How we did it.

I would be remiss in showing a bunch of cool shots from my last shoot without showing what it took to get them.

So here are a few working shots. For my photo equipment I use all Nikon. It is reliable and in 15 years I have not very little complaints on the abilities. 

For shoots like this, I rarely use a tripod because I am moving too much. I am never satisfied with one angle, but when I do use a tripod, I am all about Bogen. My tripod of choice is the Manfrotto magfiber 055MF3 with a 322RC2 head. The tripod and head combined weigh a little over 5.5 pounds which is extremely valuable for me. Since I have a bad back, I need to have gear that is light and easy to move with. A little note. I purchased two mounting plates and have them on all my cameras so I never take them off and don't have to worry about loosing a small plate that, if lost, makes the tripod useless.

For lighting, I use all Elinchrom. Swiss made and very durable. I have one battery kit called the Ranger RX Speed AS. The battery in these things lasts for hundreds of shots. I have a spare battery and hardly ever use it. It travels very well. I can fit two heads and the power kit in a rolling carry on. I used to carry them on the plane, but since the new change in battery policy on planes, I am checking them in until I can get TSA to reply to my questions about taking these on a plane. But I digress.

With the battery kit, I use a variety of modifiers ranging from 18º degree grid to super huge 8 foot Octabank. The octabank is simply the best investment I made. It is amazing how many times I see photographers with Profoto gear and connect them (with an adapter) to an Elinchrom Octabank. It surrounds the subject with light. I can't say enough about how cool this monster is. I only hope in the near future to have two of them.

For stands I use Avenger Century lightstands. Another note. There is a difference between the A255SCB and the A205SCB and it isn't the price. The A255SCB has removable legs. The 205 's legs are attached. This is a HUGE advantage if the stands ever plan on leaving the studio. 

One more thing that I think is important is how I carry all this stuff. Aside from Lowepro Commercial AW bag (which is awesome to fit 2 bodies, 4 lenses, 4 SB-800s and more), I recently purchased a hard case by SKB. This company isn't too known for photo gear, but I have to say, after seeing the Golf travel case in an airport, I just had to stop the guy to ask the brand. The ATA Deluxe Golf Travel Case  fits an Elinchrom octabank, an Avenger lightstand with riser, black backdrop, and more. I can get all this stuff in there and be below the 50 pound weight limit for airports. It has a handle on the top and good wheels for dragging easily. What's even better is the fact that the three clamps that close the thing are TSA approved locks and easily replaceable for all those monkeys at the airport with no concern. The case is super light and very sturdy. From their website "molded from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, the material specified by the U.S. military for cases and containers."