Studio Set up Advice

[marcotrov]

Would love some advice on a topic I'm little familiar with studio lighting equip. Would love to have a basic setup to attempt studio shots of portraits (head/shouders, full length small group) and products.
Budget (value for money) is big consideration. Here are some options I'm considering from ebay seller mr.studio01
Option 1(this option also includes Wireless remoteRD618 , 2.8 m Cushioned light stand and 2 flash gun adapters for the SB800s i have)
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Professfional-Re ... dZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Professional-Sof ... dZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Professional-300 ... dZViewItem

Option 2
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/180ws-Studio-Fla ... dZViewItem

Option 3

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/180ws-Studio-Fla ... dZViewItem

Option 4

Unnecessay marco bloody stick with your 2 x SB 800s and SB600 and use umbrellas and save your money for the D300 or Full Frame D'whatever'

Any advice or opinion would be appreciated on both the setup and the ebay seller if anyone has had experience. I'm getting the lot (6 items mentioned in option 1 and freight for a good price)
cheers
marco

[Oz_Beachside]

I have both a nikon CLS setup, with nano stands, and small softboxes/umbrellas, and a bowens studio/location pack.

If I had my time over, I would have used the SB800s until I reached their full potential/limit and then spent the coin on the studio kit.

After just comleting a shoot with just 2 SB800s in softboxes, I am very pleased with the results.

If you already have the flashes, why not get yourself two stands, and umbrellas, or softboxes, and use those for a while? (of course you will reach power limits into the sun, but indoors is covered well!)

[Oz_Beachside]

example setup

[DStrom]

cool where did you get the lighting stands, softboxes etc from.

I've been thinking about getting something similar, but perhaps with umbrellas replacing the soft boxes?

[wendellt]

hio marco

congratulations your entering into one very rewarding aspect of photography

essentially when i started out i ust had 2xsb800's
they work exactly like a strobe is used properly

i think the most important concept in studio lighting is light shaping/manipulating light

theres heaps of technical stuff and brands out there but when it comes down to it 1 speedlight unit and some pieces of black cardboard can do heaps

instead of buying a snoot just make one out of black paper this snoot can be re-adjusted and fastened by a piece of tape

instead of barn doors just stick 2 pieces of cardboard on your flash

and instead of a reflector use a white wall or a piece of cardboard

out of lack of funds i've learned to be innovative

but if you want the actual equipment
i think your choices are good but i would add a black scrim to that set

saying that i've used the best strobes on the market and seriously
a couple of sb800's produce the near same results

once you exhaust the potential of the sb800 then buy proper studio gear otherwise you'll just be re-spending

I know top end fashion photogs who still make their own snoots out of cardboard to fit thier ProFoto heads

[marcotrov]

Thank you all for the advice.
I think essentially the advice, in a nutshell, is stop the equipment investing and use the full potential of the SB800 with a few mods Damn good advice and will save me money to boot.

Thanks Oz Beach and Wendell for your detailed advice you are right on the money... I must have fallen out of bed on my head whilst dreaming of being a pro studio photog
Actually I'll have to blame this forum and the quality photogs producing all these stunning studio styled images (Oops! I can feel my mouth watering again ) for my equipment lust. I think I'd have to place you at the top of that blame list Wendell, particularly with the quality of those stunning B&W images you have been posting recently (superb)
cheers
marco