What to bring to a simple couple shoot...

I have two shoots coming up this week with two separate couples. One is for Wedding invites, and the other is for 8x10's on wedding tables (different clients).

The client for the wedding invites was thinking of a park with a lake (but is open for suggestions).

The other client is set on having some beach shots (about an hour before sunset).

I use to shoot with AB800's and a Vagabond. Now I will be using my speedlites. I ALWAYS bring too much stuff. I know bringer more than I need is good but what is TOO much? Provided the gear I have (listed in my sig, plus I have all types of stands, clamps, all-in-one reflector w/stand, gels, umbrellas, and a tripod), what would you bring? I prefer not to bring all 4 lenses. 2 is great, 3 is ok too but which? Should I even consider umbrellas since both will be outside?

Bring it all...you know you're going to anyways!
As soon as you decide not to bring something, you'll want/need it!

Kechar wrote in post #12639327
Bring it all...you know you're going to anyways!
As soon as you decide not to bring something, you'll want/need it!

I second this!

Not to say you have to use everything you bring. But if you dont know the place you will be shooting (in a photographic sense), how can you know what to bring? To many times I had good shots only to turn arround and see something that would be a great shot but didnt have the equipment to pull it off. Now I bring just about everything I can and just run back to the car if I need something.

I am the opposite, I always bring as little as possible. One camera one lens, sometimes I will bring a softbox with flash...depending on if the wind is blowing and where I will be shooting.

I decide on the kind of pictures I am going to take before the shoot, then pick the lens and camera for that and that is all I bring. I do have other equipment in the car....in case there is a problem or something should come up.

My emphasis is on interfacing with the clients...the more time I spend messing with gear the less I get out of the clients.

Exactly.
I brought three lights, softbox, grids, and gels to a one light BD sunset shoot in a park. After a couple hours of shooting the parents suggested we go back to their house and do some shots in their foyer. Every piece of gear I brought came in handy!

Keep it in the car and run if you need it.

Ok so take it all in the car (truck) and only bring out what I will most likely need once evaluating on-site?

Makes sense. What should I start with lighting wise (plan on just using low sun as rim/backlighting)? Bare speedlite on a stand next to me and above a little? Umbrella (if it's not windy)? Or is on-camera bare going to be ok? Any lighting ideas?

What you start with is 100% dependent on the location. You may have a go to item. But every set up will be a bit different.
Will they be in the sun?
Will they be in the shade?
What direction is the sun?
Is the area clear or will I have to work around things?
A)How far will you be shooting from?
B) how close can you get the light and not be in the frame?
A)What kind of background will there be?
B)Do I want to blur it out or keep it in focus?

All this, and a lot more, is part of what makes the decision on what I pull out first. It is not really a check list. In action it takes about 5 seconds to look at the location and then reach for something.

...again I do it the opposite way. Not making a comment on anything being right or wrong....just saying how I do it.

I already know what I want to shoot. I lpick a location with the light that will give me what I want. I control the light and location they don't control me.
For me every set up is not different.

Bare speed lights and on camera flash are not going to give you quality light....better to use soft natural light.

Don't evaluate on-site, pick a site because you already know you can get what you want there.

Now if you are wandering around an area during the shoot and do not already know what or where you want to shoot and do not know what kind of light you are looking for....then it may be possible that you will need to carry around a lot of just in case equipment.

Just different approaches I guess.

Shockey wrote in post #12639993
...again I do it the opposite way. Not making a comment on anything being right or wrong....just saying how I do it.

I already know what I want to shoot. I lpick a location with the light that will give me what I want. I control the light and location they don't control me.
For me every set up is not different.

Bare speed lights and on camera flash are not going to give you quality light....better to use soft natural light.

Don't evaluate on-site, pick a site because you already know you can get what you want there.

Now if you are wandering around an area during the shoot and do not already know what or where you want to shoot and do not know what kind of light you are looking for....then it may be possible that you will need to carry around a lot of just in case equipment.

Just different approaches I guess.

Also a very good point! I have a feeling flash will be needed since it will be at the beach and although I will take some natural light close-ups, the sky will be blown out I'm sure. So for the pictures that include the background, I'm almost positive I will need flash. As for picking the site, I am not used to alot of sites yet.

I'm glad I'm getting feedback from two different approaches! Thanks Guys!

I think Shockey's method is optimal for sure... IF you know what you are after. IF you have the experience and the ability to pre-visualize the location, time of day, and desired look and feel, etc... Not everyone has that...yet.

Everything you have.....don't leave home without it.

Kechar wrote in post #12640242
I think Shockey's method is optimal for sure... IF you know what you are after. IF you have the experience and the ability to pre-visualize the location, time of day, and desired look and feel, etc... Not everyone has that...yet.

In fact, I agree! It is just a rare thing for me to shoot in the same location more than once. But I dont do retail portraits. Though I do a lot of people. I am more in the commercial side where clients dont want to look at an image and see the same thing as the competition or any other company for that matter. Even if they are only small businesses. Unless I can make the same location look totally different it is a 'once and done' location.

Good to know. Thanks.