Starting out with flash/lighting...

[WINDY.]

I'm starting to do a bit of portrait and casual event photography. I've just started out with my 430EXII not too long ago and 450D. I'm hoping to go beyond just using my flash facing upwards and fire ETTL. Most of the time I've had my Stofen on it but are there any better diffusers than that? Somehow I'm not really fond with the stofen results. Maybe it's just me.

The only thing I've experienced would be a reflector outdoor recently , and I saw one of these photogs using a off-shoe cord. How's the idea of purchasing one of these for a start?

http://store.tagotech.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_36&products_id=181&osCsid=eb882131e071670899e2dc5d15a9cc87

I'm hoping to go into strobes as well , but my concept within flash photography isn't very strong.

Thanks!

[SUB1IM388]

Ok but with that your not going to have off camera flash you will need a bracket to fit your 450D you should purchase annother flash and get some triggers and a receivers from ebay to start out with and try a DIY soft box to attach to your flash just some ideas

also check out gary fong lightsphear and maybe the whale tail

[WINDY.]

Hmmm , the softbox doesn't look portable , but perhaps I'll try it soon.
Is PT-04 what i'm supposed to be looking for? I'm thinking of that or OC-E3...

[SUB1IM388]

i have heard the PT-04 work great nothing on the other

[Lithian]

I'd figure out lighting a bit more before wasting money on bits of plastic.

Go read strobist and go off camera, if you are tired of the bounce and hope then off camera is probably the way to go.

pt-04 triggers suck though... i mean, really dont bother. People are having more success with the ctr-301 but i'd aim for at least skyports.

[Familiaphoto]

This is a very large topic. You are basically talking about two distinct things.

1. Event Photography: This I do quite a bit of and have not found an effective need or way to go off camera. Essential gear here is to get a flash bracket so the flash can remain above the lens when in portrait mode. You will also need an ETTL cord for this as well, the one you note seems to be ok, but I only trust FlashZebra.com for my wiring needs. Reason a light on a stand won't work in my experience is that you are moving around quite a bit, thus changing the direction, quality, etc. of the light.

2. Portrait Photography: Here is where off camera becomes an almost necessity. To do this you will need multiple speedlights if you're going that route thus also needing triggers, stands, umbrellas, etc. This can be quite a large can of worms.

Now modifiers can be relevant to both types of photography, but in my opinion are essential for event shooting. I don't use stofen types very often, I have one somewhere but not sure where. I personally prefer things like the Lumiquest Promax as it gives me more control and wastes less light.

Good luck.