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Well finally i own my sb800 flash. (thanks ray) I have got a number of clients who want me to photograph them, their children and their babies etc. While looking around the expo in melbourne earlier this month I fell in love with the softbox on a stand. my goal is to buy one but i don't feel i know enough about them and positioning of it etc. Whilst at the expo i noticed how many different sizes etc. Curious to gain some knowledge and learn from your experiences if your willing to post in reply.

I have been using my sb800 wirelessly using my built in flash - remotely with the sb800. But once again positioning is harder as it has to be visible to the sensers etc.

So yeah, please reply even if you have little experience but have learnt something valuable that i can also learn from.

the octobox is prob the best item because it has a similar light wrap as an unbrella
and the catchlight is more flattering than a square or rectangular softbox

http://cgi.ebay.com/Octagonal-Softbox-80cm-Soft-Box-Grid-Square-Perfect-/200484055879?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eadc7eb47#ht_1643wt_1139

although i find the stripbox more versatile
as you can rotate it horizontally to shoot closeup portraits with a wide light wrap around the subject

http://cgi.ebay.com/Strip-Softbox-12x52-Bowen-Style-Speedring-Roma-/190405449219?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c550c9603

just watch out for the type of speedring(attachment from softbox to light these softboxes have
most cheap ones use the s type speedring for cheap strobes

some other strobes may have proprietary attachments

stands at d & d photographic sell for about $50 best to get a c type stand

Be aware that commercial softboxes will need an adapter - either bought or homemade to fit an SB800.
To start with, you might consider a home made one. There are instructions referenced here somewhere. Andrew (ATJ) has published them. I made one & found it very easy to make and use.
Also, I find umbrellas work well with speedlites as the adapter for the umbrella has a hotshoe on it. THey are slightly harder light than a softbox, but way better than a bare flash.

For a light stand, I use an old tripod. I just took the pan-tilt head off to expose the thread. Not as good, but free Vs $$$! I live with it quite happily.

thanks guys for your replies thus far.

At the expo i was looking at a nice little kit from fotobestway is was a mercury 500 2 lead kit $999 which looked really good value for the money (not that I have that sort of money- will wait until after this weekends garage sale).
Basically it was a larger softbox and a white umbrella. With professional digital strobe lights. I know if I had the money I would have brought it on the spot as its probably gone back up in price since the expo. I do want to learn more about this type of lighting, as I know how important natural lighting is, but for portraits sometimes natural lighting just isn't enough. So yeah if you have any other advice that would be great . eg....your first experience with lighting like this? mistakes made and learnt.

I also plan on buying some black material as a background - fleabay have some muslin 6m long for around the $90 mark or there another option?

hi
i didnt read your post properly
your using an sb800
essentially the sb800 is more than enough for indorr lighting even at 1/32 power its enough to light a portrait shot

this item from dragon image will fit any s type softbox

http://www.dragonimage.com.au/Strobist-Speedlite-Brackets-&-Clamps/c10_19/p115/LightPro-Studio-Adapter/product_info.html?osCsid=ee92e2872e3ccf02e96b648c5af81195

or thesehttp://www.dragonimage.com.au/Strobist-Strobist-Kits/c10_12/index.html?osCsid=ee92e2872e3ccf02e96b648c5af81195

For an octagonal softbox deigned for a speedlight try this one:

http://www.dragonimage.com.au/p411/The- ... 65d68d519f

dviv wrote:For an octagonal softbox deigned for a speedlight try this one:

http://www.dragonimage.com.au/p411/The- ... 65d68d519f

Ummm Dave, the link doesn't work for me. Wants me to log in.

That's wierd.... I can click on it and have never loged in.

I've had great fun using a 50x50 softbox and a lightstand I bought from Servaas:
http://protog.com.au/portable-photographic-flash-soft-box-diffuser-50x50cm-p-137.html
The photos on the web show how not to mount the softbox though... the ring should be on the outside of the box.
(Get some batteries and a charger while you're there!)

Taken with the softbox up close and personal at camera right. I could have done with some more light on the left, but I was happy (as were they) for a quick few snaps at 9.30 one night!

For a speedlight I would suggest looking through these pages
http://protog.com.au/light-diffusers-c-51.html


If you going to use big shot lights (and add accesories as you go) then you need to consider the speedring attachments. I don't know much about them but I think there are two common ones in use. Make sure the big lights are compatible with those. If so, then you will need to find a small strobe to speedring adaptor as Dviv has pointed out.

Also read
http://www.dslrusers.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=35201

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07/diy-ball-bungee-speedlight-soft-box.html

If you search the strobist site, there is alot of info on softboxes, speedrings etc.

paulmac wrote:I've had great fun using a 50x50 softbox and a lightstand I bought from Servaas:
http://protog.com.au/portable-photographic-flash-soft-box-diffuser-50x50cm-p-137.html

great price too for a aussie store, i guarantee there are plenty of places out there flogging these for twice that price.

wow, so much to take in. Will certainly review those other posts thanks for the suggestion. I quite liked the look of that octagonal softbox. So it might be worth going for. Appreciate everyone discussing this with and for me. Amazing how much there is to learn! will reply again in more depth when i have a more suitable time to study up on everyones comments!! thanks again!!