Hey fellow stockers,

I have a similar thread up on istock I created a while back, but now I am more sure of what I want to get and just wanted to hear other stockers opinion on it. I am a beginner when it comes to studio lighting, but I have been doing research and trying to put together an affordable setup that will produce solid results. As of now im looking to purchase:

3 Alienbees B800 Flash Units
3 Alienbees 13 ft. Heavy Duty stands for each flash unit.
1 Alienbees 32x40 softbox for one of the flashes.
1 10x24 High Key white muslin backdrop, http://www.amvona.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=229

Basically, I want to get that stock image of a person on a nice white background with this setup. The plan is to aim two of the flashes at the backdrop and the flash with the softbox on the model. Not only do I want this setup for stock, but also to learn my way around studio photography, as I plan to make a career out of photography. Also in the future I plan to pick up a black backdrop for more possibilities.

Anyway, would just like to hear your thoughts on this setup and approach, and if you think I will be able to get the shots I want with this setup. Also if anyone is using a similar setup how is it working for you?

Many thanks for any input.

Thanks for the input sharply done, I really need to research lighting more as I am lost when it comes to using reflectors, umbrellas etc. Maybe I need to drop this lighting idea and buy a D300 instead hah.

I've got an amvona heavy duty background stand, a white and a black muslin sheet, two alien bees (only 400w - should have got at least the 600w) no softbox, but the bees came with a shoot through umbrella which works well. I am happy for the money.

The only thing I regret was not getting the 600 watt bees.

You can learn alot about lighting from that Strobist blog, but you need to bear in mind that Speedlites don't put out a lot of power.  That necessitates using a higher ISO, which wouldn't usually be a problem, except for in the microstock industry - where pixel peeping reviewers won't approve of the higher ISO noise.

You can use a lot of the techniques, and just scale it to strobes.  Not as portable, but still very useful.

Have you considered a reflector of some kind?  3 Bees are great, but if you put two on your background and one on your subject, you're might have to do something about "the shadow."

Also, those 13' stands, while nice and sturdy, don't let you get the light all that low.  If you're trying to light something that's kind of low (either objects or small children), you'll have an interesting time in getting the light to the proper height.

Yes, totally agree.

First get a reflector.  Use it outside, or in rooms with big windows.  Understand how you can manipulate light using it.  Then perhaps buy a second reflector and use them both together.  Then buy a strobe with just a 15cm reflector or something.  Get the hang of that.  Then add a white umbrella.

And so forth.

If you just buy everything all at once, you'll never get the results you want.  I spend six months apprenticing in a studio before I chose what to buy.