So when I pack by bags to do a location shoot, like today’s executive headshots shoot, you saw in a recent post that I bring rather a lot.
And what do I use? How does it look when it’s all set up?
That setup process, which takes about 45-60 minutes including carrying it all from the car in stages, results in this:
This setup consists of:
- A grey backdrop. I like grey because you can make it any colour, from black to white.
- The main (“key”) light: a light stand with Bowens 400 Ws monolight in a softbox. This is fired by a Pocketwizard (just visible, top left)
- The fill light: a light stand with a Bowens 400 Ws monolight into an umbrella. This is fired by the slave cell.
- The background light: a mini light stand with a 430EX Speedlite, with a Honl speed strap and a Honl 1/2 CTB gel. This light is fired by a Pocketwizard, using a Flashzebra cable.
- The hair light: another a light stand with a 430EX Speedlite, with a Honl speed strap and Honl snoot. This light is fired by a Pocketwizard, using a Flashzebra cable.
- A stool.
- The camera set to 1/100th sec, f/9, 100 ISO, and equipped with a PocketWizard to fire the other flashes.
It doesn’t look like all that much, but when you write it out, and then add the power cables, connection cables, bags, and so on, it’s quite a lot.
Well I want to thank you for posting your portable studio. very helpful.
Ray
You are welcome!
“Egads!” comes to mind, in a good way hehe.
And my back comes to my mind.
Tomorrow, a bit more on how to USE all this once it’s set up.
Yes, I too want to thank you for disclosing your portable studio. How do you keep your hands from shaking after carry and setting up? Assistant? Tripod w/ remote?
I only need to set up half the gear and I’ll surely need tpod w/ remote.
Tylenol. 🙂
ha ha ha… had that coming =)
But seriously: it’s a lot of work and physically quite exhausting. I can see more use of assistants in my future.
Michael, will a grid work for hair light as opposed to a snoot?
Ok Michael,
I have set of two strobe light 300W’s and two transmitter. I have one for the main light and one for the fill light. I see in your photo that your umbrella doesn’t have a pocketwizard or transmitter. Would it be safe to say that I only need the one transmitter on the main light?
One other question
I have both transmitter connected when I make the adjustment if I move up or down a stop or two, the strobe automatically flashes, is this normal?
I look forward to your answers.
Ray
1. One pocketwizard receiver on the main light, and the others use the photo-cell
2. Yes. The light dumps its load to make sure its capacitors do not contain the previous, higher, charge.
🙂