portrait lighting

[PAMBO63]

I am considering turning my familyroom into a studio. The room is 11' X 20'
with an 8' high ceiling. My camera is a Cannon AE1, I have both 50mm and a
75-205mm lense. I mainly use black and white film, but on occasion I shoot
color too. I am interested in taking portraits - family, children, glamour and
environmental........ Can anyone recommend a good portable lighting system?
Something that I can use for both indoor and outdoor portraits. Cost is also
an issue here ($600 or less) - I am still a student and not getting paid for
my efforts. Thanks

[Mr 645]

I would look for a Speedotron Brownline system. For $600 you will need to look
at used gear and one of the lower powered packs. Try to find a 600ws power
pack and two heads. Make sure the heads can accept umbrellas or softboxes.

I think when you add the needed gear such as stands, umbrellas, a meter, cords
you may have a tough time sticking to a $600 budget but with the Brownline
stuff it should last 10-20-30 years trouble free.

Jon

http://www.jonlayephotography.com

[Paul Ferrara]

I'm also an amateur and have a setup similar to what it sounds like you'd
like. I use two shoe-mount flashes (the Vivitar 283 would be good in your
case) mounted on lightstands fired into umbrellas. I have a mini-slave
mounted on a Bogen arm that's used as a hairlight and an older handle-mount
flash with built-in slave which I sometimes use to light the background.

I use 53" wide seamless background paper in various colors (start with
black) hung from two hooks in the ceiling. The paper is about $25/roll.

You'll probably also want to buy an inexpensive flash meter.

You can buy everything listed above for less than $600; much less if you buy
used gear. And you'll get great portraits and the whole setup can be torn
down and put away in 10 minutes or so.

Paul

PAMBO63 <pam...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991226192238...@ng-cp1.aol.com...

[Ermitt Burge]

I use a Novatron 220 kit (the older one). I bought the power pack and 2
heads used at a pawn shop for $75.00. I bought 2 new Eclipse umbrellas
for $20.00 each and 2 Novatron light stands new for $60.00 each. Some
time after the holidays I'll buy a case from Adarama for around $80.00.
You won't need the case if you plan on using it exclusively at home. I
bought a muslin backdrop from a guy in the photo section of the Atlanta
newspaper for $60.00 (I was there visiting my brother, I live in
Oklahoma City). So, for just $375.00 I have a useful portrait lighting
setup.

Hope this helps.

Ermitt
Erm...@Burge.com