Need advice for an upcoming shoot

[runnah]

Stand with your back to a white wall and bounce the flash behind you to create a giant light source. This should allow for softer lighting. If you have your subjects positioned far enough away from another wall you should be able to get a bit of DOF to blur the BG and have some seperation.

 

[nycphotography]

and if you buy the paper recommended above and are taping the paper to the wall, let it run out onto the floor in a parabolic arc.

considering your constraints (which I read after responding to the OP), you can probably get away with using the flash OFF CAMERA and HAND HELD. Camera in one hand, flash in the other. It's awkward, but I've done it and you can get moderately decent results. Remote trigger is preferred, but a TTL coiled cord will work too. Make sure you have a pocket to slip the flash in when not shooting.

I'd suggest you practice this technique before the event should you choose to try it.

like this.

Yeah my constraints make this a difficult task to accomplish. I have an old tripod lying around that I could probably modify to hold my flash.

B&H had a little bracket for mounting a speedlight on a tripod... $5 or $8. You can call them and order with someone who knows exactly what you are trying to adapt. The caveat is that most tripods arent really tall enough to get the flash above eye level. a single flash should usually be above eye level unless you are intentionally going for "eerie uplighting effects". which you aren't. WAIT... I had this one in my saved items on Amazon. not a canon specific one, but you get the idea.

Amazon.com: Fotodiox Flash-Umb-Bkt-Ultra-Nik Ultra Heavy Duty Flash Umbrella Bracket with Swivel/Tilt Head, Mountable to Light Stand and Tripod - Fits Nikon Flash: Camera & Photo

The catch with bounce flash is always picking up "off color casts" from the walls. If you want to bounce to soften the light, I'd buy a 2x4 piece of white foamcore at Michaels for $10 and tape it to a wall behind the flash. But then you need two walls the right distance apart one for bounce and one to tape up the background paper.

 

[Designer]

I realize you said you can't purchase equipment for this shoot, but I could recommend a shoot-through white umbrella, which are fairly low cost.

So if you can, borrow a tall stepladder (at least 8 feet tall) and borrow a clamp from the same fellow that you borrowed the ladder from. position something large, white, and gauzy between the flash and your subjects. fire the flash with a remote cord if you can't borrow a radio trigger. It would be nice if you could practice this setup before the function.

 

[cynicaster]

The 600D is the same thing as the T3i, right? If so, I’ve got the same camera, and I can confirm that it can remotely trigger the 430EX-II (because I have one of those as well). Line of sight between the pop-up flash and the 430 is required for it to work.

I’ve been dabbling with this OCF stuff for the last few months, so I’m really new to it as well. The only reason I mention this is to relate my first-hand experience: this stuff takes lots of practice to get the hang of it.

I don’t mean to scare you, but I wouldn’t even consider doing something like this with just a T3i, a single bare 430, and no experience.

I'm not looking for extremely professional results, I'm just looking for results better than something taken with a point and shoot,

That's the problem--the way you've described the venue and the equipment you have available, you're setting yourself up to get point-and-shoot caliber results unless you get really clever.

 

[nycphotography]

I realize you said you can't purchase equipment for this shoot, but I could recommend a shoot-through white umbrella, which are fairly low cost.

So if you can, borrow a tall stepladder (at least 8 feet tall) and borrow a clamp from the same fellow that you borrowed the ladder from. position something large, white, and gauzy between the flash and your subjects. fire the flash with a remote cord if you can't borrow a radio trigger. It would be nice if you could practice this setup before the function.

Here's one for $8 (incl shipping).

Amazon.com: Cowboystudio 33 inch Photography Studio Translucent Shoot Through White Umbrella: Camera & Photo

Yanno, that umbrella (plus the bracket above which specifically supports umbrellas except in a canon version) would get the job done. and would be a lot better than anything on camera or using the bare flash.

If you have an assistant who can hold and point the flash then you wont need the ladder or light stand or tripod. but the bracket will hold the flash and umbrella as a single pointable unit.

And here's a 10' ttl cord.

Amazon.com: Pixel 3.6M /10 FEET E-TTL Off-Camera Shoe Cord for Canon DSLR Flash 580EX II 550EX Canon 430EX II Canon 420EX 380EX replaces OC-E3b: Camera & Photo

 

[Derrel]

Some really GOOD responses on this page! Have not read Page 1 of the thread.

 

[JacaRanda]

The 600D is the same thing as the T3i, right? If so, I’ve got the same camera, and I can confirm that it can remotely trigger the 430EX-II (because I have one of those as well).

Yup & Yup.