So Now What? - Off Camera Lighting

I just purchased a receiver/transmitter set of Cactus V2's online for my Sigma DG 500.

At this point in time that is all I have. Transmitters, and a flash.

Within a few weeks I'm going to be doing a shoot of a friend of mine and really could use any tips you guys could throw at me.

At the same time on the gear angle of things I'm really try to keep everything to an absolute minimum of "what I need."

From that standpoint things I will eventually or would like to get would be a light stand, umbrella swivel mount, umbrella and possibly a reflector, and maybe even a softbox but that is at this point probably unnecessary.

For now though... Is it possible to get away with using my tripod as a flash stand for now and just use that w/ a reflector to cut out costs or would I really just be doing myself and my friend a huge disservice by being cheap?

Any advice is appreciated I'm really new to everything flash photography based so short of having read the stickies I haven't done much of anything.

Thanks!

You could use your tripod as a stand OR get a $1 bungee cord and bungee the flash to a pole or a tree of some kind to get it higher in the air if needed.

As for the shoot itself maybe you can provide us with more detail on what kind of shoot it is (i.e.: what's your subject?). Also, what time of day do you plan on shooting?

Hope we can help!

The shoot would be for semi-professional pictures: photos for portfolios online use website etc. Not a modeling port but just general use. For that I'm not to concerned about the lighting but any tips would still be useful. Also We're going to make an attempt at a glamor artistic style shoot which is where lighting could be tricky within limited means. That would be my only current reason for needing to pickup say the umbrella or reflector.

I appreciate frugality.
By all means, use what you have, and make the most of it. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but often poverty is the father of innovation and creativity. For example, bouncing the flash off the ceiling can make the lighting quite different when the flash is off to one side, rather than on your camera.

For ideas and inspiration, spend some time reading the Strobist blog. He's a champion of low-cost lighting. You may also click on the banner he has to Midwest Photo Exchange, which sells reasonably priced kits of stuff like economy lightstands, umbrellas and adapters. I do think you'll want those things when budget allows.

Haha definitely love Strobist. It is like my dessert to POTNs meat and potatoes as it were.

I used to be one of those available light only shooters. Primarily because the flashes I had at the time were not very great. And secondly I was utter crap with flash lighting

So this should be a good experience, figures though as soon as I'm satisfied with my camera or my lenses I manage to find another way to spend money on equipment. Although at least to my own benefit It doesn't need to be fancy to be good.

Thanks for replies.

you need a translucent white umbrella with removable black backing (shoot-through)! easily the most versatile and portable light mod!