Putting your first lighting set together takes some time and planning. You’ll want to make sure you get gear that’s compatible with your camera. But you’ll also want equipment that will maintain its usefulness as your skill set and lighting arsenal grow. I think it’s a good idea to start with a single good light and build from there.
Below is a short list of the gear I personally use or have used, and recommend. However, there are plenty of good options out there. Do your research and find the best equipment for your needs.
Godox TT685 Flash: These are budget-friendly and reliable. If you’re attaching the flash to your camera, make sure to select the compatible version (e.g. TT685c is the Canon version). For units used off-camera/remotely, any of the versions will work. But be sure to use the compatible version of transmitter (see X1T below).
Godox AD400 Pro Flash/Strobe: Much more expensive than the TT685 units, but much more powerful.
Godox XPro Flash Transmitter: This flash trigger controls the remote Godox flashes and strobes from the camera hot shoe. TTL signal transmission will only work when the correct/compatible version is used (e.g. X2T-C is the Canon version). Other options and comparisons can be found in my blog post, Godox Flash Triggers Compared.
Glow EZ Lock Quick Octa Large Softbox: This is a good softbox which is easy to transport and setup. A good size for head-and-shoulder portraits of a single person.
Godox Strip Light Softbox: A strip light is a long rectangular softbox.
Translucent Umbrellas: This link provides only one of many similarly priced options. They’re all about the same and most will do the job.
Godox S2-Type Bracket: Good for umbrellas and Bowens-type mounted modifiers alike. There are several industry-standard mounting solutions; different adapters that you can use to connect lights to modifiers. Bowens is one of the most widely used, and this bracket supports that type.
Impact CA-108 Umbrella Adapter: A good, strong swivel adapter for use with umbrella modifiers.
Note: Feel free to use either the affiliate links I’ve provided here, or simply use your favorite search engine to find a seller of your choice for any of the products listed.