I need some suggestions.

[KaZaaV2]

Hi guys,

I want to start doing studio photography for my own recreation and I would like to hear your suggestions for a good studio lighting kit to start out with that won't cost me an arm and a leg.

[Arkady]

You need to think about the future. If you start buying cheap lighting heads and stands then if it goes anywhere, you will end up junking them somewhere down the line. To be honest you would be much better of renting studio space by the half day or better still check to see if your nearest city has a photographic society who have their own studio.
If you have absolute loads of money to burn then I personally recommend Elinchrome studio flash monoblocs with Manfrotto stands/statives.

[KaZaaV2]

Well you see, I just want to start our and learn the very basics and find out stuff trial and error. I won't be doing stuff for clients (I'll hire a pro for that). You have to remember, I don't know much about studio photography and I don't want to rent out a studio just for me to practice lighting on a toy car or whatever test subject I use.

After a few years and I have some money saved up, I'll buy some more serious equipment and pass one the startup kit to someone looking to get into the field and needs help with taking that first step.

[Arkady]

You won't learn anything about studio lighting by trial and error. Buy a book, join a photographic society or camera club. If after that you want to practice the things that you've learned without wasting too much money, then buy some reflector lamps and some cheap stands and couple of rolls of gaffer tape.

[KaZaaV2]

I'm going to a workshop in NY this summer for 8 weeks so I'll get my learning started there... I just don't have 3000+ dollars to go all out on it yet... I wouldn't mind spending a couple hundred though...