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I love doing portraits. Mostly I used available light because it was cheap and I didn't know how to use artificial light. For the last couple of years I've been working towards a studio set-up. Last night it came together. I've been working on clearing a space in the basement for the last couple of weeks. The last two days were more intense. Boxes to move and consolidate and stuff to throw out. All to make room for a backdrop and the strobes. I've been hanging out at Strobist for two years now soaking up information on how to light without a lot of money. When I first started looking at lighting, a photographer friend told me it would take around $3,000 for a studio strobe kit. I didn't have that kind of money and was thrilled when I discovered Stobist and what you can do with small hot-shoe flashes. This portrait was taken with 3 Vivitar 283s (average price $35 each) and a new Vivitar 285 HV ($90). The stands and umbrellas were also inexpensive. I use household cord for triggering the Vivitar 285 HV and Sonia optical slaves (average price $15 ea) to trigger the Vivitar 283s. This was a lighting test with all the flashes on full power. All the flashes have manual power settings. I set the 2 second self-timer and ran in front of the camera. It all worked! I'm using 53" wide seamless paper. 53" means shooting close for more than one person but it will work. The backdrop is Savage Black Velveteen wich stays black. I have rolls of Savage Super Black (reflects to dark gray) and Savage Super White arriving today. Jenny and Evan (daughter and grandson visiting from Colorado) will be my first subjects. It's been a long time getting to this point and a lot of satisfaction in arriving. Now the fun begins.