Welcome to Flash and Studio Lighting

[Wilt]

This forum is provided as a means of exchanging information about the equipment and their use in utilizing portable flash and AC-powered lighting to not only illuminate our subject, but to also portray them in a manner which enhances their presentation in a photo.
A camera and lens merely CAPTURE what is in front of the lens, and a key part of the making of any photograph is to utilize lighting to make the scene less challenging from a dynamic range point of view. And for portraiture, we can enhance the drama of a shot with greater contrast, or portray a subject in a manner which de-emphasizes wrinkles and blemishes, and which complements their visage. We need to use the right equipment for that purpose.

I will start with a classic topic...the debate about monolights vs. pack+heads...

I edited the OP in order to represent pros and cons of studio flash vs. speedlight lighting...

Pros and Cons of Monolights vs. Pack+heads vs. Speedlights

Pros Monolight

Modelling light to see effect of lighting placement without taking a photo​

Each light adds power, not merely divides power​

Convenient setup if lights need to be physically separated long distances​

Some units (not most), offer convenient adjustment of power settings without climbing to each head​

Unlimited number of flashes (AC powered)​

Full power recycle typically 1 sec. or less​

Wide variety of light modifiers​

Pros Pack+Heads

Modelling light to see effect of lighting placement without taking a photo​

Lighter weight aloft, minimizes need for weight bags on stand feet​

Lighter weight aloft minimizes counterweight on hairlight booms​

Central adjustment of power at each head, no climbing​

Central control of all modeling lights on/off​

Unlimited number of flashes (AC powered)​

Full power recycle typically 1 sec. or less​

Widest variety of light modifiers​

Many heads have integrated cooling fans, to improve use within softboxes​

Pros Speedlight

Each light adds power, not merely divides power​

Convenient setup if lights need to be physically separated long distances​

Lightest weight aloft, minimizes need for weight bags on stand feet​

Lightest weight aloft minimizes counterweight on hairlight booms​

Some light modifiers​

Most portable lighting available​

​

Cons Monolight

More weight aloft for every light, makes stands top heavy​

More weight aloft for hair light, increases counterweight mass​

Must climb to each light to adjust power *​

Must climb to each light to turn on/off modeling lights *​

Cons Pack+Heads

Each head divides available power (but when the pack cannot be dialed down any further, this can used to your advantage!)​

Add heavy power pack to add light output power​

Individual control of modeling light (on/off, or power level) individually at each head requires climbing​

Distance between heads due to power cables, unless you add power packs​

Least portable lighting available *​

Cons Speedlight

No modelling light to see effect of lighting placement without taking a photo *​

Individual control of light (on/off, or power level) individually at each head requires climbing (unless ETTL ratio control)​

Recycle time, unless expensive battery pack is used​

Limited number of flashes due to battery capacity​

Fewer light modifiers available compared to studio strobes​

Max power generally lower than even small studio strobes​

* 'comment applies to some/most, but not all units of this class' (disclaimer to address the objections of some to universalized statements)

 

[ImageMaker]

I’d love to use Pack n heads in studio. Many advantages. I’ve used moonlights for many years now. Some of the mono-light advantages were gained in that my flash meter can control my brand of lights. Makes it simple to alter and fine tune lights while at the model.

Saves some walking around. The weight of moonlights. Not too much of an issue as my modifiers can support them or they support the weight of the modifiers.

 

[Ltdave]

while having virtually no luck getting what i wanted with speedlites (i had 5 of them at one time) controlled by the Canon RT-3ET thing, i got rid of a pair but not all of them. i will be keeping one for in my bag but i went ahead and spent that money and more on a 3-light kit from Godox (3-LED 300ws monolites with hard as all get-out to assemble Godox softboxes, stands and a neat wheeled carry case from BH photo. same kit as the Flashpoint (in a Godox branded case lol) from Adorama.

im getting better with them but i dont know what the difference is between having good luck with the monos vs having bad luck with the speeds....

 

[Anton Largiader]

Do you use a light meter to set them up?

 

[Sincity]

Some units are favorable for some events.. I use a 20+ year old Speedotron pack for shooting roller derby girls. A lot of the arenas are really dark with high ceilings that eat a lot of light., so you are going to need a lot of power to fill the venue with light since they aren't going to be at the *exact* place everytime you pop the strobe.. I saw a guy using a cute speed light for the shots, and he had to crank up the ISO and reduce the aperture to get the shot ; while a 2400w/s Speedo will get you a leisurely 1/1900 at F/8. If you get a DynaLite pack/head with the dual tube head, you are going to get a really fast duration..Like 1/4600 duration at 1600ws, and it gets faster as you turn down the power like almost double when going 1/4 power.

