Cheap Off Camera Flash Setup for Portraits

February 18, 2016  •  Leave a Comment

I've recently been taking images of work colleagues for a digital yearbook we are putting together and thought I'd share the setup I've been using.

I've been really impressed with just how cheap the setup is which proves that pretty much anyone can put together a setup for portraits that's both inexpensive and highly portable.

I also ran a session at my local camera club recently where I was demo'ing the use of both studio lights and this cheap/portable setup. For the demo I really wanted to do wireless shooting (so the images would appear on my iPad immediately after taking the photo) for everyone to see.  After a bit of searching on the Internet, I found a great free app that works with both Nikon and Canon wifi-enabled cameras).  I've included the details of the app below too.

 

My setup consists of:

2 x Yongnuo YN-560 III Flashes

These cost c. £45 each on Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BXA7N6A/ref=pe_385721_37038051_TE_3p_dp_1)
As these flashes have a built in receiver, you only need a single transmitter to fire them (see next item on my list)

2 x Yongnuo RF-603 Wireless Triggers

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A4XBGQA/ref=pe_385721_51767431_TE_dp_1
These cost c. £22 for 2 including a remote control cable too!

 

I then had a bracket (sorry can't find the link to this) which lets you attach the 2 flashes side by side onto one of these (which costs £5.32)!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004YNF3DI/ref=pe_385721_37038051_pe_217191_31005151_3p_M3T1_dp_1

The bracket above was then fixed to a stand pointing into a Bowens brolly (costing about £41):

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-bowens-umbrella-115-cm-46inch-silver-white/p1004999?mkwid=sec10x8jo_dc&pcrid=89741351819&kword=&match=&plid=&gclid=coqcmsn_gcscfqhugwod0-4hiq

For less than a couple of hundred pounds you can get the full setup to allow you to shoot studio quality portraits at a fraction of the cost.

The wireless tethering app I mentioned is called 'Helicon Remote' and is available for free on the Apple App Store (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/helicon-remote/id957334044?ls=1&mt=8) or via their website here (http://www.heliconsoft.com/software-downloads/).

 

 


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