Thanks for all your knowledgeable information in the past!
I'll be shooting another holiday party in the next week and I'm stumped on how to light the next shoot. Basically I'll be running a photobooth style beside the registration table and all the attendees are able to have their picture taken. It's being held inside the Fairmont Hotel in Toronto (which is fairly upperclass and styled nicely). The wall will basically be lit up chandeliers and wall lamps, but I don't want to depend on them for lighting.
I'm trying to think of a lighting solution that will be very flattering and close to the natural lighting. The wall has a couple of embossed beveled frames - just patterned across the wall. The wallpaper is very nice and has a rich strong yellow victorian feeling to them.
My question is how I can light them using strobes (three at max - all I have) and avoid casting a shadow on the wall. I have a softbox, white umbrella, and bare reflectors. Correct me if I'm wrong, I would like to use a white lightning x3200 through softbox as the main light 45 degrees to subjects. But shadows will be cast on the wall - how can I avoid this using other lights?
Have you done anything similar in the past? Please share your experiences!
To avoid shadows on the background, move the subject away from the background, or hide the shadow behind the subject.
If you set your fill to only a stop below your key, the shadows will be pretty well washed out. However it will result in fairly flat lighting as well.
Have you thought about bringing in your own background? Bring in a 4.5' roll of seamless and background stand, use your three lights to do a really nice, clean portrait look.
That hotel wallpaper often has a lot of shine to the finish, picks up awkward hotspots. The varnished wood will be even worse. Personally, in your shoes, I'd just turn one section of wall into a little portable studio and ignore the environment and available light.
