How to use a C-Stand and other essential studio hardware

Today were going to cover everything you need to know about c-stands including some really cool hardware for the studio.
What I failed to mention, is make sure you dont try to nudge the stands around the room with your feet because you can unlock the legs and then it is prone to falling over. I did this before while a stand was loaded down with two stand bags and paid the price.
To learn more about my online learning platform please visit johngress.com/academy/
Kupo 40in C-Stand with Turtle Base Kit (Stand 2.5in Grip Head & 40in Grip Arm with Hex Stud) amzn.to/30lM2OF
Kupo 2 1/2-inch grip head amzn.to/2Dm1LDY
Manfrotto Super Clamp amzn.to/2JCCPZb
Kupo 40" Grip Arm with Hex Pin amzn.to/2F4epck
Kupo 20" Extension Grip Arm with Baby Hex Pin amzn.to/3rPtOkG
Manfrotto Variable Friction Magic Arm amzn.to/2Vc6Ngz
Manfrotto Double Ended Stud amzn.to/2Qp7vje
Manfrotto Spring Clip amzn.to/2DjLAH2
Kupo Offset Arm amzn.to/2DlleEz
Music: Evolution by Bensound bensound.com/

[@queenofpents3442]

The bloopers make the video more authentic and enjoyable lol you're very entertaining to watch. Thank you for this! Can't wait to buy mine!

[@JohnGress]

Ha! Thank you!

[@Mowikan]

Great that your showing that having a studio that is not only shooting and that safety matters!

[@JohnGress]

🙌🏼🙌🏼thanks Billy!

[@brock_calliou]

I recently stumbled upon your channel and I am grateful I did! Your tutorials are very helpful and I gotta say, you are the most super-chill photographer around. Thank you for what you do and keep up with the great work.

[@JohnGress]

Awesome, thank you so much! It must be me west coast upbringing. TTYS!

[@brock_calliou]

@@JohnGress You're very welcome 😄😊

[@alifonso1981]

Great video! Highly professional and informative. Thank you for sharing!

[@JohnGress]

Glad to hear it! Thank you!

[@MrDro1128]

That was helpful. Good stuff, John!

[@JohnGress]

Glad to hear it! Thanks J!

[@RichardGingrasPhotography]

Great tutorial. Thank you for all these brilliant ideas. I’m getting a C-Stand today.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful and more importantly-enjoy!

[@danasuechilds]

Great tips, especially the directionality of where weight should be! I haven't seen anyone else talking about this so far.

[@JohnGress]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@officialbrandoncoleman]

Thank you for this informational video

[@JohnGress]

Thank you Brandon!

[@kevinkerwin4949]

I am so mad that all of your videos don't have millions of views. I've been interested in photography for over 20 years, working with a DSLR for over 10 now, and watch youtube and the like for photography information for about 3-4, and I have learned more in the last 4 months from you than all of it combined. You explain everything fantastically, and it makes sense, why you actually do something and shows us the difference between using something and not, and I'm just blown away by your content. Like all these other KZbinrs are like this and that, but they never actually explain the equipment and how it all works together to make a photo. Like thank you internet, I understand what an exposure triangle is, but finding the answers to these questions was impossible until I found your channel. Thank you!

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Kevin! That is so great to hear. Over the last year its been my outlet since I haven't been able to teach people in person. As you saw in this video, about a month ago I launched an online learning site for photographers where subscribers get access to now weekly zoom calls (so far they have been small and like mini group mentoring sessions), exclusive training videos on retouching and more, plus early access to my youtube videos. You might want to check it out: johngress.com/academy/

[@stephenwoodburn2970]

I have 100% been using my c-stands the wrong way. Thanks for the tips and excellent instruction, as always. I hope you are well. Take care.

[@JohnGress]

Happy to help! I hope youre having a great weekend. =)

[@yanafridabinaev]

Great one! Thank you John!

[@JohnGress]

My pleasure! Thank you!

[@firstbrandmedia3158]

I just finally pulled a trigger on a c-stand so this is very valuable - thanks!

[@JohnGress]

Congrats! Glad it helped!

[@mvabiv]

World class info as always. Thank you.

[@JohnGress]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@londonschoolofwigmaking5793]

Love this, thank you.

[@JohnGress]

Thank you!

[@rodmehta5356]

Very enjoyable and informative. I also like your sweater and shoe combination 😁

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much! 💙❤️🤍

[@judywright2051]

Very helpful info - there are so many options, it's hard to know what you need to get started.

[@JohnGress]

Glad it was helpful!n Thanks!

[@safouen1989]

Very useful informations, thank you 🙏

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@davidbailey1689]

I was incorrectly fastening my C stand. I made that discovery when the blood ran down my forehead. Thanks for the advice.

