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Evening all...

Previously people have asked me about budget studio setups. Well... here's a rough idea. Remember, a studio doesn't have to be nice and shiny to produce good shots... it's just a tool



This is my budget home setup. I have labelled the majority of stuff so that you get an idea of what is in there. There is still plenty more that I would like to purchase, but isn't that always the case.

Here's an example shot... don't critique as I just grabbed my wife and said " Hey... need a quick example shot for the forums". She ummed and ahhed and said a few choice words



Next week I'll shoot a behind the scenes shot with my latest model shoot, and go into details of aperture settings per strobe, shutter speed, camera settings yadda yadda yadda.

cheers

Interesting Mark, can't wait for future installments




ps nice shot of your wife

Something a little different ... organising release forms at the moment so should have something early next week.

cheers

Nice setup.........


big pix

I like the way you've taken the shot of the studio, with lights and flashes

Killakoala wrote:I like the way you've taken the shot of the studio, with lights and flashes

had to go f22 in a non lit room... quite fun and eerie at the same time

cheers

Well done Mark, great shot of the gear involved and well the wife didn't turn out to bad no matter how much complaining she did. I get that with the kids here, sick of me getting to stand somewhere so i can test things was good at first but yeh now its a do i have tooooooo, with tongues poked out. LOL
Look forward to seeing more.
Cheers
John
BBJ

Thanks Mark,

thanks very much for the insight into your studio.
Looking at the photo of your wife, your studio is working very well, also your wife is a great model.
Great shot. (of course behind the hands and eyes of Mark !)
I'm also looking forward to your details about a model shoot you mentioned.
I'm actually pretty amazed with this setting and your skills.
How did you accomplish to know what you know and manifest the knowledge and skill ?

Cheers
CD

bbj... you're spot on... at first it's all nice and wow, and then the family get used to it and start to get a little ruffled

cd... everything was learnt just by listening to people that had info to share and reading books... forums like this are a wealth of knowledge for people wanting to learn.

cheers

Neat setup Mark. Give your wife some more wine, then she might agree for you to purchase some more equipment and or lens .

I am looking forward to the next instalment.

Nice one Mark - look forward to seeing some great shots

sirhc55 wrote:Nice one Mark - look forward to seeing some great shots

On 2 weeks holiday from my day job and have set the majority of time for taking shots... should be able to muster up something to post..

cheers

fozzie wrote:Neat setup Mark. Give your wife some more wine, then she might agree for you to purchase some more equipment and or lens .

I am looking forward to the next instalment.

hahahahaha!! i have done that so many times that i think she is becoming immune to wine

cheers

xerubus/Mark,

hahahahaha!! i have done that so many times that i think she is becoming immune to wine

Try Champagne, it is a known fact that it goes to their head quicker.

Cute workshop. You got it all set up the way it should be....but you need a bar fridge. Can't have a studio without a bar fridge. Buy the bar fridge first and the studio lights next. That's how it works.

Awesome!!!

What would be your estimate to set something up similar?

I would really love to get into this...

MHD wrote:Awesome!!!

What would be your estimate to set something up similar?

I would really love to get into this...

Me too Scott. Mark, thanx heaps for your interesting posts. At this stage int he beginnings of my new 'business' the portrait photography I'm doing is primarily outdoors but I too wonder about the cost and setup of such a 'studio'. Can't wait to see some of your model shoots. Thanx

Matt. K wrote:Cute workshop. You got it all set up the way it should be....but you need a bar fridge. Can't have a studio without a bar fridge. Buy the bar fridge first and the studio lights next. That's how it works.

aha... you can't see it... but to the left of me is a full size fridge... full of beer and wine... and yes... it was there before the studio stuff

MHD wrote:Awesome!!!

What would be your estimate to set something up similar?

I would really love to get into this...

that's a really cheap setup. it's cost me around $3500 so far.

if the lights etc were elinchrom the setup would be around $10K by now

it's good fun to play with... and amazing the results you can get by playing with the lighting, reflectors, etc etc yadda yadda.

cheers

Geoff wrote:

MHD wrote:Awesome!!!

What would be your estimate to set something up similar?

I would really love to get into this...

