Strobist

Often times I am asked what type of equipment I use, not just my camera gear but my studio gear, specifically when it comes to lighting.

Now most people would expect me to say I use some high-end monolights with an array of light modifiers, and don't get me wrong, I do use monolights occasionally and for a while I used them exclusively.  However, through the years i've noticed that I really enjoy using my off-camera strobes for studio work, in my case, these currently consist of SB-800s and SB-600s which are all very capable strobes in their own right.

Why do I do this?  There are a few reasons which I will quickly outline below:

Ease of setup: these strobes setup very quickly, in a matter of minutes I can be ready to shoot.

Portable: I like to move around a lot during my shoots, as well as do on-location shoots.  In these cases it is much easier to move and transport a few off-camera strobes around rather than some bigger monolights (and their battery packs if there is no other power source)

Accessories:  One of the big advantages of monolights (and still continues to be in some ways), is that they have a slew of light modifiers that can help you form the light to your exact needs (think grids, snoots, barn doors, etc.), however there are more and more companies making similar accessories for off-camera strobes now as well, which are all very capable in modifying light.

In all fairness, I will say that not all situations can be shot using just off-camera strobes and will need the power and versatility of a few proven monolights, however that gap is closing and if used correctly, some amazing photos can be created with just a few off-camera strobes.  Most people are often shocked/suprised when they learn that I took a certain photo with just a few off-camera strobes. 

Remember, as cliche as this sounds, it isn't the equipment that makes a good photo, it's how the photographer actually uses that equipment  to their advantage.

For more information and reading about this "style" of shooting, be sure to check out Strobist.com, they feature some really cool articles, and even feature photos with a complete breakdown of how they set the shot up.