Small Photography Reflector
Lighting/Umbrellas/Strobist Questions?
I want to buy some lighting, however I have not the slightest clue in a.) what to buy b.) how to use it. Anyone want to recommend some good, inexpensive (i'm on a budget for the time being) stuff? My friend uses AlienBees, but didn't tell me what to get or how to use it! I really only need two umbrellas, I believe, but what do the white and black ones do? Do I need big or small? Brolly Boxes? Softboxes? Speedrings? Reflectors? Modifiers? What are all those? I want to shoot portrait and band promo photography. A good written explanation with links would be absolutely wonderful. Thank you all for the answers.
Before you spend any money on any kind of lighting, visit a local studio and see what they have an use and what they suggest you buy to start.
The best idea would be to see if you work as an assistant to a studio photographer until you get a good idea of how much you will have to spend to start with a basic lighting package and then the next pieces of equipment you will want to add as your cash-flow increases.
I usually use one 400 w/s or 750 watt incandescent and either a shoot-through umbrella or light box and use a large reflector as fill. Sure there are times when a very complex lighting set up is needed, but that has more to do with shooting products, not models or portraits.
Lighting as with composition as to do with "seeing", not the equipment you own. I have used simple 500 watt and 250 watt work lights to light scenes when necessary.
Link to all you could ever use in the way of lighting
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/category/1161/Lighting_Studio.html
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