Need help deciding on lighting

I am shooting a wedding this weekend and am struggling to decide what lighting equipment to rent. In the past I have always just rented one on-camera speedlite to do what I need with fill, and tried to use ambient to balance. It has worked well, with exception of one set of family photos that were in an awful, dark warehouse and I had a terrible time! Similarly, my reception pictures are always lacking that pop that accompanies OCF, but have been passable.

I will be renting from a local company that offers these flash options: http://www.texasphotor​ental.com …its/?sort=featu​red&page=1
As well as some studio setups that could be rented.

This wedding is being done on a super tight budget for a friend, so I don't want to go nuts. I also will only have Friday night and a little bit Saturday morning to mess with it until gametime.

So, my current thought is:

600EX-rt
Westcott octobox/stand
st-e3-rt
Maybe another 600 (w/ octobox for formals) since they can be controlled together, for some level of OCF?

I read all of tim's reception thread, and I think this would be a step in the right direction. It will be taking place in a big warehouse, red brick throughout and hardwood ceilings about 18' up. I don't want to get into a situation where I'm fiddling with stuff all the time, either, as I need to be engaged and connected, but I want to get the best that I know how to for my friend.

Your thoughts?

Other gear includes
5d3
70-200 2.8
35 1.4 or 24-70 2.8
85 1.8
50 1.8

You can't just rent and try and experiment with someone's wedding. It's irresponsible not to rent and test before the wedding and work out the issues. One off camera flash is fine for posed shots but it will create issues at the reception if you don't know what your doing.

Totally agree, and I would never compromise someone's wedding day to play with toys.

My plan was to go with bounced or fill on-camera flash for the parts of the day that I really need to get right, and then have the backup gear to potentially learn some new stuff later on in the evening, general dancing stuff, etc.

When you said, "One off camera flash is fine for posed shots", do you mean one on-camera and one off-camera, or just the one off-camera?

Also, when you say create issues at the reception, what are you referring to?

Sorry for the questions, just trying to learn.

If you've never worked with multiple lights you need to be very careful where you are in relation to the second light. For the reception the best thing you can do is bounce the second flash to brighten the background. Trying to use it as a rim light you run the risk of of blowing highlights, throwing extra shadows around and getting your ratios out of whack. It can produce some dramatic light but I just wouldn't recommend it with rental equipment you haven't tested at a wedding. For the posed formals if you use two lights you probably want to use the second light as background separation if you use two lights.

That makes sense. I was planning to use the second light purely for bounced background light, but the more I think about it, the less I think this venue and situation really calls for it. I may still rent some to play with on my own time, though.

Would you recommend even trying to use the octo, or just keep it to bounce with flags?

Thanks for the feedback so far.

turnmybassup wrote in post #17805508
That makes sense. I was planning to use the second light purely for bounced background light, but the more I think about it, the less I think this venue and situation really calls for it. I may still rent some to play with on my own time, though.

Would you recommend even trying to use the octo, or just keep it to bounce with flags?

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Heya,

Have you thought about just getting some speedlites for yourself for long term instead of dropping $50~70 each time you rent?

You could get two Yongnuo 685's and a controller, TX-622, and have two good mobile lights that can do ETTL, HSS, or just good old manual, and remotely change their power, etc. Great lights. Good system (YN622 protocol) and expands over time if you need it to. Off camera TTL with some -FEC dialed in for fill? Could be easy and nice for you when you are not sure about a place.

You could also go full manual (Yongnuo 560 IV's and a TX-560) for a very inexpensive cost, to have two really great mobile lights (purely manual; but you can remotely change their power levels from the controller).

Just a thought, since your rent costs are almost as much as one of these lights.

Very best,

turnmybassup wrote in post #17805508
That makes sense. I was planning to use the second light purely for bounced background light, but the more I think about it, the less I think this venue and situation really calls for it. I may still rent some to play with on my own time, though.

Would you recommend even trying to use the octo, or just keep it to bounce with flags?

Thanks for the feedback so far.

The octo can be useful for formals.

I also second the idea of buying lighting gear instead of renting. Whether you get non canon flashes or used canon flashes with radio triggers owning them makes fiscal sense and it will increase your comfort level tenfold.

