What equipment do I need to do my own studio photography?

I have a DSLR camera and have taken a basic photography class. I'm wanting to just get some basic studio equipment just to photograph my own family/pets. I looked at the websites and I see all the equipment ranging own up in the thousands of dollars but, does anyone have suggestions for basic items for my own family studio work? I only have a Nikon 3100dslr

Tripod? Lighting? Screens?

You barely need anything now a days.honestly just for family and friends, you don't need a whole lot. My cousin is a professional black and white photographer. For the most part, he just has his cameras and his computer with photoshop and other retouching/editing programs. And some studio equipment can be made DIY out of of regular objects. Like backdrops and those umbrella things they use to angle the light.haha hope i helped. Just learn to use photoshop and you'll be good

You need a croma key or green screen to put in digital backrounds in you also need studio umbrella lighting a food camera I perfer Nikon and Sony but any good camera will do you need a tripod whatever props you want in your shoot you need a green screen software such as a software from green screen wizard or tube tape and you need peaple to take photos of hope that helps(;

You will need a background stand and some backgrounds

A key light, fill light and background lights. Start out using incandescent lamps, 500 watts is usually good enough (remember to set your cameras white balance to match the incandescent lighting

Tripod

Remote shutter release.

If you intend to shoot any small product shots, you need to buy a light tent too.

In any case, you will need to invest at least $500 for the above equipment. If you decide to use studio flash, then you will need to add another $1, 000 to your budget

NOTE: Cheap studio flashes have flash units that are not powerful enough for most applications. Most of us who have studios and us studio flash, have flash units that are at least 1000 watt/sec power packs

Sample of such a kit

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/..._Head.html

You can invest in some simple spot lights. These would be the most expensive item. Buy a simple translucent umbrella to act as a diffuser. You can use thermocol sheets as reflectors. Invest in green cloth for a green screen. All of this should be enough for you to get started.

Paul Buff, the man who makes the very popular Alien Bees strobes says "Get one strobe and one modifier (say, an umbrella), and learn to use them. Then add more as you feel the need." This is great advice. Alien Bees makes three versions, a 400 watt-seconds, 800 WS and 1200. I'd get the 1200.

Just for your own enjoyement?

Here is what I would recommend:

6 YN460II flashes
30$ each so 180$ total

2 kits of triggers (2) and receivers (about 6 in total) - PT06 is what I use
35$ for a kit of 1 transmitter 3 receivers so 70$

2 bounce umbrellas
20$ each so 40$

2 umbrella mounts. (or more but at least 2)
15$ eac so 30$

A kit of light modifiers for flashes (snoot, barn doors, grid, gell pack… )
80$ total

A kit of small softboxes (small sofboxes that mount on the flash head)
50$ total

Various batteries (AA, AAA… )
70$ (more or less)

3 of four lightstands
20$ for some cheap stands 60$

Grand total: 580$

580$ get's you a full 6 light studio kit.sure, the flashes are a smidgen underpowered when compared to a full fledged studio strobe like an Alien Bee 800 but it's more than enough to get you started. I even use a similar kit at weddings (I shoot like 10 a year).

You could also drop the number of flashes down to 3 really but I like having a few spares on hand.

The kit I would like to purchase (if only their gear was certified here in Canada… Stupid insurance) is the alien bee "Busy Bee" light kit with a vagabond power supply @ 1500$
http://www.paulcbuff.com/pkg-busybee.php

Check amazon for studio equipment. I bought a whole studio off there for less than 200. I would say you want at least one background, the stands to hold up the background, and some lights.

My husband uses this studio portrait video lighting Kit http://digitsy.com/us/Electronics/item/B0054K9138 It is easy to use and setup. These lights work great with digital DSLR cameras. It is a complete continuous lighting system, background support stands and muslin backdrops. This Lighting Kit Includes:
Background stand 8ft height 10 ft wide 4 sections
2 x 16x24" soft boxes for 4-socket, 2 x 4-socket lamp
45W bulb 5500K, 7ft light stand, boom stand, Carrying Case
20" EZ soft box with light adapter, 65W bulb
cross bar, sandbag, 6x9' white backdrop / black backdrop/ green backdrop
You could use them in the studio photography or videography as well as on location projects. This lighting kit is the most affordable kit on the market today (<$200).