margie_willbanks

<p>Hi and thanks for your responses.<br>

Matt, these are fine art prints for private sale to a customer who liked them. I had planned on matting with no backing. My research since my last post has me thinking maybe I need to include some kind of backing...</p>

<p>I'm just beginning to sell my work and wanted some input on how much to charge.<br>

Here are the specs:<br>

-- 8x10 print<br />-- Epson Premium Photo Lustre paper<br />-- 11x14 acid free matte<br>

For now I'm happy to cover my material costs and make a few bucks over that, but eventually I would like to cover my labor costs as well.<br>

Also, should I sign the print, matte, or both?<br>

If you have pricing input on 5x7 and 16x20 sizes, please include matte size as well.<br>

Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Ok, thanks Michael. I know the speedlight can be used as a slave so I think I will hold off on triggers for now and experiment a bit first. I've learned quite a bit to digest in the last couple of days and really appreciate all the input from everyone! That Strobist site is great and they have a forum on Flickr which was helpful too so thanks again for recommending it.</p>

<p>Cheers!</p>

<p>Ok, sorry I am taking b-a-b-y steps... I looked back over my flash/camera manuals and checked out the strobist.com website (thanks for that site recommendation Michael).</p>

<p>Earl said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Bottom line, Margie, is that you will need a light fired either via sync cord, radio trigger, or on the camera shoe.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>And Michael said:</p>

<blockquote>If you've tripped the AB's, then you can trip the speedlight with an optical slave.</blockquote>

<p>So the haze is clearing and I think I've got this now...</p>

<p>I can use the sync cord to trip the Alien Bees, but will need an optical trigger to trip the speedlight if using off camera. Correct?</p>

<p>Wow, thanks everyone for the great input! I have decided to go with the Alien Bees based on the feedback. Not sure how many yet, but will probably start with at least one 800 and a soft box. </p>

<p>It occurred to me today that I may be able to get by with one Alien B as my main light with a reflector, and use my speedlight on camera as a fill, but I may go ahead and get two Alien Bs since as Donnie pointed out I can get a good deal on a package. The 800s are not much more than the 400s so it seems worth it to get at least one if not two. </p>

<p>Still researching triggers...I'll take a look at those RF-602s as well. Thanks too, Earl, for the mini-Lith suggestion and for the resale info on the Bs!</p>

<p>Please forgive my ignorance, but will I still need at least one receiver since the Bs have built-in slave trippers? Or is it possible to trip the speedlight without a receiver thus tripping the Bs?</p>

<p>Again, thanks so much...this site is my one of my best sources of information thanks to everyone's willingness to share their knowledge!</p>

<p>Hi Michael and thanks for your response. To clarify, the Photo Basics lights are made by Westcott so I don't know if that would change your opinion, but based on my research I figured that Alien Bees would be likely to provide decent lights with the wattage I needed at a reasonable price so thanks for confirming that.</p>

<p>I'm not really familiar with CyberSync...just saw that some folks really liked them; I will check out the Einsteins, as well as the Vagabaun line and softbox brands you mentioned.</p>

<p>Just to confirm...there's no getting around the need for wireless transmitter/receiver unless I keep my speedlight on my hotshoe, correct?</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

<p>Looking for input on a 3-point lighting system for my studio (approx. 11' x 18' with 7' ceiling), something I could also take on location. I'd like to keep it under $1000, but I would like to get something that will be decent enough so that a year from now I won't wish I had gone ahead and spent a bit more for something better.</p>

<p>I've been debating between the Photo Basics 231 Strobelight Plus 3-light Kit (200 effective watts per second w/ 100 watt modeling lamp), or a couple of Alien Bees B-400 flash units (400 effective watts per second w/ 150 watt modeling lamp). Both the Photo Basics and Alien Bees lights come with built-in slave trippers and I have a Canon Speedlight 580 EXII that I'm still learning to use.</p>

<p>Amazon sells the 3 light Photo Basics kit for around $794 and it comes with more accessories (2 - 24" x 36" softboxes, barn-doors and gels for the backlight and wheeled carrying case), but I'm a little concerned about the 200 wps being enough.<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Photo-Basics-231-Strobelite-Three/dp/B001AG2M4K/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&m=A17MC6HOH9AVE6&n=3462181&s=photo">hyperlink</a></p>