I figure for $5 it's a no brainer to rent, even if I don't bust it out on the wedding day.

MalVeauX wrote in post #17805509
Heya,

Have you thought about just getting some speedlites for yourself for long term instead of dropping $50~70 each time you rent?

You could get two Yongnuo 685's and a controller, TX-622, and have two good mobile lights that can do ETTL, HSS, or just good old manual, and remotely change their power, etc. Great lights. Good system (YN622 protocol) and expands over time if you need it to. Off camera TTL with some -FEC dialed in for fill? Could be easy and nice for you when you are not sure about a place.

You could also go full manual (Yongnuo 560 IV's and a TX-560) for a very inexpensive cost, to have two really great mobile lights (purely manual; but you can remotely change their power levels from the controller).

Just a thought, since your rent costs are almost as much as one of these lights.

Very best,

I actually signed up for Amazon Prime today to do that very thing, based on some of your posts on other threads However, they still wouldn't get here in time for this weekend.
The other kicker to that rental place is it's in my town, and the price you guys see is for the entire weekend. I pay $14 for a Canon 600 EX-RT from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. It ends up being pretty economical for what I'm getting.

I am just starting the pursuit of photography for income, and so I don't want to dive too far off into it, especially when I have an affordable, local renter. But yes, some form of YN flash/trigger setup will be in my near future so I can practice instead of making threads like this

turnmybassup wrote in post #17805517
I actually signed up for Amazon Prime today to do that very thing, based on some of your posts on other threads However, they still wouldn't get here in time for this weekend.
The other kicker to that rental place is it's in my town, and the price you guys see is for the entire weekend. I pay $14 for a Canon 600 EX-RT from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. It ends up being pretty economical for what I'm getting.

I am just starting the pursuit of photography for income, and so I don't want to dive too far off into it, especially when I have an affordable, local renter. But yes, some form of YN flash/trigger setup will be in my near future so I can practice instead of making threads like this

Heya,

Understood. $14 a weekend is a good deal.

Then again, do that 3 times, and you just bought a flash for yourself (560 III). And being able to practice with a few flashes on your own time at your own convenience, and not have to travel to rent, etc, gives you a lot of opportunity. Just a thought.

$55 per 560III on Amazon (used/demo/refurb), $40 for a tx-560 controller. And you can use it all day, every day, and practice, and not travel to do it.

Very best,

Oh that's certainly the plan for the future, I just messed up and didn't order it in time for this particular wedding.

turnmybassup wrote in post #17805532
Oh that's certainly the plan for the future, I just messed up and didn't order it in time for this particular wedding.

That said, I can't help but recommend saving a bit more and going for the YN685 on the YN622 protocol. Manual, ETTL and HSS, all off camera if you wish, without additional need of transceivers. Makes it one of the most affordable full feature setups you can get. I use the 560 protocol system myself. But I definitely like the idea of mobile ETTL/HSS for those times when you won't have the ability to meter or chimp or have any re-shoots.

Very best,

Have you photographed weddings before? There isn't any down time. Maybe dinner, but I'm eating and sitting down for a bit then.

I agree with two 600 flashes, but I'd bounce/fill and have one as spare. If you happen to have time to set up then yes you could use one off camera light, but the only time I find one off camera light useful is during first dance. It's either min two (for balance / lack of weird shadows) or on camera bounce. Sometimes two plus on camera bounce. Get a battery pack if you can, used to be the CP-E4 but I don't know what's current, helps recharge time a lot.

Keep it simple. You can take good, solid photos with on camera bounced flash. Don't experiment at a wedding, you won't be able to see things going wrong until you get home and look at them on a big screen.

Thanks for that tip, I hadn't really considered the harsh shadow thing from random bounced light.

I think that I'll definitely be keeping it simple for this one, and probably buy some YN's and triggers to start experimenting with soon.

Thanks for the replys everyone!

i just sold my strobes and picked up one of these. its nothing special but its powerful and portable, the bad thing about speedlights is they are really only good for fill, at 360ws this light is about 3-4 speedlights on full power.

a month ago i got it for $350, with the powerpack, and wireless trigger.

http://www.adorama.com​/FPLFSL360.html

keep an eye out for the package deal again.