Me too Scott. Mark, thanx heaps for your interesting posts. At this stage int he beginnings of my new 'business' the portrait photography I'm doing is primarily outdoors but I too wonder about the cost and setup of such a 'studio'. Can't wait to see some of your model shoots. Thanx

no probs...

cheers

Mark,
Nice set up with small dough! good lust result after all So more lust will come into that garage soon huh?
Now, what lens are you going to use most in this studio setup?
17-55, 28-70/2.8, 85/1.4, 35/f.2, 50/1.4, 105DC/f.2

Birddog114 wrote:Mark,
Nice set up with small dough! good lust result after all So more lust will come into that garage soon huh?
Now, what lens are you going to use most in this studio setup?
17-55, 28-70/2.8, 85/1.4, 35/f.2, 50/1.4, 105DC/f.2

currently swapping between the 18-50DC and the 50f1.8

you missed the next lens in your list... the 17-35... a very good lens and my next choice.

cheers

xerubus wrote:

Birddog114 wrote:Mark,
Nice set up with small dough! good lust result after all So more lust will come into that garage soon huh?
Now, what lens are you going to use most in this studio setup?
17-55, 28-70/2.8, 85/1.4, 35/f.2, 50/1.4, 105DC/f.2

currently swapping between the 18-50DC and the 50f1.8

you missed the next lens in your list... the 17-35... a very good lens and my next choice.

cheers

What's the 18-50DC? Nikon or Sig or Tokina?
No, I don't miss it I thought most of you guy prefers the 17-55Dx, I love my 17-35 than the 17-55Dx that what I have on my D2x atm.

I would take the 17-35 over the 17-55dx. the 18-50dc is a sigma... very sharp wide... not so great at the 50 end.

cheers

xerubus wrote:I would take the 17-35 over the 17-55dx. the 18-50dc is a sigma... very sharp wide... not so great at the 50 end.

cheers

You should eBay the Sig 18-50 EX DC , it's f.2.8 but AF is not fast.
And lust the 17-35.

Mark,
And do you know that the AF-S 28-70/ 2.8 is wedding photographer's lens?

Birddog114 wrote:

xerubus wrote:I would take the 17-35 over the 17-55dx. the 18-50dc is a sigma... very sharp wide... not so great at the 50 end.

cheers

You should eBay the Sig 18-50 EX DC , it's f.2.8 but AF is not fast.
And lust the 17-35.

i just need to wait for my wallet to refill a little bit but you are right.. the af is ordinary on the sig, which is why i should manually in low light.

cheers

Birddog114 wrote:Mark,
And do you know that the AF-S 28-70/ 2.8 is wedding photographer's lens?

certainly do... and that was the one lens i was tossing up gettting instead of the 70-200 vr.

cheers

What's your main use with the 70-200VR, not inside the studio, I believe!
Good for wedding and shoot in/ outdoor.

Birddog114 wrote:What's your main use with the 70-200VR, not inside the studio, I believe!
Good for wedding and shoot in/ outdoor.

candids, and have used it a lot already for work with a local college.

For what its worth i use the 70-200 almost exclusively for studio type work and I LOVE IT!! The only drama with it is full length shots in a short studio/room (like mine!). Used to be ok-ish on the F100 but with the crop i have to run halfway down the hall to get feet in the photo. If i had a longer studio room i'd never take it off. The only other downer is the 1.5m minimum focus which gets annoying in the afforementioned short room

I find it fantastic for getting head and shoulders, tight face crops and waist up photos. Even with the crop I'd think the 28-70 would be too short for my style (which is what may make this whole post irrelevant b/c yours would be different).

adam

i can use the 70-200 for head shots.... however i find getting closer to the subject and using the much lighter 50f1.8 works better for me... but that's just my preference.. everyone is different..

mm nice set-up
iam trying to do a set-up for less than 100$ using tungsecent lights and seamless clothe bgs. most of my light stand i picked up for 5$ at the local flea market funny. now i just need a willing victim to shoot.

redline wrote:mm nice set-up
iam trying to do a set-up for less than 100$ using tungsecent lights and seamless clothe bgs. most of my light stand i picked up for 5$ at the local flea market funny. now i just need a willing victim to shoot.

Yes, I saw a guy with his home studio and equipped with his self made stands, lights ect... and he's always busy with the models, not too far from my place on the same street.

hey i even saw someone at a track meet with a homemade pvc monopod.
not sure if thats safe to use as its suppose to produce toxic fumes.
ps thanks Birddog i got the your package 5minutes ago.

I have very casually been browsing http://www.net-model.com

There are a few Australians on there who are looking for TFP

.. and there's also a lot on http://www.ozmodel.com.au

cheers

 BTW dont let the significant other catch you

MHD wrote:BTW dont let the significant other catch you

hehe... i am clever... i tell my wife the type of look i am after and ask her to browse through the tfp models and make a choice... haven't been let down yet... that way i don't get in trouble for choosing girls with traits that may be different to my wife's...