<p>I think I can get a better set-up for about the same amount ($766) with alien bees if I use my speedlight as the third light, but I'm not sure I'm looking at the right equipment to make it work (preferably wirelessly):<br /> (2) Alien Bees B-400B flash units<br />(2) LS3050 10' general purpose light stands<br />(1) CSRB CyberSync Battery Powered Trigger Receiver<br />(1) CST CyberSync Trigger Transmitter<br />(1) FSB2436 24" x 36" softbox (I have an umbrella I planned to use for the fill; plan on using the soft box for main light and speedlight for backlight)<br /><br />Soooo....now the questions:</p>

<ol>

<li>Is my plan for designating main, fill and back lights good, or is there a better way to achieve this?</li>

<li>Is the Alien Bee equipment list merely adequate, overkill, or about right for what I want to do? </li>

<li>Would the Alien Bees be the better investment in the long-run?</li>

<li>What would I need to add/spend if I wanted to use the lights on location (battery, cases, etc.)?</li>

<li>And would I still need transmitter/receiver if I bought the Photo Basics kit?</li>

</ol>

<p>Frankly, I'm a little overwhelmed with it all so I appreciate any suggestions.</p>

<p>Wow, thanks for the great responses. <br>

Nathan, I think it's okay if the fireworks are a little soft but with good streaks so they're easily recognizable as fireworks.<br>

Jeff, I don't know whether they will be arial or ground works but I can find out and go from there. I wasn't sure what you were referring to about having the flash on 2nd curtain. Can you elaborate? (thanks!) I will be using a Canon 580 ex II speedlight flash.<br>

James, Thanks for the tips regarding distance and motion blur as well as the Google suggestion. the couple will be in a field without much (if any) ambient light.<br>

Rene, what were your ideas about off-camera flash? I do have lights I can take with me but wasn't sure how those might affect the fireworks.<br>

Jen, thanks for the suggestion on f/stop and shutter speeds. <br>

I know the groom's mother and since the wedding will be at her home, I will see if I can do some test shots before the big day and get more comfortable with it. This job feels pretty challenging but I think I need to challenge myself in order to grow as a photographer. Thanks again for all of your suggestions. It's great to have a forum like this where everyone is so helpful!</p>

<p>I may be booking my first solo wedding soon and the bride and groom would like a shot of them kissing with fireworks going off in the background. Can anyone help me with the following questions?<br>

How do I light this shot so that the couple is visible without washing out the fireworks?<br>

What kind of shutter speed should I use?<br>

I'll be shooting with a Canon Rebel XTi and using either the 18-55 mm f/4.5-5.6 lens that came with it or the Canon 50 mm f/1.4 USM prime. Tripod of course and any recommendations on other lens options, distance, lighting, shutter, etc. will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

<p>I am about a third of the way through the NYIP program and really have no complaints. I've pretty much gotten what I expected. True the course materials are a little dated, but still applicable and they have included updates with each unit. In addition to the course materials, I received some accessories when I signed up. The umbrella is definitely cheap, but the pop-up photo tent and a reflector set are pretty decent. <br>

I understand that for many people NYIP's format may not be the best option. I do feel that I would learn MUCH more in a classroom setting, but for the money I think it's a good deal. There is no substitute for practice and you won't be a professional just by completing the course, but as an introduction, it serves well.</p>

Hi all,

One of my photos was accepted into a juried exhibition and I need to come up with prices for both a framed, matted print and matted prints

with no frame.

Here are the particulars:

b/w 5x7 photo, 8x10 white archival matte, 8x10 contemporary black wood frame

My costs:

$30 entry fee, 30% commission on all works sold, Approximately $32 in supplies for framed/matted prints, Approximately $20 in supplies

for matted prints

Any input will be appreciated!

Thanks,

~Margie

I've read lots of reviews on NYIP and am seriously considering taking their Complete

Course in Professional Photography. My other alternative is to quit my day job and

take a two-year program at a local community college...not sure how I feel about

that in this economy.

I received NYIP's catalog packet in mid-April, along with a $150 discount coupon if I

paid in full up front. Today (May 6) I received a follow-up postcard that required me

to contact them for information about a "special limited-time bonus offer." Long story

short, I called and the offer is for $350 off the paid in full up front amount so the

course would only be $648. The offer still includes the free camera bag and

monopod and they confirmed that even if I did pay up front and decided later not to

continue, I could get a pro-rated refund based on how much material I had already

received.

I don't know if the NYIP course will give me all the business info I need to feel

confident starting my own photo business (their course does address business

aspects), but I am confident I will learn a lot and be a much better photographer after

completing it. Btw, both times I spoke with someone, they were polite and answered

my questions completely and directly without any sales pitch. I'm feeling pretty good

about this.