Advice Lighting "System" for Head shots and Portraits

[acroreef]

Looking for advice on a portable lighting "system" for on-site (I don't have a studio) business head shots and portraits. I really like the idea of the Honey Badger flash from Interfit. With a 60 watt modeling light to help with getting it right without much "chimping." Seems like enough flash for most inside applications and one power source (the Vagabond from from Paul Buff perhaps), could handle all four. From the reviews, they also have a transmitter that would work from the camera. And the flash units have a built-in receiver. While I'm at it, is there a "gold standard" for portable light stands that would be great for a "on-site" scenario?

Wondering if I'm missing anything else re a system?

Thanks in advance to all who comment,


Dave

[Polar01]

How about back drops and stands?

Cheers: Alllan

[acroreef]

I have portable backdrops. White, gray and black. Also can do a white background using a modifier facing the camera. Looking for advice also on portable stands though.

Thanks.

[Manfred M]

Light modifiers? Softboxes for key and fill. Possibly a beauty dish; a couple of reflectors and grids for hair light. You might want to use strip boxes for rim lights; I light using egg-crate grids with rim lights.

Transport gear to move your equipment around? Padded cases for the lights (Pelican is what I use).

Backdrops with stands and seamless paper. Muslin is a pain to use as it always wrinkles.

Gaffer's tape, cinefoil, A-clamps, wooden clothes pegs, extension cords, spare flash tubes and modelling lights and diffuser dome. Basic tool kit for maintenance. Reflector and holder. Spare receiver and trigger. Possibly a flashmeter (I always use one when I set up my lights).

Spare flash head (hate to be in the field and find out one is dead).

Backup camera body.



Head shots often use clamshell lighting. Portraits take a different approach; a key light, fill light at a minimum. A reflector can be substituted for the fill light. A hair or rim light may be used as can a background light. For portable situations, a two light solution should be fine.

Continuous light like the modelling lights and the Vagabond (or any other battery system) are not a good mix. They will drain any portable battery system extremely quickly. One Vagabond will power two lights at a time, not four.

Modelling lights are fine if you plug into mains power. If you are looking at the Vagabonds, why not look at the Buff Alien Bee or Digi Bee lines? They are the best selling studio lights in the US.

A 360 W-s light source x 4 is going to be a lot of power for a head shot. The type of equipment you are looking at is really studio equipment is is not built for moving from site to site. If you want to go studio flash, rather than small flash, look at units that are more portable. Elinchrom Quadra or some of the Godox units will be easier to haul around. Consider a pure speedlight solution.

Lightstands - look at air-cushioned stands. They will protect your equipment from if you release the clamps too quickly; I should know better, but still do it from time to time. Wide legs will give better stability. I suspect that you won't need anything more than 10' ones if you are just looking at portraiture of one or two people. You will need sandbags; nobody wants a light hitting a client. More portable = light weight = less robust. I love C-stands but they are too heavy to haul around to sites.

[acroreef]

Thank you Manfred. I should have stated that I do have a 48" and 36" octa - Bowens mount. Also a strip box. I have a couple of reflectors and cases to transport the equipment, along with a Rock & Roller cart and various maintenance items as you've suggested.

The Honey Badger is a flash unit and I was thinking that I could just dial in the placement of the lights with the modeling lights, then turn them off. I really like the idea of using the modeling lights as a "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" to dial everything in. I've seen reviews comparing Honey Badgers to Digi Bees and the Honey Badgers come out way ahead, at least from what I've read.

I didn't think that speed lights would provide enough light, if a company needs a group shot, for instance. I'll take a look at some of the other options you've specified. Thank you.

[Manfred M]

Unless you are working in a studio where you can turn down the lights, modelling lights are of limited use. There is simply too much ambient light for them to give a lot of information. Even best case, you only sort of see what you get. That is why I use a flash meter, I can set up the lights individually.

You had not mentioned that you were looking to do group shots. The main reason I mention speedlights is that they can let you build a very lightweight and compact travel kit, using umbrellas as light modifiers.

As you have Bowens mounts, then it makes sense as Buff lights use a Balcar mount, although switching out speedrings is often a pretty minor task. Godox uses Bowens as well.

I have never heard of Honey Badgers. What is their maintenance support like?

[William W]

I refer to your previous, in this conversation here: [LINK]

Specifically I refer to my Post #5 in that conversation.

Moving forward to today, you now comment (my bold for emphasis)-

‘I really like the idea of the Honey Badger flash from Interfit. With a 60 watt modeling light to help with getting it right without much "chimping." Seems like enough flash for most inside applications and one power source (the Vagabond from from Paul Buff perhaps), could handle all four. From the reviews, they also have a transmitter that would work from the camera.’

It occurs to me that you’re sort of settled on developing a “Studio” style set-up, rather than a “Speedlite” Style set-up.

If this is so then:

1. I had a close look at the specs of the Badger, and certainly four heads should be plenty powerful.

2. This set up will require MAINS POWER for most efficient operation (see Manfred’s explanation re battery drain)

3a. Revisit my caution in our previous conversation regarding your request for “fairly easy to setup and teardown” – four of these heads, on Stands, with Modifiers will not necessarily be a difficult set up: I think that you will need to use a SYSTEM LIGHTING (formula lighting), additionally using the Modelling Lights requires more planning and operational logistics.

3b.In practical terms (only addressing the Headshots for the moment) you’ll need to suss out the best place in the office to allow you to quickly set two or three heads: Key, Fill and (maybe Kicker or Hair light) at “your formula’s” distances and heights.

3c. Secondly the place that you choose in the office area will need to have enough back area to drop in the backdrop at “your formula’s” distance from the Headshot, and enough space to it the fourth Flash head if you want that backdrop lit.

3d. Thirdly the place the you choose in the office area usually needs to have discreetly switchable ceiling lighting – i.e. an area where you can turn-off the ceiling lights, without cutting lighting t the whole floor or other office area.

3e. Fourthly you need to be able to block the window light.

3f. Addressing the “Portraiture” – again as I commented previously the devil is in the detail – if Portraiture means “one person and a few shots that are a bit longer than the Headshot, for example a few Half Shots and a few Full Length Shots – then it is possible to accomplish that job (including the Headshot with nil or minimal movement of a formula made Flash Lighting, (provided that you have enough space to set the rig for the Full Length shots first – BUT – if ‘and portraits’ means GROUP Portraiture, then it is most likely that you’ll be moving these heads around to accommodate different groups and posing arrangements.

That’s not meant to put you off the idea of buying this type of gear: it certainly looks solid and robust and as I’ve mentioned before I lugged five Elinchrom Heads and Stands around to “on site” shoots – but it does require the time to CHANGE the set up when necessary (and perhaps another body to lug and generally assist).

And you certainly make a good point about Flash Power and the Company Group Portrait Shot.

WW

[shreds]

I would suggest you consider the Godox Pro, battery powered set ups, that are just coming on stream if you need your kit to be portable.