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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: svanhorn on February 19, 2009, 17:20

Title: Lighting
Post by: svanhorn on February 19, 2009, 17:20

Looking to buy my first set of lights for both portrait and product photography....trying to turn a spare room into a small studio and looking for advice....Saw these with good reviews......any help is appreciated....Wanted to make sure that flash was the way to go vs. continuous.....I'm still such a beginner :)

http://www.wolfcamera.com/product/301600680.htm?bct=t13079503%3Bcidigital-cameras-and-accessories%3Bcistudio-lighting%3Bcistudio-light-kits

Title: Re: Lighting
Post by: RT on February 19, 2009, 17:50

The kit you've linked to are nowhere near powerful enough for product shots, you need at least f16 for a product shot and that's subject dependant, if you're thinking of offering your services to companies you'll possibly be needing up to f32 as they're not looking for artistic depth of field on their shots. With a 150w strobe you'll be lucky to get f2.8!
As for portraits you're still going to struggle unless you're just looking to use them for mood lighting and even then they're low.

In an ideal world I'd say get a minimum of 400w to use for your portraits and a lot more if you're seriously looking to offer product shots, however if by product shots you mean you want to do some isolations for stock sites 400w would be a starting point.