Nightclub Promo Shoot

[4jallday]

I'm not much of a lighting expert and only have a 580ex that I use and was asked to come to a nightclub to do some promotional shots of go-go dancers employed by the club. So my problem is that I only have the 580 and am tapped out on funds right now $200 max for any type of lights. Any sugesstions would be of great help.

[JohnC]

Are you going to take posed shots of the dancers? Or are you to shoot them in situation dancing in the club?

[4jallday]

It will be posed shots just me and them they want some group shots which will be 6 of them and then some individual shots.

[4jallday]

Do you think any of these set ups will work?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=121855&is=REG

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-LIGHT-360-W-S-...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-studio-strobe-...QQcmdZViewItem

[JohnC]

Yes, a two or three light system should be good for this. I can't comment on the specific ones you listed, as I've never seen or used them. When do you need to do these shots? How much time do you have to practice with the new lights and learn how to set them up and meter them? Posing a group of 6 can be challenging, but the dancers are probably used to posing, so it might be easier with them than with another group of 6 who are not used to being in the spotlight.

[4jallday]

Next Wednsday! Short time to practice along with time for shipping. I know they have common nightclub lights so I hope to utilize that fact.

[JohnC]

Good luck! It should be a good experience.

[Darryl_Lessere]

A few ideas - not too late -

Even if they have some decent lighting on the stage, it's usually lacking for what you want to do, if you are shooting as a group, try to avoid "stacking" them 2 and 3 deep and try to keep them all very close to your focal plane. Depth of field will be low. Use a tripod. Tell them to hold still and you can drag your shutter down to maybe 1/15th - 1/30th using a tripod . ISO 200 or 400 only if you need it. You want as much ambient light as possible and flash just to kick it up a notch and fill in shadows. Keep it simple.

Try to get in there the night before with your cam so you can get a few test shots in the areas designated. Absolutely shoot RAW. Nightcliub lights are white balance hell with all the colored lighting.

You might try a slave from the Morris company . suitable for a rimlight or fill light. Note, on Canons, best flash results are shooting manual and set your shutter and aperture where you want it and your 580 flash will fill in for you. If you get the morris, do not use the ETTL which uses a preflash, it will trip most slaves. Instead, set your flash to manual and start around 1/32 power and work up from there. $50 @ B&H + shippiing

Also, make yourself a diffuser or use the white card/rubber band trick and pop your flash up instead of head on.

If you can get your hands on a white/gray/black card, it will help in post setting levels.

Hope this helps.

Morris slave.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

[4jallday]

Thanks for the info Darryl. I have not done the shoot yet they need to get all the girls together. I just got the 2nd setup I was looking at. I just got my first set of studio lights and was wondering about the sync cord. It is a 2 light setup. How do I sync up with both lights? Do I sync the main and wet the other one to go when it sees the flash? 2 sync cords and sync port on the 20d. And does anyone know of a place to get free set up guide? I have never used studio lights before so please be gentle with me.

[Darryl_Lessere]

Most strobes are very automatic in this regard - they "see" a flash and they pop too.

You can usually work wirelessly if you forego the sync cords alltogther and just pop the strobes with your shoe mounted flash set to manual and dialed down as low as possible (1/128th on the 580EX) so it does not add to the exposure.

You also Set flash to manual so the ETTL preflash being emitted a split second before the true flash isn't the one popping your strobes.