[@JohnGress]

Oh boy, sorry to hear that. But thank you. I should have mentioned making sure the legs were locked too and if you try to nudge them with your feet, they might come loose.

[@thomasklee7517]

Thanks John; that was really informative. Can’t wait to get my Kupos!

[@JohnGress]

Great to hear! Just make sure "hex" is in the title. I probably failed to emphasize that.

[@thomasklee7517]

@@JohnGress I double-checked and thankfully ordered the ones with the hex nut. Thanks for the heads-up.

[@JohnGress]

Great to hear! Enjoy!

[@mvabiv]

Just got my C-Stand . Time to rewatch your tutorial.

[@JohnGress]

Great timing!

[@Blvkadm]

Great resources

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much!

[@ernie28ernie]

Thank You John, the small tips a worth a fortune! I will never again fasten the grips in the wrong way! ;)

[@JohnGress]

Glad it help! Thank you! =)

[@Jwitherow1964]

I really like when you explain the grear thanks I know to you it’s Elementary but to someone just learning it is valuable information thank you so much

[@JohnGress]

No problem! A lot of the stuff feels reflexive to me at this point but I’m a new people help me out I get reminded of what it used to be like.

[@dorothea5647]

Thank u for the tips! very usefull.

[@JohnGress]

My pleasure 😊 That is great to hear!

[@darwin-nunez]

Great Vid !

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much!

[@rickjbradbury]

Great video John. I see so many people rigging C-Stand wrong both in videos and when I assist photographers. Must grab myself a magic arm, such a handy thing to have the C-Stand pull double duty on a clam shell setup.

[@JohnGress]

IKR Richard. Once you have a light fall over the big leg and the arm will never be apart (unless you screw up)! I'll alsouse super clamps sometimes to put my background lights on my kicker stands.

[@alexandrosft562]

Thankyou for sharing this! My first C-stand has arrived today

[@JohnGress]

Very nice! Enjoy!

[@lirisrobert]

thankyou so much for this video!

[@JohnGress]

You're so welcome! Thank you!

[@KwokKaySzeto]

Learn something from you every time!

[@JohnGress]

That is great to hear Gordon! Thanks!

[@veselinvasilev9362]

Thanks!

[@JohnGress]

No problem!

[@supremeomegacompany]

Wow so informative, i keep checking mine if i placed it well

[@JohnGress]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@Herkulez1981]

The rotations part had me laughing . Just bought a c stand so this was great

[@JohnGress]

Ha! It's hard enough when you're trying to do it normally and doing it to the viewers right always messes me up!

[@jamesmonahan9408]

had me laughing too because I did the same thin when I got mine! I'm in good company!

[@JohnGress]

The struggle is real!

[@piotr.czechowski]

Cool tutorial :)

[@JohnGress]

Thank you!

[@ivedigga]

Love it

[@JohnGress]

Thanks!

[@omarortizytc]

thanks for this! i just bought my very first c stand and i've learned a lot from this video. can you do a tutorial about using a speedlight as rim/hair/kicker light with or without a modifier? thank you!

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Omar! The last time few times I used a speed light the connection was just so inconsistent, I gave up.

[@fellowcreator]

Yay, new video alert

[@JohnGress]

Thanks for signing up!

[@patthompson1253]

excellent, thanks John

[@JohnGress]

Thanks Pat! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@patthompson1253]

@@JohnGress I was in the studio this evening adding a beauty dish on my C stand (and yes using sand bags) when I turned on my computer and saw your video. Always find your vids so informative.

[@JohnGress]

Great timing! Thank you so much 🙏🏼

[@JohnGress]

I always feel that booms sticking out on the opposite side get in the way, so for a BD I would 100% got for the arm. =)

[@JohnGress]

Ha. I need their logo on my nascar after this video 😛

[@AndreS-vq6xe]

how do you recommend I use a rolling c-stand when the strobe has a cable plug hanging? What's the best way to use it without tripping on the wheels?

[@TMM6900]

Love that stools

[@JohnGress]

An oldy but a goodie!

[@kellywoodclark]

Great video! Curious why you put the light on the arm end you did and not mounted with a pin/stud into the grip head side? Like the way you did with the bounce card

[@JohnGress]

Thanks! I suppose for two reasons. The hex head makes it possible to do it with less gear and having the handle on the opposite end can make changing the angle easier.

[@kellywoodclark]

​@@JohnGress Make sense! My Matthews C-stand doesn't have the hex head so I'd always been wary of its strength. The changing the angle though is useful! I've long followed you on IG and loved your posts and just realized you had a YT ch. you do such great videos! Keep up the great work! And thanks for the response!

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much! I upload a new video every Monday morning. 😊

[@josesavant]

Question! Do you have a link for that cool beauty dish? I want it! Fantastic video, definitely getting all these awesome accessories for my Impact c-stand.

