I'm all about the most bang for my buck, and this monstrosity does not disappoint. 


     This flash is a beast. I'm kinda torn on how to review it. It's a battery operated on-camera (bracket) flash... but comparing it to hotshoe flashes seems silly, it makes them look like little girls. Not quite in the league of studio strobes, but it makes a solid effort. I'll try and pick somewhere in the middle while comparing to both. Just so you know my bias, these things will be coming with me to every outdoor shoot from now on. 

     Had to seriously dig into my archives for an image I shot with these lights. It's been a while...

     Vivitar 285HVs have long been a favorite option for off camera lighting for budget minded photographers. However, in the past couple years, so many better and cheaper options have come to the playing field, that they've lost a lot of their shimmer.
     There are so many of them out there, though, that I can hardly go to a Goodwill or Salvation Army and not see one for $7, so they may still have a spot in your bag

     I love the softness of a large softbox for glamour work. However, shooting primarily with speedlites, and other small battery powered flashes, standard softboxes aren't really a viable option, without investing in sometimes expensive standard softboxes and pricey speedrings.

      I saw some 'umbrella softboxes' while perusing Amazon and the eBays, and thought I'd pick them up, and check them out... at $27 for two, I couldn't pass them up.

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     I'm super stoked about this project. I've been teaching workshops in various cities across the US for the past year or so, and have been trying to find a way to reach a wider audience. I was approached with the idea of producing a DVD workshop.

     It's an affordable way to get introduced to off camera lighting, covering topics from off camera lighting basics, indoor lighting styles, outdoor lighting techniques (including overpowering the sun) as well as studio lighting... and how to do all this on a budget.

     Workshops... For those of us on a budget, they can be a big, scary expense. I saw a full-day workshop here in Las Vegas recently that cost as much as my mortgage payment. However, would I suggest to stay away? Absolutely not. Instead, sit down and identify your needs, find out what topic would benefit you most, and invest a little into your education.


     The image to the left showcases skills I learned from an "outdoor lighting" workshop I attended, that had a big section dedicated to overpowering the sun.

Arranging wardrobe for sets can get expensive.

Hands down, one of my favorite lenses.

Cheap: ($125 new, $75-$100 used)
Sharp: Click the image to the left for a closer look.
Lightweight.
Fun.


Definitely worth skipping out on a few Starbucks for.

Sit down, relax, and enjoy the review. There's pretty girls, and some nuggets of good, solid information.

Generic 22" Beauty Dish with 30° grid, speedlite mount.

Again with a beautiful model instead of a picture of what I'm reviewing, what's gotten into me?

The 22" beauty dish I just got put me back $120. the 16" version was available for $75. Both are a bit of an investment, but well worth it for the amount of control they allow.

Talk about portable awesomeness.

I thought this image (taken with these softboxes) would catch the eye a little bit better than a picture of the softboxes themselves.

I picked up two of these on ebay for $80 and definitely glad I did. Packed up, they fit into a 6"x9"x2" bag, and they strap directly onto my backpack.

For me, they're great.

YN460II


I love these flashes.

Seriously love them. I want them to have my babies.

This is YongNuo's second flash system (460, 460II, 560) with each one surpassing the last in some regards. Let's start with the documented information, the stuff they put on fliers and ads, then get into practical use.

Can you build a solid kit for $500?




     I think you can. Shown to the left is one of my favorite shots ever from back when I had my first kit. Did I have to invest thousands of dollars to get quality images? Nope. Is it the greatest photo ever on the face of the planet? Nope, but it's something I'm proud of, an image of respectable quality, regardless of its minor flaws, that helped me book more work.

Budgetographer: Angela Michelle Perez. 

    Occasionally I'll tell you about photographers who inspire me, while living the budget lifestyle. Photographers who beat the odds, and create beautiful work with budget equipment. These photographers know what the hell they're doing, push the limits of their equipment, and serve as an inspiration to all of us who operate on a budget. 

Hopefully you'll be inspired as well by some of these featured photographers.


Meet our first Budgetographer, Angela Michelle Perez.

YongNuo RF-602 Remote Trigger
This article is to review, and give some information on YongNuo's RF-602 Remote Trigger system. This is their second trigger system. (CTR-301 being the other popular system) with this one surpassing the last. Let's start with the documented information, the stuff they put on fliers and ads, then get into practical use.

     Everyone has to start somewhere, right? Now the question comes to mind: Do you spend $200 on a great, solid stand, bracket and modifier, or $40 for a basic one that gets the job done and gives you a basis on which to grow?

Work with what you've got - Apartmentstudio
  
     You've got to start somewhere, right? For me that has meant Basementstudio, Kitchenstudio and currently, Apartmentstudio.

     Similar results as a normal studio, while saving either $1500 a month, or $75 an hour? Sign me up!

Identify your needs.

I want a 1DsIII, an H4D60, Profoto D1 Airs, everything holding my gear to be Manfrotto and Gitzo. I want an EF 70-200 2.8L IS II and 85mm 1.2. I want $6,000 parabolic umbrellas and other ridiculously expensive modifiers.

Do I need any of it? Not quite yet.

And you probably don't either.