Need advice on upcoming lighting setup(location sample included)

[mikepack]

I'll be shooting a group shot including 4 people in a little over a week and would like some input in lighting the scene. There will be one person in front of the grill, 2 in the chairs set up and 1 leaning against the wall in between the windows. I have the following equipment:

2 x 430 ex
2 x shoot through umbrella
1 set of gels(1 of each CTO...1/4 1/2 3/4 1/1)

This is more or less a "fashion" shoot with friends for an up and coming clothing company. We're going for a glamor look but also want it to be a "bbq with friends" type of feel.

I feel like this is a fairly simple setup but it's my first group shoot. Thanks in advance.

The scene is attached. And it will be cleaned before the shoot :-).

[XpLoiT]

u have 2 lights with 2 groups of ppl, aim one at each.

or check out "the one light man Zack Aris http://www.zarias.com/?p=340

[TooManyHobbies]

One in the grill aimed up at the griller or bouncing off a reflector inthe grill lid or bottom. Have a gel on this one.

A shoot through umbrella lightly illuminating the whole scene.

Do HDR shots without the people and then one with and blend in the shots to get the mood you want. With HDR you could have lights on inside and show detail in there or keep the lights off with the shades open to make the windows dark.

[mikepack]

One in the grill aimed up at the griller or bouncing off a reflector inthe grill lid or bottom. Have a gel on this one.

Thanks for your reply! What color gel would you recommend on the flash inside the grill?

[TooManyHobbies]

Thanks for your reply! What color gel would you recommend on the flash inside the grill?

You'll need to experiment with the gels you have to see what gives the right saturation of color at the flashpowers you'll need. You may need to use multiple gels to get the right amount depending on the vividness of your gels.

[mikepack]

My first instinct was like yours, put a strobe in the grill top but then I came across the thought that it most likely won't light the bottom portion of the person's body nearly as well as the top portion. Don't you see this being an issue?

[TooManyHobbies]

Your shoot thru strobe should illuniate the sceen. If you bounce the strobe in the gril it will ahve a glow and light their top half evenly. You don't need to see the legs because the focus should be on the face. It would just be destracting. I was thinking of a moody photo that was dark like a campfire shot with lights illuminating people instead. Too bad you don't have one of those deck fireplaces.

[GenuineRolla]

You could do a composite photo and have each person lit perfectly.

[mikepack]

You could do a composite photo and have each person lit perfectly.

Yeah the problem I'm concerned with is getting the scene lit perfectly! Nothing could be worse than oddly lit subjects :-)

I'm going to practice a little.

[Marloon]

u have 2 lights with 2 groups of ppl, aim one at each.

or check out "the one light man Zack Aris http://www.zarias.com/?p=340

one light man is too much PP work.