I got Roped

Into being a Santa photographer on the 22nd of Dec. I'm getting paid for shooting Santa with kids sitting on his lap. I have a SB 800 flash but thats about all the lighting equipment I have. Any tips from you folks on lighting , technique and equipment? I possibly have access to another flash. I will be using Nikon Camera control where I can set up my camera and do everything from the laptiop like focus, exposure ect. My budget isn't huge and I have done a couple of weddings in the past. I'm just not up on studio lighting techniques. Any suggestions or tips would really be appreciated.

How about a flask of Scotch for when the going really gets tough?

I'm filling it as you speak.

Actually, Erik, you might get some interesting photo opportunities... I just read in some news article that 1/3 of all Xmas Santas get, um, uh, "wetted on" by the young children sitting on their laps...

No lighting suggestions. You better put strong stuff in that flask! Oh, my....

I'ld start drinking from that flask now.

Too funny!! ^^^^

Erik,

Go to Pro Photo Supply. They wil be able to outfit you with some strobes and umbrellas. Also, they should be able to provide you with some tips. Good Luck!

Thanks folks for all the suggestions. Phil, Good idea. I'll check with them.

Erik - one thing you might try - and this was originally the sole reason I used Photo.net - was to scour the forums for information and tips on shooting weddings and portraits. If you can still do a search for "weddings" and "portraits" in the archives, you will find lots of information. A lot of it is discussion on portrait films, but there is also a ton of info on lighting and technique.

I used to scan the posts there many times in the few remaining, perspiring hours I spent before the weddings I used to shoot....

Erik,

I did some portrait work back in the dark ages. I will email you when I get home with some more idea's.

take care

Mike

Once you are set up its all repetition. Use three lights, Main light , Fill light for the shadows and use a Hair light high and behind. A real gravy train!

I would echo the suggestion to get strobes on stands with umbrellas that you shoot thru. I just took 91 photos of my daughters kindergarten glass with their Thanksgiving outfits that they had made on. This was in the middle of a kindergarten classroom so we wanted it to be a little messy, but I used a single Alien Bee 800 strobe thru an umbrella 5 feet away to the side and the shots came out really nice (the moms and teacher are all really happy with this for their memory boxes). A straight on flash on your camera is not going to look like you will want them to.

Thanks folks for the suggestions. I will follow up on each suggestion.

Just go to the mall and see what they are doing. Probably just polaroids. I've got 3 light stands if you need to borrow them.