Building a Portable Studio Flash Kit
Hopefully this will help any readers looking to add flash into their lives.
As an ardent flash avoider over the years (partly artistic preference, partly just plain chicken), I can recommend adding lighting into your tool kit. Apart from it’s practical benefits, it is a good distraction and creative outlet.
Where to start.
Get two flash units and a cordless controller. You get more power and constant charge from plug-in lights, but no portability. I would recommend Yongnuo 560 IV’s and their controller (or similar such as Godox or Neewer). This should set you back about $200-300 au. The reason these excellent flash units are so cheap, is they are not TTL (smartypants-talk-to-camera) units. They are manual, which is generic (will fit any brand) and can be made in huge quantities. The give away is a single contact pin on the flash’s base. A note here, do not mix brands of multi pin flash units and cameras!!
Why manual? because with a studio set-up, that is what you need (control and consistency), not photo-trickery smarts.
Next add 1 to 3 cheap, light weight Neewer or similar 6.5’ light stands, each with an S-clamp (the big round ones often called “Bowens” style, not the thin little flash/umbrella clamps that are a colossal pain) and white shoot-through umbrella. Rough cost from $80-120au a set, but multi sets are much cheaper (there is currently a set on Amazon with two stands and 6 brollies-but the little clamps-for $80au!).
This set-up can be used either as an efficient shoot through, or less efficient, but slightly softer reflector (as shown). You can use a dedicated controller, a second or third flash as controller or an on-camera flash for fill/catch light and to fire the unit as a slave, which is fiddly as you need to go to the flash for changes, but if you are organised, no big deal (and you can change aperture or ISO at the camera end in stead).
The S-clamp or Bowens clamp, allows for quick flash removal, a stronger hold, safe battery changes and rotation of the flash body to better “see” the triggering controller. Each unit has stickers marking it’s group, so I can see without going to the flash and the black hair band is for securing the flagging foams. The Bowens clamps also open up a few more modifiers, than an umbrella only clamp.
You can now photograph a small sports team, a car or family portrait.
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Now to controlling light, which is where the fun starts.
For maximum area coverage, but with little or no control (i.e. light focus), bigger shoot through umbrellas or soft boxes are the way to go. The bigger the surface area relative to your subject, the softer the light. A 72” shoot through umbrella will cost $40-50 au but smaller 43” ones will go 2 for $50.
For more control and added brilliance, silver reflector umbrellas are great. 2 of these at $30 will allow you to focus your light to within 180 degrees and add a little more drama than the shoot-throughs. I recently used a single one, with on-stage down lights to do some drama class portraits, which worked well.
Even more control and softness comes from various soft boxes or umbrella diffusers. The smaller the area, relative to the subject, the harder and more focussed the light. If you get grids for your soft box, you can focus the light even more precisely, without reducing light softness. I have a 24” square gridded, 38” octagonal and 8x36” rectangle, that cost in total $120au. Some of these fit/come with Bowens mounts, which is one reason for getting those (above).
Want fine control? Add a 7” metal diffuser dish (fits the Bowens clamp) with a set of 3 grids, that will give you semi to fine spot light control. $30.
Flagging flash (blocking light to some directions only) is pretty much free, using black soft foam sheets cut to size, held on with rubber bands or hair bands. Two pieces can make a snoot, which is the most focussed light. $2.
Light colour, either for balancing flash to match ambient, or for creating background mood is done using gels, placed over the flash heads. 2 sets with 6 holders, $25.
A good problem solver can be a 43” or bigger 5-in1 diffuser/reflector and clamp for a light stand. $50
I carry the stands and modifiers in a K-Mart duffle ($12) and the flash units, now up to 4, with gels, controller etc in a Neewer tote bag ($29).