Restaurant Shoot - Help.

Okay, I've been asked to shoot a restaurant for a company. They want it shot at night. I'm shooting a family of 4 and a server. Heres what i was thinking for lighting:

one or two b800's behind a diffusion panel to get a big enough light source to mimic natural light. while dragging the shutter a bit for the ambience. and using another b800 with a 48x36 softbox for fill.

How does this sound? Anything i should change?

Also, does anyone have any information about diffusion panels? haha.

If it's shot at night and you are mimicking daylight, dragging your shutter won't help other than pick up ambient light like you mention.

Are you planning to a have a window visible in the shot? That will change your strategy. Is the plan to mix lighting? (ie: natural lighting from a window supplemented by overhead tungstun or halogen lighting)

no windows. i am planning to mix the lighting with the overhead, they mentioned that they have some neon lights in the backround that they would like to include, which is why i would be dragging the shutter a bit.

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anyone else?

What lens do you have available. I am thinking a very wide lens would be a good start. I am thinking I would limit the fill flash as to keep the mood and indirect, and neon lighting effect.

i have a 17-40f/4L, 24-70f2.8L, 70-200f/2.8L, 50f/1.4, and 85f/1.8. good idea about the fill flash. thanks!

You don't want very wide lenses if you are trying to capture portraiture, it just doesn't have that feel. Wide lenses inside are good for architecture or lifestyle shoots, so if you want a comination of both the mood of the restaurant and the amiable service received, I'd go with something moderately wide, like 35-50. The portrait would definately be atleast 50 IMO. Thats just what I'd do, but you are the creative director here.

yeah, i was planning to use the 24-70.

I think your biggest problem will be the mixed lighting. If you use the Bees, and the tungsten, then you may end up with horrible colour combinations. What would be good would be to somehow warm the colour of your flash to match the rest of the environment. I haven't done it myself, but I know Elinchroms have a small gold reflector you can place over the flash to warm up the light.

well, i have a bunch of gels i might put into use, but i agree. im hoping it wont be too much of a pain.