Camera Labs

Hi,

My young enterprise company is currently using a cheap lighting system for our portrait work. This consists of a small light stand and umbrella with my 430ex ii.

So far this has worked great and has offered us good enough results for what we are doing. However we are starting to get a little more serious and next year are going to start our own fully registered company. So it's time to upgrade our kit. But since I am one of the photographers everyone is looking at me for advice on what we should get. But theres a problem, I know about lighting setups ect but have no idea about all the different kits out there.

At the moment we have settled on a one light set up with:

Nice westcott light stand. I have seen someone with it and it is light and very sturdy.
http://www.fotosense.co.uk/westcott-13- ... -9914.html

decent sized softbox
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Interfit-Softbo ... SOZ1F1R3TZ

Adapter to use my flash with softbox
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Interfit-Strobi ... SOZ1F1R3TZ

I think this is a good kit but I was wondering what you thought? Could I get better for the money? However whilst looking around at the kits I couldn't help but wonder if a cheapish kit would be better or worse. This would allow us to use a two light set up but would this mean it was significantly worse (build quality and results)

Something like this for around £300
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-int ... t/p1015681

What do you think? Buy the one light set up or a kit? Also there are loads of kits for around £300 so what do you think is the best one? It must contain at least one soft box please.

If you have read to the end of this THANK YOU
Any help would be amazing

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Camera: Canon 550D with battery grip
Lenses: Canon 24-105mm f/4L, Canon 50mm f1.4, Canon 18-55mm, Tamron 70-300mm,
Accessories: Manfrotto 055XPROB with 808RC4 head, Canon 430ex II speedlite, Lowepro Nova 180AW and Lowepro Pro Runner 450AW

Oh that is so lame, every hot girl who can aim a camera thinks she’s a photographer -Stewie Griffin

This will depend on the results that you expect.

Catch lights in the subject's eyes - the shapes will differ
The spread of light - the larger the 'diffuser', the further the light is spread out
Your level of experience - The less experience, the more basic you will want the setup to be

Those are just some of the primary factors of making the decision.

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Canon EOS 500D
Lenses: EFS 18-55mm IS, EF 50mm F/1.8 II