First post in Studio and Lighting Technique

So, opening here with the same text that I posted a couple of days ago on Alan sh site (Camera Discussions)
I hope, many will follow.
It seems that I' m the first one to post here.
Thnxs to admin for opening this forum!
I' m not yet very knowledgeable on this subject of studio photography. In fact I just started. But then I got so many good advice on DPR Studio forum, that I would love to continue here.
I especially like portrait photography and so far I shot all my portraits in available light . Since recently I now own 2 Godox flashes (400pro and 300pro). Already had backdrops.
Next step can be a proper parabolic reflector (thinking of the Parabolix 45), and a soft box (maybe a longer rectangular one).
All advice is very welcome!

Hi Mujanast,

I'm mainly a lurker on Studio & Lighting, but occasionally chip in.
It was/is one forum on DPReview where there was so much knowledge from through the decades.
And, as we know, the physics of light hasn't changed in that time.

Good luck in your endeavours!

One cheap, easy and often overlooked option: A scrim or diffuser to shoot through. A smaler one like a 100x150cm pop-up is easy to use, easily portable, and more easily manouverable (ie feathering) than a softbox of equivalent size. It's a good (and relatively very cheap) tool to have available. Plus, unlike a softbox, you can use it to tame strong natural light into softer light (outdoors or window light).

I bought one of those 5 in one diffusers that has 4 reflectors that zip over the outside, it's more versatile than flash.
With flash a softbox or umbrella is usually easier to adjust as a single unit. I use an overhead softbox often enough I've dedicated a flash head and leave it set up on a boom.
Nice to see all the posts on the new DPR.

Thank you stateit! Maybe a good idea for my second light (300watts). For the main light (400w) I still think about that Parabolix (which is different from a soft box in that it doesn't just scatter light around).

Scrims are nice but need more hardware on hand to properly use them. And cheaper ones are made like crap and harder to use so spend the money on the good stuff. People buy all expensive camera, lenses and then want to cheap out on lighting/grip. Just my 2 cents.

Which size parabolic you plan to buy? I wouldn't jump into them when I am just starting. Well if money is no object but then I would spend on broncolor para.:) You would need nice quality stands to handle those parabolics.

Indeed, as Chief mentioned above, if you are looking for a proper parabolic reflector have a look at Broncolor. They are great, but not cheap. However, they sometimes run a discount as big as 30% off their regular prices. In general, Broncolor is top of the bill and always deliver what they promise.

Thank you REalpha. I know Broncolor Paras are top of the bill (maybe together with Briese). At the moment they're definitely too expensive for me. Same with Briese ofcourse (I' m just starting getting my feet wet in studio photography with strobes).
Luiz Gabriel (GabrielPhoto on FM) did a very good job in comparing different parabolic reflectors (and so-called parabolic reflectors), on FredMiranda a while ago. With images he has compared Broncolor with Parabolix and Godox. If you didn't already see/read this, I can wholeheartedly recommend this! (forums FM).

Parabolix comes VERY close to Broncolor; in some cases I even prefer the look from Parabolix. So, in my opinion, there are 3 different companies that produce "true" parabolic reflectors; Broncolor / Briese (which I both find too expensive at the moment), and Parabolix (not cheap but certainly much more affordable). Godox is a no go for me (not comparable to any true parabolic reflector. Companies that advertise their parabolic reflectors as "parabolic soft boxes" are also a no go (a parabolic being totally different from a soft box).
Unluckily Parabolix is an American company that doesn't seem to have a European branch....I' ll probably have to import a Parabolix45 Package.
Now I still prefer those Broncolor Paras (easy setup and slightly better light), but maybe that's something for in the future.

You are very welcome. And yes, I have seen the comparison Luiz did (on DPReview and followed the discussion on this), and these were his conclusions. As I already had a para133 (ope to add a para177 someday), there was no need for me to further research of course. I do understand that you may want to explore other options as well. In Europe you can easily buy Bron as service may be important as well. However, I do understand that cost is a prime area of considerations! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you!

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Thank you again REalpha. Ofcourse I would love to have and use one or more of those Paras. The para133 would be the first one for me. Maybe even the only one. But, like I said, simply too expensive for me at this moment (as a simple beginner). Especially since in that comparison from Luiz, Parabolix does very well and it surely has those parabolic "characteristics" in images and I find them much, much better than those Godox reflectors in his comparison.
Not like the paras...they simply are superior (although not by a few thousand dollars....at the moment...for me ofcourse (beginner/etc.)...certainly for ease of use/setting these paras up...they are far superior!). Same with the lights itself...I've tried Broncolor Siros with a stripbox on a professional photo fair last year. Here I think Godox could be a good starting point for a beginner like me (also cost wise ofcourse).
I know here in Europe, service could be easier for Broncolor in general, but maybe there' s not too much service needed for a light modifier. For lights on the other hand.....
Who knows....maybe one day a Broncolor Para133