Help with photo lighting

[Lukky]

HEllo all,
I am wanting to purchase some portable photo lighting for shooting weddings and doing directory and church stuff. I really know nothing about lighting even though I have been doing some photography for about 4 years. I can't spend a lot of money right now but I found this kit on ebay and was wanting some opinions on it. http://cgi.ebay.com/3-STUDIO-FLASH-S...QQcmdZViewItem

Also Any reading material I can get to learn about how to use this lighting would be great.

Thanks Dustin

[Esoteric]

I cant get the link to work.

But photography lighting is easy like cheese. After all you don't have to worry about spill since the camera lens is your eye.

When my partner and I started doing photography ten years ago we used those halogen outdoor garden lights, some Roscolux gels, and home made reflectors. The setup cost less than $100 and worked like a champ.

Mike

[Esoteric]

Oh! I just saw it. Looks like a setup that would get it done for a small setup.

Mike

[Lukky]

ok next question. Do most photographers even take lighting to weddings or do they just rely on a speed light. If I dont plan on having a studio do I really need to invest in lighting?

Thanks Dustin

[Esoteric]

We only used it for studio stuff (portraits, engagement pictures, etc). Plus to use it at a wedding you would need a much bigger setup (which I have seen used) so as not to be intrusive.

Mike

[Lukky]

What about buying a second speed light and using it as a wireless slave? given this is possible. Then I could use that to kill shadows while I focus on the subject. Does this make sense.

Dustin

[Esoteric]

Yup, but never seen a setup like that used at a wedding.

Mike

[[Director] Joseph B]

It's overkill for a wedding - but would be great for small portrait setups.
I used to bring to big weddings one light (with the on camera flash it gave me a basic two light setup).
Also, I didn't use a flash but a regular 100 watt incandesent bulb (which will go kind of yellow) as I used it in conjunction with a candle - to give the photo's the appearance that they were taken by candlelight.

[EricE]

It's amazing what you can do with small flash units these days - check out strobist.com

Also search for a book "Hot Shoe Diaries" on Amazon or your favorite book sellers site - a great little book I'm working my way through now. Even though it's written by a Nikon guy (I shoot canon) it still has lots of great content.

And if you don't know about them, google "Pocket Wizards"

Fun stuff....

[nancy86]

Don't you have the manual with the lightening kit?

[Lukky]

actually the kit that I bought did not come with much in the way of instruction. I did get it all to work but it is not consistant which is what I figured for the price that I payed from ebay. IT has payed for itself and I have learned a lot working with it. Without an actual studio I cant justify spending money on good lights yet.