Family Portaiture

[LeonSLR]

i have been asked to take some photos for a friend of thier family (possible 12 people) which will be indoors and in their house. The only problem is that I don't have a flash gun or studio lights and I don't know which way to go. I have £300- £400 to spend and would then start to build the accessories up. please help

[matt wilson]

as a first line I would be tempted to hire the stuff .I have not yet invested but from what I have read you will need some pretty powerful lights for such a significant group.

[Deano638]

I've had a similiar dilema in that I need to take some portrait photo's for an online course that I am doing. Whilst I have a flash gun I don't have a difuser any studio lights or anything. Note that in issue 37 of Photo Plus the Elinchrom is again recommended as a good start. Must admit I am tempted but am not convinced how much use I will make of it just yet. Note you can get cheaper, but then again do you then get what you want.

I'd be interested to know what you decided. It may help me.

Dean

[chris-p]

As Matt has already suggested, if you really need some lights, hire them.

I've seen people go out and buy lighting rigs and they've no idea how to use them. Never even used a flash gun. Generally the results are either awful or they gave up with the lighting!

Family portraits are often more flattering taken under natural light anyway...