Need help with lighting questions please

I am wanting to start a home-based portrait studio and will soon be purchasing a D-SLR (probably a Canon 40D).

What equipment will I need to fire a pair (or trio) of flashes? Will this come with the camera or flash kit or do I need to purchase it separately?

If anybody could provide me with a link or any information it would be most helpful and appreciated. :)

Congratulations on your new endeavor!! I'm posting a couple of links with regards to lighting equipment. I hope you find them helpful. Also, picking up props for your clients will help tremendously with shooting portraits. Hats, gloves, boa's, umbrella's, silk flower petals, etc..... When budget is a factor picking up props at garage sales, flea markets, or consignment shops is very helpful.

http://www.pclightingsystems.com/

http://photography-lighting.com/photo-studio-quartz.html

I also found a thread on Photo.net with suggestions of equipment. Here is the link

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00ELpk

Good luck!

You may want to look into the pocket wizard.

http://www.pocketwizard.com/

You both are very helpful. Thank you.

I will be checking out the sites.

thanks I wondered the same thing also

http://www.pclightingsystems.com/

this is a good site , what is the better
what about this >> and what kind of photo is good for ?
what about this ??http://www.pclightingsystems.com/tungsten/Ultra-tungsten.html

cuz it contain lots of things

If you want a Radio Slave Pocket Wizards are the Way too go.

I use the Plus II's. The are simply fantastic. Work like a charm. No problems what so ever.

check out http://home.amvona.com/
the products quality is good. we own backdrops, lights, sofboxes, reflectors, stands... customer service is awesome.
they have an ebay store too. possible to get a really good price.

check out http://www.strobist.com

i'm currently using two vivitar 285HV for off camera flashes and a 430ex. haven't done any portrait work yet.
beth

Depending on how much you want to spend, Elinchrome now makes a transmitter and receiver set like the pocket wizard and its half the price. I have used them, They're pretty easy to use and extremely consistent.

Also, make sure you look at lights that are digital balanced.

Photogenic 1250 DRC or Elichrome are wonderful advance amateur.
The best pro stuff is Profoto. They make the best lights out there. More pro use it than anybody.

And get a good meter. Sekonic L-358 is awesome.

what about steve kaesere what do you think of his products ??
he got a good price http://www.skaeser.com/catalog/BRITEK3700W_reflector.jpg
http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/Detail?no=524

I second the reply about buying lots of props... I buy them from salvation army, goodwill, flea markets, and ebay. Props are especially helpful with children because they usually need something to keep their interest!

As far as lighting, I use a combination of flourescent spotlights with white umbrellas, and hallogen strobes. I just recently got my strobes, and I have yet to use them... I don't usually like to use flash with my portraits only because I feel like I can control the lighting better with continuous output lighting. I usually use one spot light above and behind the subject for hair lights, and a spotlight to each side shining through a white umbrella. Then I use a hallogen in front for fill light and to get that sparkle in their eye:)

what your opinion about this kit ?? not good for babies ??

I think that looks like a great kit to buy. I have similar stuff. I just haven't gotten to experiment with the flash yet... But they can be continuous output lighting too. Looks like the kit has about everything you need. I have been using white umbrellas in place of softboxes but I recently purchased those too.

ok i will take it :)

check out this website (http://super.nova.org/DPR/) for some really good information on studio lighting, as well as Canon flash photography

i have order it , am waiting to get my studio kit , and i will tell my opinion later :)