What Do I need to Set Up A Small Place Indoor for Portrait?

Just a small space for casual portrait. I already have two light stands, but with the old styled blue bulbs and the reflectors behind them. I also have a few flashes. I'd like to start with low budget and keep the the path open to upgrade.

This is for both digital and film, both color and BW. I process my own films.

Get some seamless paper, a couple of more stands, and then go to Home Depot and grab a bunch of spring clamps and some light metal conduit to use as a crossbar. You can also use inexpensive fabrics with the same setup.

Check on amazon for low cost pop up reflectors. You might also try shooting your strobes through a bed sheet stretched along a pole. That will give you a great window light effect.

I'm thinking of doing this too but have little experience in lighting. So many cheap portrait light setups on eBay but I know you get what you pay for. In the meantime I'm setting up most of my portrait work with natural light in window seats or similar areas that I use eastern exposure in the afternoon, western exposure in the mornings or a nice northern expose window to have the soft light from the sky---very effective and beautiful but certainly not studio lights type of set up.

RedSun said:

Just a small space for casual portrait. I already have two light stands, but with the old styled blue bulbs and the reflectors behind them. I also have a few flashes. I'd like to start with low budget and keep the the path open to upgrade.

This is for both digital and film, both color and BW. I process my own films.

Click to expand...

Two strobes with modelling lights - or incandescants with the proper bulbs and filtration-not critical with C41 film; a backdrop, maybe a chair, and about 10~ feet of working room.

I've made some nice portraits next to a north window, but you may want different lighting than this gives.