Multiple flashes at events..

[5W0L3]

For people who use a two flash setup at weddings / events... where do you guys usually place the flashes?..

Do you guys have one flash on camera bouncing... and a second flash somewhere else?

Or do you guys have both flashes off camera and trigger them?

Where do you guys normally place your flashes? I have a party coming up at this function centre and I have never experimented using two flashes, but I am thinking of investing in a 600EX-RT soon, and I already have a 430EX II.



Also what are the benefits of using multiple flashes compared to just one hot shoe bounce flash which i normally use?

[blindman9135]

When i did my last wedding i had a bower on my hotshoe and pc cord going to a wirlesss triggering a YN-460ii in the far corner, helped fill the room and kept recycle times down. probably annoyed some people though. that setup worked great for me. just make sure to balance your flashes to the room lights with some gels.

i also had a Gary Fong lightsphear. stupid overpriced thing works annoyingly well.

[scorpio_e]

I had a groom ask me to stop using them. So they can be annoying.

[timnosenzo]

Originally Posted by 5W0L3

Where do you guys normally place your flashes?

I usually have mine focused on the dance floor or wherever there may be something happening.

Originally Posted by 5W0L3

Also what are the benefits of using multiple flashes compared to just one hot shoe bounce flash which i normally use?

More light and/or more directional light.

Originally Posted by scorpio_e

I had a groom ask me to stop using them. So they can be annoying.

Ouch, really? Luckily I haven't had that happen yet.

[jcolman]

Originally Posted by scorpio_e

I had a groom ask me to stop using them. So they can be annoying.

Keep your flashes on low power and people won't complain. To answer the original OP's question, using multiple flashes gives you more depth to your images, and if done right, creates some beautiful light on your subjects.

[Thomas Campbell]

How I set them up depends what I want with a shot and what the room is giving me. It varies from place to place and whether I want to show the space or want to cover up the space.

[5W0L3]

Originally Posted by timnosenzo

I usually have mine focused on the dance floor or wherever there may be something happening.

Ohhk fair enough.. but you still bounce the light though right?.. you don't point it at your subjects?

So lets say if I wanted to cover the entire hall.. take pictures of stuff happening on the dance floor (performances etc.) as well as take candid shots of guests around the room.. its best for me to use just one flash because using 2 flashes won't cover the entire hall area?

[timnosenzo]

Originally Posted by 5W0L3

Ohhk fair enough.. but you still bounce the light though right?.. you don't point it at your subjects?

I bounce my on camera flash for fill, but I point the OCF's where I want the light. I put them as high up as I can to try and minimize shadows.

Originally Posted by 5W0L3

So lets say if I wanted to cover the entire hall.. take pictures of stuff happening on the dance floor (performances etc.) as well as take candid shots of guests around the room.. its best for me to use just one flash because using 2 flashes won't cover the entire hall area?

I can't say I've ever tried to light an entire hall with flashes, but I don't think 2 flashes would do it with the hall you have pictured there. Those ceilings look a little low to try and bounce to fill up the whole space with light - my guess is that you would have a couple very bright areas where the flash it pointed to the ceiling, but pretty drastic falloff.

[rincon]

We usually set up 4 flashes aimed at the dance floor. Set them to low power to allow for fast recycle and shoot with ISO at 800 for a good clean exposure somewhere between f5.6 and f8. We also keep a flash on hand for on-camera bounce for the shots that aren't properly illuminated by the off-camera units.

[emdzey01]

Originally Posted by 5W0L3

What a dream to shoot. White walls and ceilings :drool:

Here's some light(!) reading for you, so you can understand how and why it's done:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=646469
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/....php?t=1044801
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/....php?t=1014464
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/....php?t=1065846

When you understand the concept behind off-camera lighting in receptions, you'll be able to set up your lights depending on the situation.

[SMP_Homer]

a lot of variables to think of - how big is the room? How high is ceiling? room shape? wall/ceiling colors? any spots for light stands to be used safely? What's the ambient light like (do i want to take it over, or just add to it)

my goal is 3 locations for lights - I usually mount 2 flashes on the back location, going in 2 directions (assuming the room calls for it) and mix bounce and direct

[tim]

First photo on this thread. Two flashes isn't very helpful to me, I want two off camera and one on each camera. I use four flashes plus an AB strobe.