Controlling portrait lighting education needed??

I'm on this road trying to learn about portrait photography lighting.
I've been doing A BUNCH of research on lighting kits and now I'm off to the next step of this trip. Triggering the light.

I googled portrait lighting and found a lot of info on where to setup the lights. I also found the different preferences and techniques used.

At this point I'm using 2 lights. One main, lets say with a beauty dish on it and a second with a softbox, I'll can also use a reflector.

So my question is how do I control the lights? I have a pocketwizard Mini TT1 and a Flex TT5, but that only controls 1 light. If i go this route I need another TT5.
If I use the cables, how does that work? I've never used them.

I'm sure this is REALLY elementary for some, but how do the cables Trigger both lights, and how to I setup the camera to do this?


Any help on this would be very helpful.

Thanks
R.

What lights do you have? Start with the basics.

I'm ordering the Flashpoint II 620 or 1220M kits.

My suggestion would be to skip the PW triggers unless you have a particular need like hypersync and just pick up a set of rf602's. You really only need one trigger and receiver though because these lights have a built in optical slave, so one can fire in sync with the other.

I'm shooting a canon 5dII, so any particular brand to get? I found Yongnuo, is that it?
is that what I search for "RF602"?

R.

Yes they are made by YN a search on ebay or amazon for rf602 will show them. Since you are looking at that option you might as well get a second receiver even though only one would be required.

I'm assuming it's a backup?

Let me ask you, will they work with the PWs I have?

No, PW's are a different system. But the PW's are sort of overkill for use on a simple manual flash, but they will work. The only reason I suggested the RF602's is the cost of a set of them would be considerably less than an additional receiver for the PW's.

That's great info, it's perfect for what I'm looking to do.

Once I hook up the receivers to the flash, do I need to setup the camera in any particular way?
I read about setting up one of the flash as slave?

You can get a RF-602 set (1 TX, 4 RX) for a bit under $100. I have two such sets (on different channels). The only real disadvantage of ordering these is the wait time getting them from China - expect 10-14 day delivery to most U.S. locations.

Your flash units will need to be in Manual mode, the RF-602 units do not support any version of TTL/ETTL.

The camera will need to be in Manual mode. Shutter speed below 1/200 to allow it to sync, aperture depends on the power settings you are using on the flash. ISO is whatever you like. You do understand there is no automatic mode for this type of light, its all manual power control?

Yes, I do know that. I shoot manual anyway. What I do need to brushup on though is using the flash in manual and setting it's power manually.

Let me ask you, so technically if the second light shoots of the first then one sync cable connected to the camera should trigger both lights? I'm trying to get a clear understanding.

Yes, you only need one sync cable connected. The other light will fire when it sees the flash from the connected light.

How reliable is that IR triggering system? IS it better to use a specific trigger for that second light?

rickp1 wrote in post #12070187
How reliable is that IR triggering system? IS it better to use a specific trigger for that second light?

Its not IR, its visible flash and in a studio situation they are quite reliable.