Setting up booth at company event... minimum lighting setup?

The setup would be for mainly couples but could be up to groups of 5 max maybe the occasional more.

jcolman wrote in post #15783322
But since I'm a nice guy, I'll tell you what I used to pull off this setup-which allowed the people to take their own pic and see the results instantly.

1. 9' seamless white backdrop
2. Backdrop stands and support rod
3. Medium duty light stand
4. Photogenics 160 w/s mono light firing into a 32" shoot thru umbrella + pw cable
5. Canon 5D II + 28-75 zoom on tripod
6. Four pocket wizards.
7. Small computer monitor on an easel
8. pocketwizard to camera cable
9. camera to monitor cable
10. Instructions on placard for people to follow to snap their own pic

Since you know how to use the gear, you don't my explanation on how it's all set up.

excellent examples. These would be more than enough to get the job done. I'm assuming you use sandbags right, my fear would be anything not solidly secured.

Talley wrote in post #15783552
excellent examples. These would be more than enough to get the job done. I'm assuming you use sandbags right, my fear would be anything not solidly secured.

No sandbags used. My light stands are quite sturdy. Plus I had the light set where people were not likely to trip over it.

Find a table or some other device to use as a bit of a barricade to make sure people enter and leave the shooting area from the sides and not near the lights. Tape any cords down flat if they have to go anywhere near where people walk.

jcolman wrote in post #15783564
No sandbags used. My light stands are quite sturdy. Plus I had the light set where people were not likely to trip over it.

Jim:

What light stands do you use. I've purchased a couple and have not been happy with the quality. I want to use these for wedding receptions and light studio type work.

You'll be fine... lots of good advise here. You have plenty of time to test and trial before the event. Heck, my first was a national competition event with thousands in attendance. My largest group shot was a team of 25 members.

Based on what you described, the Paul C Buff's Genius package is what you need. Get this and you'll be well set. Just add background.

http://www.paulcbuff.c​om/pkg-thegenius.php

Chris wrote in post #15783743
Jim:

What light stands do you use. I've purchased a couple and have not been happy with the quality. I want to use these for wedding receptions and light studio type work.

As far as stands, best bang for the bucks here.

http://www.amazon.com …psc=1&smid=A17W​6NLJ3OBMCK

Chris wrote in post #15783743
Jim:

What light stands do you use. I've purchased a couple and have not been happy with the quality. I want to use these for wedding receptions and light studio type work.

I have several. My favorites are the 13' Savage air soft. Paul Buff also sells an excellent stand.

Talley wrote in post #15782548
So on May 17th we are having our annual company dinner for all the supervisors/management​. I proposed the idea of setting up the camera on a tripod with a trigger and a backdrop with a couple of flashes.

Right now I have none of that gear and need to purchase the equipment. So what I was thinking was:

trigger, cable or wireless?
backdrop, muslim for this? white, black?
backdrop stand, sandbags needed?
couple of light stands & modifiers... umbrella or softboxes.... sandbags?

flashes... I know I want to pick up a couple B800s for sure. I'm pretty sure for this setup you would want to stay away from battery powered speedlights.

am I missing anything?

I don't know if you have seen these videos, they are pretty basic but it takes you through the setup and gear that is needed to pull off a photo booth. I think its a good place to start and something to tweak and build off of.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=qLkHWtdPhis
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=KxZM4vF-ths

Hope this helps

Druss021 wrote in post #15787001
I don't know if you have seen these videos, they are pretty basic but it takes you through the setup and gear that is needed to pull off a photo booth. I think its a good place to start and something to tweak and build off of.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=qLkHWtdPhis
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=KxZM4vF-ths

Hope this helps

I've got a couple 600s at my disposal along with my 430. My only issue is batteries. Typically this dinner is only a few hours maybe 3 max, but not sure how many people would actually use this nor how many photos would get taken. could be 40 could be 400. I don't want to have to worry about changing batteries or anything. just setup and leave it till I 'm ready to leave. I suppose a couple cheetah cl-180s with battery packs would be a great setup, I heard they last about 800 pops on a pack

Talley wrote in post #15787719
I've got a couple 600s at my disposal along with my 430. My only issue is batteries. Typically this dinner is only a few hours maybe 3 max, but not sure how many people would actually use this nor how many photos would get taken. could be 40 could be 400. I don't want to have to worry about changing batteries or anything. just setup and leave it till I 'm ready to leave. I suppose a couple cheetah cl-180s with battery packs would be a great setup, I heard they last about 800 pops on a pack

While I support your endeavor to get this right. Don't purchase gear for this event that doesnt fit your long term goals. There are a lot of ways to get this right, and they dont have to include buying the wrong things for future use.

I just use one shoot through umbrella centred above me and wireless. Be at least 10 feet away. Keep it simple.

http://youtu.be/3w35NQ​iNnFc

Talley wrote in post #15783062
Hmm... Thats inspiring.

So instead of challenging myself and advancing my capability I might as well just hire someone else to do it. Kinda like back when my wife and I before we had a baby, I never had a baby before nor never made one... might as well had someone else move on in there and make it for me right?

For the record, I'm well aware how to use the damn equipment, my lack of owning the equipment means nothing.

I don't like your words,
if you know how to use the damn equipment,
then, WHY YOU ASK US HOW TO DO IT IN HERE

simply amateur, think he knows how to do it right but he knows NOTHING !