Mobile lighting at a kids party

I'm going to be photographing a kids birthday party in a few weeks. It'll be indoors, during the day.

Most of my lighting experience has been with a home studio or on camera flash - and I'm thinking I need to use this chance to learn some new tricks (It's for a friend, unpaid, and he's okd me to experiment a bit).

I plan on taking a genesis 200 in a small softbox, running off the wall to setup a mini studio (the parents want headshots of the kids).

But what would you do for the mobile shots? I've got a 580 EX II with an omnibounce, a flash bracket and a short ETTL cable.

I was thinking of picking up a long ETTL cable from Flash Zebra and a light weight lightstand, and dropping the flash on top of that, but I'm worrying about the cable with a bunch of kids!

What about a cheap ebay manual flash that I can trigger optically? Would having a mobile two flash setup be over kill?

I would stay away from cables honestly.
Children + Party + Cables + Accident waiting to happen

Do you need ettl? If not, I would get some Yongnuo RF-602 radio triggers. Get a stand, use your flash and get an umbrella, you will be set =)

themadman wrote in post #9421536
I would stay away from cables honestly.
Children + Party + Cables + Accident waiting to happen

Do you need ettl? If not, I would get some Yongnuo RF-602 radio triggers. Get a stand, use your flash and get an umbrella, you will be set =)

Yeah, I don't think cables would be such a hot move.

I do need those 602's - I don't have a grip for my 580 (I do have the stand / umbrella) either.

Sounds like thats my shopping list

might not be enough time to get rf-602s

They will ship in about 1-3 weeks. Prolly closer to 1 week now that the holiday season is over. If you NEED it fast, maybe look to see if anyone sells those more locally.

I'll place the order and cross my fingers - anyone recommend anyone specific on ebay or in the US that may be a good place to try?

The grip for the umbrella / stand is on it's way from Flashzebra, just ordered.

CybserSycs from alien bees.

If you get flash high up bouncing from the corner that will work for mobile shots. I am also going to be at a birthday party and that's what I was thinking. Otherwise I will stick to my 30mm f1.4.

^ +1 cybers are great i just got mine.

Interfit Strobies Portrait Kit is awesome get it, not the fongs.

Also the Lumiquest Quick Bounce is awesome, it enables you to do the job of two flashes with a single flash.

edit

For a children's party I would just use a speedlite and bounce off of the walls and ceilings. Staying simple is the best option in that situation, IMO.

This may help you out.
Strobist verified!

If those kids are anything like my daughter's friends, then I wouldn't even want a lightstand.

I've used my 430EX with a bounce card and it does really well. Granted, I've mostly shot in a larger area (a warehouse full of inflatables). In my case, bouncing off a ceiling/wall wasn't really an option most of the time. To me, being mobile is the key, and an on-camera (or bracket) speedlite is the way I choose to shoot that type of event.

The hall is definitely too big to light from each corner (it's a large function hall).

I may try a long ETTL cord and handhold the flash in my left hand, and bracket it when not poking it out there.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, food for though.

So I've made the call to shoot with the 580EXII on bracket with an ETTL cable - with the option of hand holding it to the side if I need to.

I currently have an omnibounce, which I don't really use much - I've been thinking of trying out a lumiquest solution for a while.

For the purposes of this kind of event (town hall, with a bunch of kids), would you go with the ProMax system (or one of it's variants - like the 80/20) - or go for their Strobe softboxes (like The Softbox III) ?