Help! Asked to shoot a high school reunion?

[polkad0t]

First of all, some background info: I am 15 years old and a sophomore in one of the most prestigious high schools in the country. We have a school newspaper that was awarded gold medals from Columbia University for the past two years. I joined the photo department the first semester of my freshman year, and I am now in line to be an editor this spring. Anyway, my school has an Alumni Association and holds reunions every few years. The school newspaper's editor in chief recently got an email from one of the graduates of the year whose 60th year reunion is coming up. He was an editor in chief of the newspaper as well, and asked us photo editors to help him photograph the event (there are 3 of us). He said that we will be paid and I am psyched! The event will be on the 25th of October.

So here is the point in this message... I have a Canon Rebel xSi and am possibly upgrading to a T1i very soon. I also have a pair of 100mm f/2.8 lens and a 430ex ii speedlight. What equipment would I have to bring? I really don't want this to fail! The thing is, I usually bounce my flash to the ceiling, but my school has really ugly speckled gray ceilings and light doesn't really bounce off that. Thanks in advance for your advice!

[turbo212003]

at least two strobes, umbrella's, wireless triggers, a portrait lens.

[tfizzle]

upgrading to a t1i? Have you thought about anything in the xxd series? You'd get better low light performance, and some other things on top of that.

[polkad0t]

What do you guys think about getting the nifty fifty? I've been considering it for a while but didn't do anything about it, since I'm still sponsored by my parents...

[DDCSD]

Congrats! This sounds like a tremendous opportunity for some serious networking and experience.

What are you going to be responsible for at the reunion? Will you be doing candids or formal portraits?

What you're going to be expected to do will have a huge impact on what you're going to need.

[polkad0t]

I'm pretty sure just candids-- simple headshots and lots of group pictures. If it helps, this is what the email said:

We would like someone to shoot the event and then post the photos on the alumni association web site so folks can check them out and download whatever they like.

[Dan-o]

If it just candid it should be pretty easy. Maybe rent a 24-70 and use your 430, should be good to go. Looks like you have time to prepare for this so get in there with some buddies or family and practice and get your settings dialed in to perfection.