That why I can buy many gears I want but not setting up a studio, cos I know I'm "naughty" , and the wife is happy with my decision.

hahaha.... perhaps it should be DirtyDog rather than birddog

xerubus wrote:hahaha.... perhaps it should be DirtyDog rather than birddog

I rather accepted and happy to be "Birddog" than " DirtyDog" and enjoying my gears otherwise those stuffs will be locked up and I'm

MHD wrote:There are a few Australians on there who are looking for TFP

TFP???

sheepie wrote:

MHD wrote:There are a few Australians on there who are looking for TFP

TFP???

time for prints.

basically you get to use the models time for free in exchange for a set of prints. with most models i deal with i do tfcd... which is obviously the same but i give them all shots on a cd.

just remember that your model release form should explicitly say what the terms of payment are. if anyone wants a model release form i will post mine which you can edit if needed.

cheers

xerubus, i'd love a copy of your release. I'm trying to settle on one at the moment. Have you had any legal beagles look over it perchance?

adam

haven't had any legals have a look at it.... if i start doing more tender or corporate work with models i would definitely have the right people go over or re-write.

Here you go:

---snip---

Mark Cross Photography
P: 0407 650331
W: http://www.markcrossphotography.com
E: mcross@markcrossphotography.com


Model Release

This agreement is entered between _______________________________________ (hereafter referred to as the model) and Mark Cross Photography for usage of photographs taken by Mark Cross Photography on or about ______ day of _______________ in the year ____________.

Mark Cross Photography, it’s legal representatives and those acting with Mark Cross Photography permission is/are granted the right to use images of the model for Mark Cross Photography sales, exhibitions, for submission to stock agencies, and for advertisements that promote Mark Cross Photography. All photographs, negatives, and copyrights remain the sole property of Mark Cross Photography unless otherwise stated in writing. Mark Cross Photography is granted permission to display said images for the above mentioned purposes on the Internet.

Mark Cross Photography has the right to re-touch, enhance and/or remove blemishes from images of the model.

Mark Cross Photography, it’s legal representatives and those acting with Mark Cross Photography permission agree/s not to use or allow images of the model in whole or in part to be used in ways that would slander, embarrass, attack, or deform the character or person of the model.

In exchange for modeling services, the model will receive the following compensation:

Model:

Print Name: ____________________
Signature: ____________________
Date: ____________________


If Model is under 18: I, ____________________, am the parent/legal guardian of the individual named above, I have read this release and approve of its terms.

Print Name: ____________________
Signature: ____________________
Date: ____________________


Witness: ____________________
Print Name: ____________________
Signature: ____________________
Date: ____________________


---snip---


it's very short and to the point... but works okay and doesn't confuse too many people.

cheers

hedge wrote:xerubus, i'd love a copy of your release. I'm trying to settle on one at the moment. Have you had any legal beagles look over it perchance?

adam

Adam,
You can get from here too:

http://forum.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=1268

xerubus wrote:.. and there's also a lot on http://www.ozmodel.com.au

cheers

Awesome! I will have a look...
Has anybody tried tfping??
How do you go with the model? How much to they expect or are they happy to just try different things etc... (Oh boy this could be taken out of context!)

MHD wrote:

xerubus wrote:.. and there's also a lot on http://www.ozmodel.com.au

cheers

Awesome! I will have a look...
Has anybody tried tfping??
How do you go with the model? How much to they expect or are they happy to just try different things etc... (Oh boy this could be taken out of context!)

it's all about talking to the model before hand and making sure you are upfront with how payment is going to be made etc. i would recommend that if the work is commercial, hire a model...

Great stuff Xerubus,

Very interesting & great set up. I don't know how you guys concentrate on taking the picture when you have a beautiful scantly clad model positioned in your D70's sights

I would say my lens would start fogging up pretty soon as I positioned her in my sights. Many years ago I actually did a shoot ( Thats a camera shoot ) and the model ended up taking her gear right off.

Hence that was the last model shoot I vowed I would ever do, it became lets say rather heated in the room and I lost my so called professional bundle

I guess I am just not cut out for these such temptations in my field of view.

10 out of 10 for anyman that can keep his pants up, Lens focused and pull the job off so to speak.

Xerubus, May the force be with you.

Master Yoda has left the building.

Mic, ( Head in hands and disgraced )