[@JohnGress]

Sure thing. Here is a link: amzn.to/3sg3BPb Thank you so much!

[@josesavant]

@@JohnGress Thank you! Getting the silver one. Keep up with the great channel. 👍⚡️

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much Jose! Enjoy!

[@CincyPhotography]

will you show how to connect the grip to the end of the arm bar? and which side of the arm bar it should be attached to

[@JohnGress]

Grip arms come with the head attached.

[@CincyPhotography]

@@JohnGress oh guess thats why its not working for me, my c stand came with arm bars with unattached grips im tryin to figure out

[@auxsom]

found it!

[@JohnGress]

Enjoy!

[@SenorGancho]

Thank you John. Good info and I very much appreciate your teaching style. Clear demos and realistic. Authenticity over slick editing works for me every time! Question though on 'studs'. My C-stand has a threaded 'stud' on the end of the boom arm. My soft- box S-bracket goes over but I’m not sure of the integrity of the join, ie is it too much weight? Is it normal to mount the softbox directly onto the boom arm or should I get a 'stud' so I could use the other grip head to mount my softbox? Thank you

[@JohnGress]

Thank you so much! It is very normal to place a light directly on the stud without using a grip head. I did have some stands with a threaded stud on top and when I used the threads to directly mount a softbox ring with a light and softbox attached I snapped off the threads. I am not really sure what these threads are for but I know now what they aren't for!

[@SenorGancho]

@@JohnGress Thanks John. Interesting they build these these with industrial strength steel and then give you a weak little threaded joint! Stay well

[@carolinamaristad9369]

Hey thanks for the explanation. I have a silly question. How much weight do you have to put inside the sandbag so that the flash and modifier dont fall and break? I have a metal thing and is like 13 kg. Regards❤

[@JohnGress]

Thank you! 7-12kg is the standard range for these bags.

[@joshuadelawrence85]

Question John. If I have 2 elinchrom 500 lights and stands and light modifiers. What case would you recommend from pelican or skb to fit all of this together in a travel case.

[@JohnGress]

Hi Josh, I have this case from SKB for all of my mods amzn.to/2QkOHpr, but I am curious about these cases from Photoflex - amzn.to/3luV5Xp.

[@joshuadelawrence85]

@@JohnGress do you put all your lights in this case with the stands?

[@JohnGress]

I put a 2-3 lights stands and modifiers for small jobs in the case I have. For big jobs it only hold my modifiers and another case holds my lights.

[@JohnGress]

How I travel with my photography & lighting gear. Elinchom, monolights, modifiers & grip case case kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZPWlGVjobuFi7s

[@joshuadelawrence85]

@@JohnGress Since your one of the few that reply on youtube and I appreciate that. I have a question about the RF 70-200 2.8 . I also own the R5. On canons website when I bought the RF 70-200 it says the 70-200 has "Lens Information Display As part of the EOS R system, the RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM lens works with an EOS R series camera to display the lens information right in the viewfinder - making it easy to confirm the lens's focal length without looking away from the subject at hand." I was wondering how I get that to work with the R5 or is that not in the camera system with the R5? Maybe you can make a video about how to enable that?

[@Frimpeezzy]

Is your backdrop diy project? It looks very nice

[@JohnGress]

Thanks you! I had them made by Gravity Backdrops.

[@Frimpeezzy]

@@JohnGress thanks

[@bp-blackshark]

Two things will never come into my collection of photography equipment: Gorilla-Pods...and C-Stands (aka Century-Stands). Gorilla-Pods for obvious reasons, and C-Stands, because of the tiny asymetrical footprint they have. In my homestudio aka livingroom, i have the heavy stuff on wheels, so i did chose "traditional" Manfrotto lighting stands with a big symetrical footprint (C-Stands on wheels: BAD idea!). And some of them are heavy enough (the wind-up`s), so i don´t even need sandbags or extra weight to "nail them down" like a C-Stand. On the non-wind-up lighting stands i have, i prefer the air cushioned versions. The better C-Stands only have some built in springs (Avenger, Matthews), but most C-Stands on the market don´t even have any safety precautions. And my heavy wind-up lighting stands can do, what C-Stands will never be able to do...they can lift heavy weight for me...of course, i need to turn the handle from the geared mechanism, but i don´t need a lot of muscle power, to be able to lift 30 pounds or more. That argument, which you can hear on countless "C-Stands" KZbin videos, that the C-Stands are made out of steel and the other ones not (and most of them are comparing their precious C-Stands against tiny lighting stands which are made for tiny speedlites, lol!), will also be nullifyed by the "traditional" heavy duty lighting stands, which are also made out of steel. And a lot of them will dwarf the C-Stands in size, diameter, weight and load capacity (I am talking about Manfrotto heavy duty lighting stands, which are made for photography...there are much bigger ones from Avenger and Matthews, but they are made for cinema/hollywood floodlights). Yes, you can stack the C-Stands together into a corner from your photo- or homestudio...but that´s the only "advantage" they have over "traditional" lighting stands. And the extension arm from the C-Stands isn´t an exclusive feature...you can put them on every existing lighting stand. And with that, there was no reason left, to convince me to buy ever a C-Stand.

