Setting up an in-home studio

[Dizzle]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I am thinking about setting up a home studio for portraits, but not really sure where to start.

Right now my options are my basement or my garage...more than likely my garage since I am about to finish the basement as a bedroom/living space.

What do I need to get started for a basic set up?

Any help/input is appreaciated!

Thanks!

[jdryan3]

Plenty of good threads on what basic lighting equipment and backdrops to get, but where you put it may be driven by the ceiling height of the space. For the most flexibility, a light stand with a light on it & softbox can easily get over 9 feet ... which is why neither my garage nor basement works.

Seriously consider renting space on an as needed basis. Around here there are several studios that are setup, have more lights than I could ever want, and even have an assistant for ~$100/hour.

[Icebear]

Wuncha freeze ya bum in your garage in January?!?!?:wink

[leaforte]

I am also considering a garage, or spare room, for a studio. I have about an eight foot head clearance. I am going to make it work, even if my models must scrunch. What are the best wattage lights for cramped quarters like this? Can we also take these lights in the field? Couldn't we buy a higher powered (watts) light system for the field and just adjust (cut flash power/or extend distance)) when we are in our home (garage/basement) studio? How about a seated platform for studio shots? I am considering mid range (2 x 600 watt studio strobes, probably Alien Bee's), is this overkill for an eight by twelve studio, even if I may also be taking them into the field with battery packs? TNicole, I hope that a small home portrait studio is possible: It was also my next step. I bet the folks here at Dgrin can set us up with some helpful links. ????

[claudermilk]

You have to look at how adjustable the lights are. Alien Bees are very poopular budget, portable lights. You can get from 400Ws to 1600Ws, and they are adjustable from full to 1/32 power. A direct competitor I'm looking at is the Paterson Interfit Stellar; 150-1000Ws models, also full to 1/32 power (5 stops). The Interfit uses a Bowens (s-type) speedring, the ABs use a Balcar-style speedring, so both have a ton of accessories available.

I'm in the process of planning/clearing a home studio. It's going to be a mutli-use studio for my wife's dance & my photo, so additional challenges & I loose a couple inches of headroom to a sprung dance floor. It's also getting me looking at a ceiling-hung background system based on the Manfrotto Expan system. I'll probably weld up my own brackets & use their cores & drive sets. To get a basic start I'm looking for a background setup of some sort--my portable setup will get me started--and a basic lighting kit, which I have a 2-light Travelight set on extended loan. So basically just need to do some construction...