Creating a 'portable' lighting system for portraits using only flashes

[ProfJohn]

I am looking to start doing portraits and I need a better way to light them than the onboard flash of the Nikon SB-400 that I own. (The SB-400 does amazing work when you can bounce it off ceilings, otherwise it creates the same harsh light as other flashes.)

Last weekend I saw a profession wedding photographer using a light box and two Nikon flashes, the on board flash triggered the lightbox flash remotely. Since my d90 can control a remote flash I think I can do this with only one flash.

Here is the big question thought....

Am I better off using a light box or umbrellas?

Here are two options I am looking at:
One soft box via BHphoto $118 + flash
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn...s&Q=&sku=419377&is=REG

or

two umbrellas, also via BH, only $98 + flash
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn...s&Q=&sku=425220&is=REG

The two umbrella deal would seem to make more sense because it gives me the ability to have two flashes, one on each side of my subject.

Anyone have any experience with these types of set ups??

I am looking to use Nikon sb-600's at about $220 each.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Umbrellas will be cheaper than softboxes, but I recently purchased a set of 3 light stands, 3 umbrellas, a wireless kit, and two strobes.

Go with softboxes. They are more durable, you can control the light better, and they don't act like kites in the wind.

If you can, go with flashes with a metal foot. When your whole light setup tips over (and it will in the wind or on accident unless you always weigh it down with sandbags) plastic flash feet crack with no problem.

Check out Yongnuo 602 wireless flash triggers. Check out the old school Vivitar 285HV flashes that used to be the workhorses of the photography world (plastic feet) or the LumoPro LP120 (http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/2,736.html).

I would highly recommend a complete set of colored gels for each of your flashes. You NEED to match the light color of your flash output with the color of the ambient light or else things will look funky. Rosco makes great ones:

http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,13760.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/...inegel_Swatchbook.html

Definitely have at least two flashes for your classic bi-directional lighting. Three flashes is even safer and gives you options for back lights, hair lights, etc.

 

[ProfJohn]

Wouldn't it make more sense to go with Nikon's flashes so I can use their fancy smacy TTL light system?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Wouldn't it make more sense to go with Nikon's flashes so I can use their fancy smacy TTL light system?

You could - if you're ok with paying the higher price for the whiz bang features. I myself don't really care because:

1. for some reason TTL hates me and always flashes at the wrong power, forcing me to go to the flashes to adjust the settings anyway
2. if you're in a studio the lighting settings will not often require changing
3. if you're using the camera or flash's onboard wireless hardware you need line of sight to trigger the flashes and the TTL

 

[extra]

TTL can be really useful but won't be as useful in a studio type setting imho--it's not always consistent. But for shooting at a wedding or something it's very useful. For someone just starting I would think umbrellas they are small, portable, easy to use. Though i'm not nearly the photographer that fuzzy is so i'd listen to her

Edit: if you are just getting into it, have you checked out dealextreme as a very cheap way to get started?

 

[mmntech]

Speaking from my own small bit of experience with television lighting, soft boxes are preferred. I find umbrellas can still produce too harsh light and bad reflections. However, umbrellas are usually significantly more portable.

 

[jpeyton]

You can get softboxes of varying sizes for a lot less than $118 on eBay.

Grab a used SB-600. Having TTL is nice and Nikon CLS works well in lots of situations. The SB-600 is a solid flash as well, even if you graduate to wireless triggers (like Pocket Wizards).

 

[ProfJohn]

Ok... I guess I am going with the soft box and the sb-600.

I am not looking to set this up in a studio, but as something I can drag along in the trunk to people's houses or parks etc etc.