Join Now
Join ePHOTOzine, the friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more for free!
Lots of good advice here on keeping it cheap and simple and not fork out your hard-earned beer tokens before you have to.
Allow me to link to a recent post. 
Malc
Quote: Love the last 2 arhb, did you take those? if so was that just pure photoshop or were any additional filters used? i guess the last one is easy to achieve, the first 2 though complicated but challenging
Thanks kev - yes, they're my work. None use on-camera filters. All layer masks with curves, b/w, gradient maps for selective contrast and toning.
The 3rd was testing out noise levels with high iso on the 5Dmk2, which I think are very good.
Quote: so if lighting is a must as you say and the personm before you said, what is the cheapest way to go? for lighting, as for backdrop i am looking for something that costs £30-40 which there was on amazon which come with a bag, that fold up backdrop is out of my price range for just a backdrop
Your going to struggle with that camera, there`s nothing wrong with using compacts for studio work. Some can be pretty good and offering clear advantages over dslr`s, but your camera does not even have a hot shoe.
I recommended against a simple cloth back ground simply for the reasons of working space and creasing, the 2nd will be hard to hide using such a basic camera.
Simplest set up would be a roll of white card or paper and some sticky tape.
http://www.wired.com/video/street-portrait-photo-how-to/27609165001
Hi, even if i were to ever use a backdrop, i would never use a cloth/sheet type of material anyway as i can imagine that would not work, at least not for me with my camera and of course having a learning curve ahead of me and just using natural lighting and the outdoors is going to be part of that learning curve for me i guess
I think what needs the most work is my composition techniques, i am hoping to join a camera club in january local to me, hopefully that will be of a load of help to me in me becoming a better photographer and getting better shots and improving my creativity for when i am shooting
So what exactly are you wanting advice on?
Are you hoping to shoot outdoor portraits or indoor ones?
Are you wanting a semi-permanent set up or one that you transport to people's houses?
Are you really considering a photographic career when you haven't even got to grips with your current camera?
I would suggest several things.
1. Use your camera. A lot. Become familiar with it so you can get what you want, every time.
2. If you are considering mobile work but have no transport, you are going to struggle with lighting, backdrops, camera and all the other paraphernalia. Consider just using what you find at the location and forget the rest. Practice at home (doing self portraits if necessary), and be brutally frank with yourself about the quality before doing it for cash.
3. I would suggest shooting family and friends on a basis of free for the sitting, and pay for any enlargements they want. That way you get experience, they get cheap pictures and you don't use your learning curve on paying customers.
4. Cloth backdrops are much lighter than paper rolls, and can be ironed, whereas a paper backdrop that is creased is useless, so you need spare with you.
5. If you must have lights, consider cheap floods from B&Q, they are only about £10-20 or cheap flash guns used off-camera, triggered by slave cells (couple of quid each). You can vary the power by changing the distance.
6. Look online at what's current, and what others are producing, then think about how you can get pictures that are similar. When you can do that, you can maybe develop your own style. There is a wealth of information out there, and you can do a lot of research yourself.
I'm not just saying "google it" but studying others' methods and results is a good way of learning.
Nick
Well originally i was just asking advice on backdrops and i got given loads of advice, so do not need anymore advice there i guess and as for other advice, any advice in general is welcome, nothing specific, just any advice that will help me on my way up the ladder and going from a novice to eventually a semi pro or something like that years down the line
And i would not charge people anyway, if i was to ask for money it would just be to cover my travel fare which should not be much anyway, as i discussed with my wifr the other day, its about me learning and climbing the ladder for now, so its not about the money at all for me, its about me becoming better at what i love doing (photography)
Thanks
Paul Morgan, thank you for that advice. I thought a simple cloth would be enough for my in-house photoshoot
Cloth is fine as long as its easy to iron or can resist creasing quite well.
just did a quick search on ebay and found this, now im not looking into anything too seriously or thinking about it too much at this point of time with xmas only around the corner, but say we were in january or febuary and not in november and i had the money and was willing to pay this money for this item, would this be suitable?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3x-Backdrop-Background-studio-lighting-light-kit-photo...
of course this was only found at the top of my ebay search, so like i say i have not done any major in depth searching or looking through multiple pages of ebay as its only november and i am not going to be buying anything like this before christmas, and if i do buy it, then obviously it would be after christmas
but anyway, what do you think of that?
i also found this too, i remember someone talking about using a reflector, however i would not have a clue how or when or in what situations to use it etc
cheap though by the looks of it http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/43-110cm-5-IN-1-Multi-disc-Photo-LIGHT-Reflector-Panel...
can anyone tell me what they think of the backdrop kit i found on ebay?
At that price you can`t really go wrong, at least if you later decide to go strobist you would have a few stands.
Bulbs will be limiting but so is your camera with no flash shoe, at least this be a starting point offering a basic introduction to lighting.
You both mention strobe lights but i am unsure of all this different lighting, can anyone explain to me what photography strobe lighting is
Thanks for the replies
Add a Comment
ePHOTOzine, the web's friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more.
Related Content
Join Our Free Newsletter
Awards
Current Competitions
Olympus 'Portraiture' Competition - Win £1000 Worth Of Gear!
30th April 2013 - 31st May 2013
This month, to celebrate the launch of Olympus' new micro site Olympus Image Space, Olympus are giving you the chance to win £1000 worth of Olympus gear!...
Featured e2 Photo
May's Photo Month
Check out ePHOTOzine's inspirational photo month calendar! Each day click on a window to unveil new photography tips, treats and techniques.
