Hi Everyone - I am in the amazing position that in about a month I will have a room dedicated to use as a photography studio!!!

So, I am also very interested to find out what could be considered the basis of a simple to use (as I have no formal training) studio lighting set-up that is capable of providing me with consistent and predictable results.

As some of you may know, I am most often forced to resort to using myself as a model, so I can't check and see exactly what the lighting is like for each shot before I take it. So - I THINK I would prefer to have steady lighting - not flash - as I also have no idea how to teach myself to compensate exposure for off-camera flash lighting. I also do not know if I would benefit most from umbrella light diffusion, or soft-box??? What are the various reasons for using one over the other???

Then, of course, also reflectors. I assume that gold gives a warmer reflective glow than white or silver and I assume that a varied set is most useful - and I most definitely need stands for everything as I can't hold stuff as well as pose and click a remote shutter release at the same time.

So - I welcome any and all suggestions re what would be the most basic (and reasonably cheap!) set-up that would provide me with the best and most useable options. Is only 1 light with an umbrella and/or soft box enough? Or is the variety provided by 2 almost essential? Plus reflectors??? How many and what shades are best for what???

Are any brands just great? Are any definitely to be avoided?

Finally - any suggestions re where to find any or all of this for a good price that is accessible from Melbourne???

Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions and advice!

Kallena  x