This is a guest post by Robin Owen.
I’m often asked what I use to light my boudoir shoots. My favorite studio lighting setup is a Photogenic caster-based light stand, a 24”x32” Litedome softbox, usually with a grid in place, and an Alien Bee studio strobe, which I fire with Pocket Wizards.
I connect the strobe to a long extension cord and drag the light all over the studio with me. I never leave it one place for very long. I like to change the look of my lighting often during a boudoir shoot—something I found difficult to do with my old light stands. I love this setup and will never buy any other light stand again. The light stand’s footprint is very small; it hardly takes up any floor space at all, which makes it great for tight spaces. It’s bottom heavy and there is no chance someone is going to knock it over. I can also roll it effortlessly with one finger, and I can reposition my light without having to put my camera down. No more fighting those big bulky light stands with the legs that stick way out. I always tripped on them or wasn’t able to get my light just where I needed it because the stand got in the way.
Not just for boudoir, weddings, too!
Occasionally I take this setup with me to provide light in dark wedding venues where I can’t bounce my flash. If the light stand is setup as a stationary light in a corner, I don’t have to worry about someone running into it and knocking it over because the base is heavy.
When not plugging directly into a wall power outlet, I’ll use an Alien Bee Vagabond battery pack, which I set in a shallow wood box I made that fits snugly on the base of the stand. I place the Vagabond inside the box and the whole thing glides around the venue effortlessly with me.
The softbox is usually high enough in the air so it doesn’t get in anyone’s way and the footprint is only about 2 ft. wide so it glides easily through a crowd. When it’s time to eat, I plug the Vagabond in for a quick recharge. I just love my Photogenic light stand. I have to say it’s one of the best pieces of photography equipment I’ve ever purchased.
Editor’s Note: Check the Paul C. Buff website for information on the availability of the pictured version of the Vagabond. A new mini version is available and getting good reviews. Make sure you get the proper “speed ring” attachment that allows you to mount your softbox to your monolight.
Robin Owen is a MD-based photographer. She also runs photographer directories and community sites. See the following links:
- www.RobinOwenPhotography.com
- www.BoudoirPhotographyNetwork.
com - www.
ChildrensPhotographyNetwork. com - Http://www.BPNForum.com
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I am digging this stand Robin! I’m curious what dimensions it collapses to for portability?
“Rolling, rolling, rolling… keep those light stands rolling… rolling, rolling, rolling, Rawhide!”
I just seriously dated myself with the theme song of a very popular tv western from the early 60s, Rawhide, which, btw, co-starred Clint Eastwood.
I’m also curious if the wheel area folds up?
I used to watch Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Star-Trek (which is actually a space-western if you ask me).
Stacie I have taken it to hotel shoots because it’s so worth the extra effort but it’s not real portable. I’m looking for a smaller one.
I’m very interested in how you use the soft box setup in the corner at a wedding. Do you use it for candid photojournalism style shots, which would seem impractical to me, or for herding individuals and small groups into the corner for quick portraits?
Hi Robin also would like more insight on use in weddings Thanks!
Hi Bitan, I use it to light the whole venue. At times I’ll set up two lights around the room. If you face it towards the wall and point it up it will bounce off the wall and light up the room. You don’t need a soft-box for that you can use an umbrella. The past few weddings I’ve just rolled it around the dance floor with me. I have a wedding this weekend so perhaps I’ll shoot a quick video with my flip so people can see what I’m talking about. I’ll post it on the website http://www.robinowenphotography.com
Thanks for the tips Robin, great article!!!