How do you manage lights with second shooter?

Do you setup umbrellas and just have two triggers on the same channel +/- a fill light on the camera? I feel like refresh times might be an issue if you guys are shooting away.. Can't imagine you would bring two complete sets of lights. Maybe just 1 flash per shooter?

Just curious..

My 2nd shooter doesn't use my lighting setup. If I need him to assist me in getting those lights set up, or if I need him to hold something, that's what he's doing when I'm shooting portraits (ie, when I'm using OCF). Normally he has his on-camera speedlights and he shoots what I may not see. To use a poor analogy, he shoots the appetizers and I shoot the main course. Together, we make a meal.

I would never set up an umbrella at a wedding.

Small speedlight on a justin clamp - two if the venue needs it. Optical trigger. Done.

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #16399711
I would never set up an umbrella at a wedding.

Small speedlight on a justin clamp - two if the venue needs it. Optical trigger. Done.

I've not used a justin clamp before but I'll look it up after I post this. I do use umbrellas, all the time, at weddings; especially during receptions.
Just clicked on your website, very nice. Not a big fan of Johnny Hancock, errrr, Manziel, but I guess you have no choice if you live in Houston He was supposed to play here at Oregon but he would've been 2nd-string so I guess it worked out for both schools

PhotoMatte wrote in post #16399741
I've not used a justin clamp before but I'll look it up after I post this. I do use umbrellas, all the time, at weddings; especially during receptions.
Just clicked on your website, very nice. Not a big fan of Johnny Hancock, errrr, Manziel, but I guess you have no choice if you live in Houston He was supposed to play here at Oregon but he would've been 2nd-string so I guess it worked out for both schools

Not sure the Heisman winner would have been second string.

I will be shooting Manziel tomorrow against Vanderbilt.

I give a trigger to my second during the reception. I set up the lights and tell them what settings I'm using. I want their pics to look like mine.

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #16399711
......Optical trigger. Done.

What optical trigger do you use.

Interesting.. I would think at certain receptions you would need more than on camera flash (I guess it depends on ceiling/look you are going for/body and lens combo). Either way, I figured the second's pictures wouldn't look the same as the primary shooter if they are using different lighting.

Justin clamp looks pretty cool! Never seen that before.

Optical trigger means all the guest flashes will set it off, and when you need it it may be recharging. Radio triggers are more reliable.

I use battery packs on all flashes, it helps a LOT. Sometimes I use studio strobes and Vagabond Mini Lithium.

I occasionally set umbrellas up at weddings, but only if I can stick it somewhere discrete, and usually only for say a first dance not a ceremony or speeches.

tim wrote in post #16402100
Optical trigger means all the guest flashes will set it off, and when you need it it may be recharging. Radio triggers are more reliable.

At 1/64th or 1/128th power, I am not too concerned.

Radio triggers come with their own issues. You need to strap it to your flash or you need to use something like the flex tt5, which makes me nervous to have a stack of things on my camera.

Take a look at the Phottix Stratos II. You can connect to a flash using a cable or just slide the flash in.

I use two off-camera speedlights on stands or clamps and one speedlight on each camera all fired with Yongnuo YN622 TTL radio triggers

I use the same lights as my second. Duplicate equipment means the shots match my style. During the reception, the power distribution is shared with some to spare. Other times when the power output is higher, there's competition for the lights. When this occurs, the second should yield and let me grab the necessary shots with flash.

We use the Radiopopper JrX system... and absolutely love it. Being able to control my speedlight power from my hotshoe is amazing... and not having to deal with Canon's poor Line of Sight system is another blessing. I know the 600's use radio's, but even then, I've watched some pros struggle with them on tutorial videos. Nothing beats the reliability of my JrXs...

We also run two transmitters. One on my camera, and the second on the assistants. This way we both get consistent results... and everything looks similar. However, we don't ALWAYS setup additional lighting for receptions... only if we cannot bounce appropriately.