Help me light corporate portraits

So I have an upcoming architectural gig and the client says he also wants portraits of the staff. I tell him it's not my area of expertise but he says he needs it done the same days that I'll be shooting the space, so let's knock the bastard off at the same time. Sure, I say, and I give him a quote that I was sure he would never agree to - but alas, he agrees, and I'm shooting a bunch of portraits. 12 in total, and they need to be pretty rapid-fire, probably no more than five minutes per subject.

this is the gear that is relevant to portraits that I could use (assuming nobody is going to tell me to use my 17ts or 15mm fish here)

1d3
5d
17-40
50 1.4
70-200

3 lights
a smattering of pocketwizards
a couple of large umbrellas
6x6 diffusion/bounce panel
3x3 diffusion/bounce panel
booms/stands/etc

Now, I'm sure I could just throw up an umbrella CR and call it a day, but I want these to be pretty sharp looking. Looking for suggestions for an easy light setup that will work across a wide range of faces and body types (these will mostly be head and shoulders shots).

Any help is much appreciated. I was thinking either the 50 or 70-200 around f8 or so, but not sure what is a generally accepted lighting setup for corporate headshots. Is there some standard, or anything I want to avoid for sure? Usually when I shoot people I'm doing action sports/edgier stuff, but I don't want to make these people look like 20-something daredevils, so I'm asking people with more knowledge in this area. Thanks

I'd opt for the 50mm f/1.4 @ f/5.6...

Any guess as to what your background will end up being? That's going to weigh on the decision as to how broad a pattern of light you can / will want to throw and how much backlight you may or may not need for good subject/background separation.

Curious to what firm you will be shooting?

50mm at 4 to 5.6.
One light with your largest softbox as close as possible.
One reflector under the camera.
Possibly a hair light, if it's workable in your circumstance.
Depending on the background, use one light to light the background so your color temperature will all match.

surprised to see everyone jumping straight to the 50mm...

Classic portraiture you want a longer lens, not something wide...usually atleast 70mm. On either of the bodies listed though the 50 is a very nice lens its fairly wide and not what I'd use unless you had to due to space.

Lighting wise, something to the left or right as a main then opposite side another light down a stop or a little more for fill then the 3rd light behind the subject for your hair or separation light....but thats just classic stuff.


Depending on the location though if it was me i'd prob. put two lights behind them for low rim and a slightly off center front key light. (still using the 70-200)