For location/ model shoots, I am using Elinchrom strobes since they have a large library of soft boxes and modifiers that I can rent from rental houses. Yes, profoto is larger in the rental houses, but they make me nervous to be on location with such a expensive set in a high crime city. (People are breaking into cars and stealing camera equipment while you are shooting) Anyways, with the higher end brands you can get more diverse modifiers, and controls. My elinchrom can be set at 1/10th stops, and I am sure higher end brands can do the same.

When building your strobe system, pay attention to little accessories that make life easier.. Like the already mentioned ~ Flash Meter ~. If you are using speed lights, then a off-camera cable can link the speed light with the camera's TTL and provide better controls. Some remote triggers can adjust strobe power or tell you what power setting it is at. Even the Raven trigger can trigger Godox and Profoto at the same time..

 

[2cruise]

After decades of never using a flash I bought a Neewer V1 for my R6 as I just started shooting weddings as a second shooter. Using TTL has been working fine after a few getting to know it lessons sitting around the house. Minor adjustments for exposure have been working fine and the Magmod bounce gives great results. Not sure I'm going to invest in stands and a transmitter. My second camera a 5D MKIII also has the same set up.

First Dance by Clyde Cornett

 

[Anton Largiader]

The light on her is REALLY nice and you got a great expression, too! I can't tell where you bounced from... directly up? Or to your left or right a bit? With the slope of that tent roof, you had options.

 

[2cruise]

The light on her is REALLY nice and you got a great expression, too! I can't tell where you bounced from... directly up? Or to your left or right a bit? With the slop of that tent roof, you had options.

Straight up and thanks.

 

[Colman]

I've used everything from on camera flash to studio flash to speed lights for my work. I sold my studio lights a few years ago after buying some Cheetah lights. They are my favorite because they combine the quick recycle time of studio lights with the portability of speed lights. While studio lights can give you more power and options for modifying the lights, the Cheetah (or Godox or flashpoint brand) gives you ease of use and flexibility. I have several soft boxes and octoboxes I can mount on my lights along with girds and snoots that I use to control the light.

 

[Wilt]

After decades of never using a flash I bought a Neewer V1 for my R6 as I just started shooting weddings as a second shooter. Using TTL has been working fine after a few getting to know it lessons sitting around the house. Minor adjustments for exposure have been working fine and the Magmod bounce gives great results. Not sure I'm going to invest in stands and a transmitter. My second camera a 5D MKIII also has the same set up.

First Dance by Clyde Cornett[/URL]

@2cruise,
So you avoided flash use for a very long time, and now you use one with very nice results shown...so I am interested in getting an opinion about your venture with flash, particularly in view of the meteoric decline in even discussions about flash use within the general photographic forum discussions compared to what filled so many discussions a decade ago.

1. Folks now don't even discuss flash because they don't have the need to understand its use. What drove your own adoption of flash, after years of avoidance?
2. Was there a YouTube series, or an educational website which contributed in a major way to your understanding of flash, bringing you up from know-nothing status, or did you have prior experience (and merely had avoided using flash until recently)?

 

[2cruise]

Had an opportunity to second shoot 3 weddings last year and one just last week. Had a photographer take a chance on me and after the second wedding in late summer I bought a flash and Magmod Magbounce2 3 days before the third wedding still with only one camera. As an old landscape guy it was tripod time and never needed flash but shooting indoors made me have to change in order to have quality shots. So after two weddings I've become more comfortable using flash but still it trips me up sometimes and I have to make quick adjustments to get it right. I asked my main last week if he was using many of my shots going to the client and he said he normally sends 800 and 2 to 300 of them were mine. Being new at this and watching a ton of youtube that made me feel pretty good. This is really hard work as your always moving and never get a chance to sit down for 8 hours my ass is about kicked. At age 79 this stuff is not as easy as one might think. I've also been doing some street photography and have really enjoying that.
1/6/2024
Grand Entrance by Clyde Cornett

9/30/2023
The Bridal Crew by Clyde Cornett

7/29/2023 No flash

The Ring Please by Clyde Cornett

 

[Wilt]

I recall the first time I lugged a medium format SLR with zoom lens, and a Metz potatomasher flash mounted on a steel flash bracket over the lens, for the better part of 10 hours. The next day my arms ached from the all-day lifting! The fatigue of a long day was nothing in comparison to the pain in the arms! And I was less than half your age at the time. Wedding coverage is a young fool's mission, why in the meat grinder job of digital wedding coverage (at prices not much better than 25 years ago) I leave it to the young and foolish.