[Beginner] Studio photography minimum required

[Michel ROS]

Hi everybody,

I’m new on photigy and beginner on studio photography.

To last year april I had my own bar in Japan but because of the Covid I’ve obligated to close my business.
Sometimes I’ve recipe consulting from other restaurants and bars. I remarked that their photos was usually taking from a phone or a little camera in their place and they produced from that.
Because of the virus take out and delivery are becoming more and more imprtant and client’s are more and more influencing by photos to choose what they want. So I think to add business photos service to provide product.
I found photigy on the web and I’m very interesting on all course about beverage and more.

But as beginner in studio photography and in thid time of crisis I’ve to think about all gear that I’ll need to make a mini studio in my room to start this new project.

So I’ll be really thanksfull if someone can help me to gather all of that.

My place is 15m². Is it enough or do I need more space to make a mini studio?

I saw the “recommanded gear for studio photographer” and all links in the page.
In Japan I can’t find lot’s of them or they are very expensive (2x or more than in the links).

For the lights, what is the difference between speedlight and continous light? Wich one is better?
When I choose one what im I supposed to take care about the most ? (power, temperature color…)

For the stripbox, I found the “Impact Luxbanx Small Stripbox” but is the price is doubble of the price in your shop link. I found other stripbox less expensive but wider. Do I need to find exactly the same size ? or is there a size minimum and maximum ?
When I choose the stripbox what am I supposed to care about ? (material, color, etc)

In few tutorials videos I saw that all the recommanded gear were not always using. So at the begining what do you recommand to me to have first and how many ? (thinking to get more if necessary later).

I’m interesting in certification program but do I need all the recommanded gear to do it or less is enough ?

I’m sorry for this series of questions.

Thank you to all for reading this and for your next answers.

Topic

[Alex Koloskov]

Hello Michel,
Sorry to hear about the loss of your business.
Your studio is small but I think you will have enough space to learn product photography and start shooting small subjects. You ask about the light, and there is not much difference between continuous and strobe light when it’s come to the lighting techniques, and lighting techniques Are the most important in product photography. However, with strobe lights, you most likely will have a better sharpness of your images, because you can shoot at higher shutter speed, shorter shutter speeds. With continuous light, your shutter speed will be longer and you need to be really careful to make sure that there is no vibration with your camera or subject or in your room in general, especially when you shoot macro.

At the beginning, I was starting with continuous lights and my first learning was happening with continuous lights, however, I went with strobes as soon as I got enough money to buy strobes.
It was more than 15 years ago, and these days good continuous lights – LED lights, all good for both, photography and videography, keep this in mind.

Regarding your strip boxes: any strip box will work, just make sure that it is strip but not square, meaning that the height of it at least four or five times longer than the width. A good idea is to buy two of them of the same brand, so you will have no issues with the white balance that might happen when you will have some boxes from different brands, especially cheap brands.

Of course you can start with a little jar, I would say that having three lights ways to strip boxes and two or three honeycomb grades or notes will cover most of your lighting, plus diffusers two or three.
And micro lens and the camera will finish your setup. Of course, you will need all kinds of clams tripods studio stands and all this, but it shouldn’t be too expensive for you to buy all the stuff.

I wish you good luck and hope to see you on the certification program.

[Michel ROS]

Alex,
Thank you for your answer.

A friend have a
“GODOX SL-60W Camcorder Light, LED Studio Light, 5600±300K Bowens Wireless Control, Studio Shooting Light”
(https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/gp/product/B08DNPYPRF/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=ARMCNI33RCT30&psc=1°
that he’s not using anymore so, maybe buy 2 more same to have 3 same light ?

With that 3x
“Godox Softbox Bowens with Mount 22x90cm/9″ x 35″ Honeycomb Grid & Softbox… (FW22*90)”

In photography have all stand and light same diametters size or is there some combination impossible ?
Like do I have to take care of the size of the light mouth and the diffuser one and the stand one with the light or other thing ?

For the camera I’ve my
Canon 5D mk3
16-35ml F2.8
24-105mm F4
50mm F1.8
70-200mm F2.8

I don’t find all recommanded grip in japan but is that enough to start ?

Thank you