the main light above the camera be the one that I use a softbox on? Octobox? Striplight? reflector? Umbrella?

I MIGHT go with White Lightning stuff depending on what everything else costs.

Ryan

Nadine,

thanks again for the lengthy and informative reply. You guys and gals rock!!! I don't think I nee creamy soft light at all, I just want them lit.

Can you fill me in a little on what you mean by F8 or F11 depending on focal lenth used?

I do have 2-580Ex's and 1-430ex flashes as well. I guess I need stands and brackets too now. What stands would I need? Maybe I should start another thread or read about those now too.. Onto reading about stands and what ones to get.

Ryan

Nathan thanks. So what modifiers went on what lighs? Where were the lights positioned for the group shot and then the individual ones?

How big were the softboxes? Brand?

thanks

Ryan

Nadine thanks again. I am reading that thread you listed.

SO for my limited use with JUST team shots and individual right this minute can you guys give me a judge of what modifiers I would use?

Should I go with 3 lights? Is two enough?

Say I went with for arguements sake AB800's? Would 2 do it? Should I get three? Would I be better getting 3 1600's (one on the left side, one in the middle above the camera, one on the right side?

What modifiers do I use for each flash unit? An octobox for the middle, or does it go on the left or the right or all three?

Thanks again for all the help. I guess I am having even more trouble with the modifiers than the lights really since I have no clue what goes where and on what flash unit either. I just know I want to light up these teams and then pretty easily go right into shooting the individual kids.

Thanks

Ryan

Again thank you for all the help.

Brooks:

Just to state I am using a Canon Mark III for the images (might use the 40d to not abuse the Mark III though or even the 30d).

I don't think I have enough money for the items you listed. I actually looked at North Tampa Photo and they do offer some good prices and with the educator discount the Profoto stuff is quite reasonable (kinda). I am just wondering IF the price is worth it IF I can get away with something for alot less. I am thinking and leaning toward the monolights because I hear they are more easily setup and break down and I can adjust them more. I am still very lost in this lighting world and well I really appreciate the input and am still reading as much as I can

Nadine: thanks for the thread. I am reading it right after I reply here.

Ryan

Nadine and Paul,

Thanks again for your posts I appreciate them.. Paul you are probably right on the schedule I again just want to make sure the lights COULD handle that if it came down to it, because from the advice of a woman at a camera shop (whom I think to be not so knowledgeable now) I would NEED to go with way more robust ($$$$$) equipment to do what I am talking about and that the AB's are crap and could no way handle what I am trying to do. I just want to find out if they can handle the constant trigger pulling I am talking about.

Do you think I will only need 2 lights (she is saying a min of 3 probably 4 for my crowd). I will do two rows (bottom row kneeling with 7 kids) and top row with 5 kids and two coaches. Would 2 lights be enough?

I am looking at the Profoto 600W (compact version with built in wireless Pocket wizards) OR the 1200 version of the same. Should I get Three?

Obviously this is way more just for lights than for the AB's and all the other modifiers and backdrops and stuff.

Thanks again

Ryan

Paul,

Just curious what do you mean about reconsider the schedule?

It's not really a scheduling thing honestly (i can extend it if necessary or come back another time) these are OUR kids that play for our indoor teams so the scheduling shouldn't be an issue I just want to know that I can bang-bang-bang and keep doing this all day long without having to worry I will stress the lights. I mean I want to be able to take 250-300 shots an hour or so and not worry at all about burning out the lights or anything.

Do you like monolights better than packs and heads? I am trying to figure out which ones I would like better.

Thanks again

Ryan

Sorry .. to clarify. It will be INSIDE a gym or room. The gym is about 40x20 and the room is about 15x12 with pretty bad lighting to begin with and I will have access to AC power. I don't really know how I will setup the gym (or room ) for the lighting (hopefully you guys and gals can help).

I will (at least try to) use a backdrop and no clue about modifiers. Maybe Octagon or softbox or umbrellas I don't really have a clue since I have never shot with any of them before.

Thanks for the help again I really appreciate it.

Ryan

My FIRST POST!!!!... Thanks for listening ahead of time and the help.. I have

been reading non stop for weeks trying to figure out what I need.

So here is my dilemma.

I have the need to shoot a TON of shots in a very short period of time. I am

shooting 15 teams and individual shots for these teams over 4 hours. So it

will be around 500 shots (I figure 2-3 per team and 2-3 per kid *15 teams) so

about 800 shots in 4 hours. I was told that I need a very high end system that

can handle this type of treatment. I will also be doing this numerous times in

the very near future so this is not a one time thing.

I was told that the lower end systems (Alien Bees, Dynalight, etc) will not be

able to hold up to this type of abuse.

The team photos will be 15 people and then the individual kids afterwards. I

have no idea what I need ( I NEED everything, modifiers, backdrops, heads (how

many?) etc. I am leaning pack system, but I don't know.

I am looking for suggestions and what I need as well. I hear Profoto or

Novatron are the more robust names and they make the system that I have to have

(I am worried about price). I would like to spend less than 3k if I can. I

would really like to spend less than 2k but don't know if that is possible.

So

Budget: 2-3k

Size of Team: 15 (maybe 20 later on)

Where do I start guys/gals?

Thanks again for all the help

Ryan G.