Speed lights vs moonlight for school dance portraits.

I will be the portrait photographer at a school dance and am in the process of determining my set up. I could use two yongnuo speed lights if they would be powerful enough. Or I have been wanting to purchase a flashpoint xplor 600 TTL I could pick up (I likely will anyway, just want to know how quickly I need to pick it up).

I know these are two incredibly different systems, but I have no experience with shooting portraits, and very little with flash.

i would also like to know if Godox trigger would work with yongnuo flash as well as flashpoint xplor. Could I use both of them simultaneously? Like the monolight on one side and two speedlighys on the other, and use TTL?

Im open to other suggestion be as well. Thanks everyone and take care.

Investing in the Yongnuo system if you plan to go Godox later doesn't make sense IHMO. Or do you have the Yongnuo flashes already?

Sorry I'm no expert of the Yongnuo lineup, but I'd get Godox TT685 speedlights instead, they're good and cheap and work with the Godox radio trigger system, easier to integrate in your later setup.

What is your camera?

I have 1 yongnuo flash already. I will definitely look into Godox flash if I can find one that does ttl and HSS. I could see it working better with the flashpoint (I believe they are the same company).

Nikon d810

Based on what you've said, if you're being paid, I'd suggest giving their money back. Learn photography, training in what you lack then try again at that point.

dball329 said:

I will be the portrait photographer at a school dance and am in the process of determining my set up....

....I have no experience with shooting portraits, and very little with flash.

Im open to other suggestion be as well. Thanks everyone and take care.

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Just say no. Do what the previous poster said and go learn. You needs tools to do the work but learn how to use them before offering your services

When I took photos at a company Christmas party (no charge)) in front of the Christmas tree I setup my 2 flashes in a 2:1 ration on either side of me. I took a few test shots to dial in the exposure, depth of field and flash positions. I just used those settings the rest of the night without changing anything. The pictures turned out great. I think this is much more reliable than trying to rely on TTL flash metering and hoping it exposes every shot perfectly.

My flashes were a Metz 58 and a Metz 54. I used the Sony wireless (light triggered) flash system for firing the flashes remotely. It worked great. The biggest problem I had was the cycle time on the flashes going up as the batteries got weaker. The remote triggering by the cameras built in flash worked flawlessly for me,. The hall was pretty dark without much stray light to cause interference. I used the exposure histogram to dial in my settings.

I practiced a lot before the Christmas party. I wasn't being paid but I didn't want to embarrass myself by taking bad pictures.

For your prom pictures I would want a AC powered strobe or a big battery bank so you don't run out of juice.

I'm not. I'm doing it as a favor to the school.

That's very helpful thank you. It's actually a small elementary school dance.

dball329 said:

I'm not. I'm doing it as a favor to the school.

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You've stated you don't know what you're doing with lighting or portraiture.

You're doing no one a favor. A photographer does not learn on the job. He learns, practices and crafts his trade.

A guy with camera does what you're trying to do. Don't be that guy.

Thanks for the advice.

dball329 said:

Thanks for the advice.

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You're welcome. It's free.

What you do with your reputation is also free.

dball329 said:

I'm not. I'm doing it as a favor to the school.

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You might just want to rent/borrow an sb910, put it in the hot shoe, and bounce it off the ceiling. It will be more straightforward than buying gear and trying to learn studio lighting between now and then. Not trying to be snarky, but simplicity is a virtue sometimes

dball329 said:

I have 1 yongnuo flash already. I will definitely look into Godox flash if I can find one that does ttl and HSS. I could see it working better with the flashpoint (I believe they are the same company).

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The TT685 does both. There's also a version that comes with a Li-Ion-Battery called V685, but from what I read on the web the only difference between the two models is slightly faster recharge times on the V685.

The Flashpont is a rebranded version of the Godox AD600B.

If you want to learn flash photography, I strongly recommend the Strobist blog, try to read through their lighting 101 (and probably also 102) courses before the "job".

dball329 said:

That's very helpful thank you. It's actually a small elementary school dance.

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I would reccomend practicing before hand as much as possible in an enviroment as close to the enviroment you will be shooting in as possible. The more variables you can control when you are onsite the better your results will be.

