Flash Kit Suggestions

Hello all, sorry to add yet another "what should I buy?" thread here but I'm currently shopping around for some additional lighting for my camera.

Right now I have a 430EX II via hot shoe (no stands or anything). My budget for spending is around $300. The main reason I'm wanting to upgrade my lighting is for an upcoming photo shoot with my girlfriend and her best friend at the beach sunset and sunrise.

Here are some of my questions:

1.) I'm currently looking at the Genesis 200 1 light kit. I would also get wireless triggers. Would I be able to use my 430 on the hot shoe and have the Genesis light off to the side (remotely) at the same time? I'd like to be able to fill my subject (2 girls) at the beach in low light and this is the best way I can think of with my budget.

2.) Would I be better off getting a stand, umbrella, mount, and triggers for my 430EXII and shoot that remotely? I'm worried that I won't have enough power that way and will produce some bad shadows. I thought about using a reflector to help light the subjects, but I'm not sure if there will be enough light outside to reflect.

3.) Are there any other options that I haven't mentioned that would be a better route?

I'm just getting started with the world of lighting so go easy on me

Thanks!

-Kyle

EDIT: I have already searched around and I'm hoping someone can just directly answer my question as there is a lot of scattered info.

1) Don't know much about that Calumet trigger will work with the 430EX, but let say it does, then that trigger would fire the 430 in manual mode, and the 430 would fire the strobe through it's optical slave sensor. There 2 issues with shooting at the beach: you need AC power for the strobe, and optical sensors need line of sight for working outdoors.

2)I think it's good way to start of with a portable kit and the flash you already own. Yes, the 430 has limited power that wouldn't be able to compete with the bright sun, but around sunrise and sunset, it should be OK. Shadows are created by the direction of light, so if we place the flash 90 degree to the side of the subject, there will be shadows no matter how much power the flash has, but if we place the light directly over the lens, there will be hardly any shadows. The reflector can also bounce the light from the flash onto the subject.

3) it's almost impossible to get the strobe with portable power for under your budget, but you can add a cheap manual flash like the Vivitar 285HV.

I recently purchased the Sigma EF-530 DG Super to work as a slave off-camera with my 580EXII in both eTTL mode and manual mode using the Canon wireless method.. I have been pleased with this. It could work as a master with your 430EX as a slave. At around $215, the Sigma would be well within your budget and you would not need radio triggers. I think the Sigma could also fit into a growing system of lighting.

I should have mentioned that power is not a problem, I already have a portable battery w/outlet.

Thanks for the input guys, I'm going to spend most of today reading and making up my mind as to what to do.

Does your portable battery w/outlet have a pure sine wave inverter?