Please help me!

[SabrinaO]

MY son is turning one and i want to do some cake smash pictures. In general, I love the look of a colored backdrop but I dont know what is used for the backdrop (fabric, paper?) and I don't know how to set up the lighting. Here's basically what im trying to achieve:


Here is my lighting equpiment:
Alien Bee B800(coming wednesday eek! )
Nikon SB600 speedlight
2 White lighting umbrellas
1 black silver lined lighting umbrella
1 24" speedlight softbox
Gold, black, silver, white reflectors
and for the heck of it 1 light scoop and the obvious oncamera flash.

Please keep in mind that i have a d5000 so I need to use the cactus v4(which i have) to trigger to trigger my flash.

 

[IgsEMT]

You could just bring him into my studio

Here's a basic diagram for flat lighting. I'm not a fan cause its pretty :meh: but it does an average job and at time good enough.
Ignore the backlight.
Lighting Diagrams

 

[SabrinaO]

So i could use the alienbee for the main light, and my speedlight for the fill? I have a d5000 so i use my cactus v4 to trigger the flash off camera. I read that the alien bee can be used wirelessly with the d5000, but im not sure if i can use both the flash and the alien bee, so if anyone knows.....
And thank you so much for this diagram!!! I would use a backlight but I don't have the money right now. I probably could do that effect in PP hopefully.

 

[IgsEMT]

AB can be triggered with an optical slave (not wireless since wireless usually implies a radio of some kind). But do keep in mind the location of the AB w/ respect to firing (triger) light.
For arguement's sake FORGET about key/fill/main light. Just light flat and go from there.

 

[DC-Photog]

This is great. My one-year old just destroyed his birthday cake, too.

 

[SabrinaO]

AB can be triggered with an optical slave (not wireless since wireless usually implies a radio of some kind). But do keep in mind the location of the AB w/ respect to firing (triger) light.
For arguement's sake FORGET about key/fill/main light. Just light flat and go from there.

So what should i use? My AB or my SB?

 

[IgsEMT]

So what should i use? My AB or my SB?

Depends on what you want to accomplish...
There are time when I use only one light, others two and at times 6. All depends on results that I need to accomplish.
Did I mention you can bring your kid?

 

[SabrinaO]

So what should i use? My AB or my SB?

Depends on what you want to accomplish...
There are time when I use only one light, others two and at times 6. All depends on results that I need to accomplish.
Did I mention you can bring your kid?

LOL
Thanks for your help

 

[IgsEMT]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...223114-my-lighting-setup-resulting-image.html

 

[benhasajeep]

You can use your AB by using the optical slave. Use your Cactus on your speed light. The speed light will trigger your AB. Like the above diagrams have the 2 lights at about 30 - 45 degrees to either side of your son.

As for the background, its hard to go get fabric that size at your local sewing shop. Most are not wide enough 42" or so. In a pinch you can use a thick sheet. Thin ones will not work so well as they are a bit transparent. Will have to iron it of course to get all the fold and wrinkles out. You may be able to layer a couple sheets over each other, that may work?? Not sure how much time you have to acquire items.