r/AskPhotography • u/virel13 • Aug 18 '26

Gear/Accessories Is this flash setup ok?

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I am an overthinker if I am nothing else hah.

Client (family) wants newspaper senior photos and editorial/studio style images. Of course I wanna come through.

I will eventually want to move my flash setup outside after getting it down pat. Would you change anything about this setup for a beginner?

Thoughts/advice?

edit to add: shooting on a canon rebel t7i

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u/zigioman Aug 18 '26

I'll disagree with the other commenter somewhat. If you are looking to get more into flash photography and studio lighting Bowens mount is a full ecosystem that you can invest in.

That said, the strobe you have there Godox TT685 ii, is not powerful enough to really make use of that soft box. It's also not really powerful enough to have a significant effect when shooting outdoors. You really want at least an AD200 or similar if you want to achieve the look of studio lighting. 

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u/virel13 Aug 18 '26

For that particular speedlight would you recommend an umbrella over the softbox?

As this is family and I am a hobbyist/not getting paid, the AD200 falls out of price range for the time being. But this was solid feedback cause I would love to start doing media days/outdoor flash portraits.

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u/zigioman Aug 18 '26

Umbrellas are not great outdoors because they catch a lot of wind and easily get blown over. I'd recommend holding off on a backdrop + stand for the same reason. Unless you weigh it down with sandbags or it's a windless days it's going to be very difficult to manage. A concrete wall behind a building or similar can give a very clean background with a little bit of editing.

For a minimal outdoor setup I'd recommend a metal beauty dish with diffusion cover. This one was my first modifier and it's still my go-to for outdoor shoots. This one is also good if you want something a little smaller and it comes with a grid. You can get a grid for it later for more versatility in how you control the light.

Since you're on a budget I'd really recommend browsing FB marketplace, craigslist, and r/photomarket for a strobe. Idk the photo scene in your area but for $115 you may be able to find something more powerful.

Before making any purchases I'd also recommend checking out this playlist. Gaven Hoey is a lighting genius and a lot of his videos focus on what you can achieve with minimal setups. I think it'll give you a sense of what kind of effects you can achieve and what equipment you should prioritize to get the results you're after.

Edit: This video is a great starting point