[@JohnGress]

There was a time when I too was anti C-stand. But then I realized that you couldn't boom anything more than a few feet on an Aluminium stand. Some of my stands (Kupo Baby Kit Stand with Square Legs www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LP3GAF0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00LP3GAF0&linkCode=as2&tag=john0d1-20&linkId=663b120481d790db3146a18aa9f65080 ) are bent at the top because of this. As for the legs, I have noticed that some Matthews c-stands allow the position of the legs relative to each other to be something other than 120-degrees and that is why I prefer the other brands, which lock you in at 120-degrees. I do love my rolling junior double risers and my Studio Titan Geared Crank stand kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWKwhmBpeZ5nfKs, but I am reluctant to take them on location because of their weight, /i mostly bring my c-stands for my booms and sometimes my Matthews Hollywood Beefy Baby Triple Riser. Were you talking about one of these? Matthews Maxi Kit Steel Stand (9.5')? I am sure they are fine and everything I talked about in the video would still work well with these.

[@bp-blackshark]

@@JohnGress ​Oh, i see, its gear talk time! :) It´s a difference, if you have to bring your lighting stands to a location, or you already have them in your studio/homestudio. So i don´t have a problem with a heavy steel wind-up lighting stand from Manfrotto...even if it is the smallest ones from the wind-up´s with 3 sections. www.manfrotto.com/us-en/steel-short-wind-up-stand-087nwshb/ ...i have a black version. This is the tallest lighting stand i have, and it is there, to lift heavy weights till to the ceiling...like a Deep Parabolic Softbox with focus system as an example. Yes, i could handle that weight on a lighting stand, which only has simple tubes, but after work, i want comfort, not additional physical work. My wind-up (discontinued, not from Manfrotto) for my Manfrotto boom is looking similar like that one in the following link, but with less diameters on its tubes, and it is black: www.manfrotto.com/us-en/low-base-2-section-wind-up-std-w-braked-wheels-s-o-083nwlb/ I don´t use a simple tube as my "main" boom, like a C-Stand extension arm. I have a sophisticated boom, where i can rotate and turn the spigot for the flashhead with turning handles on the other side. www.manfrotto.com/us-en/super-boom-w-column-stand-025tm/ Its the short version from the Manfrotto Super Boom. And i did replace the pivoting clamp with the geared tilt head for the broncolor paras: broncolor.swiss/products/tilt-head-with-crank-handle-for-para-177-222?variant=4964 (Yes, i am silly!) So i have the same comfort like i would have with a Manfrotto Mega Boom www.manfrotto.com/us-en/mega-boom-black-stand-not-included-practical-and-strong-425b/ This boom and it´s load capacity would be a nightmare on a C-Stand with it´s small asymetric footprint. You really really want a wind-up lighting stand, to do the job. Gears, gears everywhere! On my lighting stands and on my photography tripods and heads. I am a non native english speaker, so i did probably translate the words "photography gear" wrong, lol! But seriously: it`s all about comfort, and if i can justify that investment. My 51 years old bones love it! The other lighting stands i have are air cushioned...that feature isn´t available for C-Stands. With that, your skin from your "stopping" hand will not slip easily between the tubes, if the inner tube is only gliding slowly down.

[@JohnGress]

Thanks for all of this, yes geared stands and those geared booms are great, no doubt.

[@rockj8197]

Proper c-stand usage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJyzkHyvhrZ7rc0

[@kirkdarling4120]

There is always a better alternative on the market for holding a light than a c-stand. Putting a light on a c-stand is a workaround for not having the right stand for the job.

[@silvere36]

I thought C stand is because it's 100 inches.

[@JohnGress]

At first I thought you might be right, then I remembered that each section is 40" and there are three of them.

[@silvere36]

@@JohnGress so I had to do a little digging instead of relying on memory. Popular theory in regards to the origin of the name is that: 1. Century Lighting company first made these stand (I think that company became Mole Richardson). 2. Original stand were wooden sliding easel type that came in 3 sizes and the most popular size is-100 inches. 3. They were originally designed to hold sun reflectors and the standard size of those reflector were 100 inches. 4. As you've stated, they are versatile! Pretty cool that no one seems to have a definitive answer for such a popular item.

[@JohnGress]

I was reading on wiki that it was named after the producer Century Lighting, which later became Strand Lighting, which was purchased by Philips.