Many people, especially on this site, make thier living and feed their families by photographing events. You are getting some feed back from these people that feel a little threatened by "the guy with the camera" that will do it for free. I have done some events like the Christmas party and even some weddings for friends and family... I will let you in on the secrete I discovered... IT IS A HELL OF A LOT OF WORK! Not only is is a hell of a lot of work it also takes something you love and enjoy and makes a job out of it. I am not trying to talk you out of volenteering your skills I am just trying to give you an appreciation of what is involved. I think taking pictures for an event that wouldn't be covered otherwise is a great way to gain experience and make yourself a better photographer. I think it will also give you a new appreciation of the people that make a living as a photographer.

P.S. I practice flash photography using my daughters stuffed animals... my daughter is MUCH too impatient to be a good practice model. What worked great practicing at my house didn't translate well to the hall the Christmas party was being held in, the conditions were too different. The only way to learn though is to jump into the fire.

MikeInOr said:

dball329 said:

That's very helpful thank you. It's actually a small elementary school dance.

Click to expand...

I would reccomend practicing before hand as much as possible in an enviroment as close to the enviroment you will be shooting in as possible. The more variables you can control when you are onsite the better your results will be.

Many people, especially on this site, make thier living and feed their families by photographing events. You are getting some feed back from these people that feel a little threatened by "the guy with the camera" that will do it for free. I have done some events like the Christmas party and even some weddings for friends and family... I will let you in on the secrete I discovered... IT IS A HELL OF A LOT OF WORK! Not only is is a hell of a lot of work it also takes something you love and enjoy and makes a job out of it. I am not trying to talk you out of volenteering your skills I am just trying to give you an appreciation of what is involved. I think taking pictures for an event that wouldn't be covered otherwise is a great way to gain experience and make yourself a better photographer. I think it will also give you a new appreciation of the people that make a living as a photographer.

P.S. I practice flash photography using my daughters stuffed animals... my daughter is MUCH too impatient to be a good practice model. What worked great practicing at my house didn't translate well to the hall the Christmas party was being held in, the conditions were too different. The only way to learn though is to jump into the fire.

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yep. Jump in. Just like driving a car. Just do it. NO worries about how to drive at all. Just because everyone else knows the rules and the law. Yeah right...

fYI, I'm not threatened by a guy with camera. Gives me a chance to show how effective a pro is and superior pro results through experience. I love the difference.

Just trying to help the poor guy. In over his head.

Its his head, not mine. So no worries.

Go ahead and grab that trumpet! Dunno how? Well at least look good doing it! I have confidence his results will equal his skills I hope it's what the kids parents are expecting

dball329 said:

I will be the portrait photographer at a school dance and am in the process of determining my set up. I could use two yongnuo speed lights if they would be powerful enough. Or I have been wanting to purchase a flashpoint xplor 600 TTL I could pick up (I likely will anyway, just want to know how quickly I need to pick it up).

I know these are two incredibly different systems, but I have no experience with shooting portraits, and very little with flash.

i would also like to know if Godox trigger would work with yongnuo flash as well as flashpoint xplor. Could I use both of them simultaneously? Like the monolight on one side and two speedlighys on the other, and use TTL?

Im open to other suggestion be as well. Thanks everyone and take care.

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Get the XPLOR 600 with the AC power module. Not so much for the additional power ( but that might come in handy as well) but for faster recycling between flashes. That will make you more productive.

Also in my experience with both brands, so far the Godux made gear is also far more robust and reliable than the Yongnuo stuff.

Ok at this point I have to wonder if you have anything better to do than attempt to be an arrogant prick on Internet forums. You hhave made your opinion known. Move on.

Don89 said:

dball329 said:

I'm not. I'm doing it as a favor to the school.

Click to expand...

You've stated you don't know what you're doing with lighting or portraiture.

You're doing no one a favor. A photographer does not learn on the job. He learns, practices and crafts his trade.

A guy with camera does what you're trying to do. Don't be that guy.

Click to expand...

Every photographer worth their salt learns two ways: through private practice and sometimes school or workshops, and most importantly by working on real jobs. The learning never stops if you are conscientious.