affordable and basic portrait lighting

Earlier in my career as a photographer I remember trying to find out what kind of lighting and modifiers the pros were using for their studio shots. Of course I would see moonlights, huge brolly umbrellas, soft boxes etc. So...it took awhile but of course, as soon as I had enough money I ran out and bought myself some of the same gear. So there I was with my monolights, my beauty dish,  softbox and my backdrop and ready for the wow factor that just never came. What did, was a greatly increased set up time, an assistant to help set everything up and an SUV to haul it all around. Well, not quite but almost. What happened in the course of my journey was that I guess I got pretty good with a little cheap speed light. So when finally invested in a 'better' brush, it didn't really matter because I knew what to do and how to do it with the small cheap one I had been using all along. There is something to be said about this cheap and easy set up of a speed light and simple light modifier....it's light, quick to set up and cheap (when it falls over on the concrete or in the water...as lighting tends to do...it's $80 to pick up another not $1500). For me, one of the best parts is that I don't have to go in a studio to shoot the headshots....I can do it on location while shooting the rest of the portfolio. All I need is a white wall in the shade. Might have to add 2 more to my Santa wish list as stocking stuffers. Below are 2 examples and a BTS shot using a Yongnuo 560 III and an Fstoppers FlashDisc. 

fstoppers-flashdisc-portrait