Someone Help Me Out With Lighting/Tripods
 

Hey Everyone,

What type of lighting do you guys who produce your own content use? I know something more than just overhead lights are needed to produce some good looking content, but do you need the softboxes and the whole kits like that? I see alot of kits out there on ebay and such, but can you just use the simple lights (halogens, etc) from lets say home depot or even walmart to produce your content? Is there a noticable difference between the softbox kits and plain halogen lights?

Also, for movie camera tripods do you guys use high end ones like the $500+ ones or do you guys just go out to target or walmart and pick up one of the $49.99 ones? Is there a difference in quality of content produced if you go with the cheaper alternative?

Thanks!

Jim

damn this forum moves quick! bump cause i need help!

Jim

video or photo or both ?

both at the same time.

Jim

u can use home depot lights... bounce off white stuff or cover with white sheet etc... try to bounce it rather direct it

all really depends what route ur taking: glam?amateur? etc...

video: go with one u trust and is stable enough to hold ur cam... if the tripod is there so u dont have to hold the cam...

if not: i recommend u get a stabilizer... not sure the real name for it... its a pole with weights on bottom keeping the cam steady

**ADJUST YOUR WHITE BALANCE!**

What is your budget ?

Thanks so much abyss_al, I will be using the white sheet idea for sure.

Its gonna be for more of an amateur look, but even though it is amateur I still would like for it to look semi-professional.

Jim

Well for the lighting I hope to spend around $150-200 but can spead upto $700.00 if need be for a good professional package.

Tripod is the same thing, I want to spead $50 but if need be I will spend more.

Jim

anyone else care to comment? so I can get a general consenus?

Jim

just get a few construction lights and bounce them off the walls.. keep them far from the model and the sheets... construction lights get hot really fast :thumbsup

dont forget to set both cameras up for this lighting and fix ur white balance... have a comp/laptop there to see a few test shots in full size (do not rely on the little screen)...

Can't be done without fucking up both a bit or one totally.

Your budget is too low for a semi professional look, unless you're really skilled. But here's a suggestion.

Get a powerful on camera flash and mount it on a tripod by using a slave unit or extension cable to the cameras hotshoe.

You will need to shoot this into a small umbrella, again get a clamp and umbrella from a good camera supplier.

You're going to be working at a low aperture so depth of field will be a problem so make sure you're focusing spot on and have a good lens.

For videos the building lights will do the trick, just bounce them off the cieling not the walls as suggested.

This will get you a reasonable lighting and for around $700, but it's not ideal and will not impress a model. Think of what she thinks of you as she walks into your studio. This thought is going to stick in her head and show on her face as she opens her legs.