Studio lights

[Derek]

Just wondering if anyone has experience and recommendations in regard to portrait studio lighting for up to 5 sublects. I am mainly interested in the amount of wattage generally required. I have my eye on a set of battery/portable twin 300W heads and was planning on using my Nikon speedlights for highlighting. Any thoughts and advise appreciated. 

[Cygnus]

I use six of these

I can trigger them with my SB900 or with the 4 channel remote. Super power and quick recharge

[storm_crow]

What would someone suggest for lighting while taking "corporate" portraits at work in fluorescent/tungsten mixed light (and not a lot at that), no available outside light, and few options at our disposal to work with?  Any good ideas on bringing in some type of everyday/common light fixture(s), diffusing it, and using a reflector?

[Cygnus]

A minimum of three lights should be used. Keep in mind that it is easy to lower the power than it is to make up for it. For single headshots, I would place a softbox above the subject and two umbrellas on either side closer to you than the subject. A simple background that doesn't distract.

[storm_crow]

That would be great if those were available.  Any experience creating these pieces from everyday household items?

[Motophoto2009]

How to create your own low cost accessories.

I saw, a number of years ago, two home made devices. A soft box was made using a polystyrene box, of the type used for fruit & veg, with a translucent material over it (nylon sail cloth I think) and a hole cut to size in the bottom to fit over the studio light. It worked very well. The other was a rectangle of the same translucent material on a frame of light plastic electrical conduit. These were clamped to tripods and place in front of the lights to diffuse it.

[aprillove20]

Well, I agree with the idea of storm...

[Analog6]

Check out making a light tent (softbox) here.  It is humorous but works well.  I have this saved as a pdf, if anyone wants a copy just email me, or PM me your email.

http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=35332

[admin]

Hi Storm,

Aside from the other advise, I'd try to remove (swith off) one or the other ambient sources. Both create a different colo(u)r temperature. Compared to daylight, most flouro will cast as green and most tungsten will cast as orange.
Also shoot in the Raw format which will allow you some latitude in tweaking colour temperature casts.
If the coportate job is paying, you could also hire some gear.
Also another alternative is a set of three speedlights that can be used off camera as 'slaves' controlled by your on camera flash or wireless. Even without a reflector, if you fit diffuser domes or screens you can get a good result.

Stuart Capmpbell a professional portrait photographer and good friend of ours (who unfortunately recently passed away before his time) did many thousands of high end portraits, including some of many well known actors of International note kept it very simple.
His home studio consisted of a red bucket (for the 'sitter'), two or three lamp light bulbs and a couple of foam reflectors.
He simply set the colour temperature acccordingly - or produced black and white (mainly the later).
A couple of video lights with barn doors can work well too.