How would you set this up?

[Toogy]

This is what I have or plan to have shortly.

1 - 580EX
1 - 550EX
1 - 420EX

2 Lightstands, brackets and 30" convertible umbrellas

What would be the best way to setup this configiration for portrait photography (full body)

PS, how low of a ceiling can I get away with in this setup? I am planning on setting up something in a room in my basement, however the ceilings are only 7 feet tall.

[lostdoggy]

Use short Model!!! HeHeHe!!! Just kidding. Sounds very interesting. I hope someone answer this, because it would be of interest to me. Good Question...

[Jon]

Yeah, short model. Ideally the light should be coming from above the subject. Maybe put some aluminium foil reflectors on the ceiling to bounce the 580 main and 550 fill flashes off (each 30-45 deg. from camera axis, front lighting) and put the 420 high and behind as a hair light. I don't think you've got enough ceiling to use the umbrellas. As you've only got 2 light stands and don't have an ST-E2, use the 550 as master, on a bracket with the Off Camera Shoe if you've got it, otherwise hot-shoe mounted and count on the bounce to do your work. You might find that by bouncing, you can set the flash zoom to 35 mm or so instead of the default 24 mm. That's very close to the setup I used photographing some of the dogs at our Peke club picnic; I used the ST-E2 on-camera, the 580 and an umbrella as main, 550 as fill, with a 420 low as backlight. working in an area about 7 ft. by 9 ft., although I had 9-10 ft. headroom.

[lostdoggy]

See short model!!!HeHeHe...

Anyway, would those car windshield covers (sunshade) work as aluminum reflector??? Just curious because they are cheap and durible.

[Jon]

I'd try aluminium foil because you could set one side shiny-out and the other matte out for diffusion.

[photofinish]

Thanks again, Jon, for your prompt help! :-)

[tlpierce]

Anyway, would those car windshield covers (sunshade) work as aluminum reflector??? Just curious because they are cheap and durible.

Actually they work just fine - and with a little bit of searching you can find the ones that are black on the reverse side (for use as a light sink)

[Jon]

Actually they work just fine - and with a little bit of searching you can find the ones that are black on the reverse side (for use as a light sink)

Those usually have a more diffuse surface; with more powerful flash units you can get away with that, but in this situation, you might not want to take the light loss. I might try them for managing sunlight outdoors, but inside I'd prefer having at least one highly-reflective surface.