2x off camera speedlights: what should i use as background?

[dubcat]

Hi - I have 2 speedlights and just ordered a pair of lightstands, 1 softbox (24 inch) and 1 convertible umbrella. I plan to use the canon ST-e2 to trigger my flashes so that I can have ettl working for me (i do plan to eventually go fully manual and use rf-602 triggers for greater flexibility but for now i want to be able to quickly take pics of my fast moving kids).

What could/should I use as a background to my portraits (of my kids and friends/family)? Mostly I will be shooting indoors at home - certainly until the weather improves

Any advice and ideas would be appreciated.

Dub.

 

[karfeef]

i got myself some calico material real cheap from a fabric store, about £2 a meter if i remember - it's basically linen type stuff, and then dyed it black (the end result being dark grey after a wash. it's easily taken to black, or coloured with gels if i like. good stuff to start with.

 

[Marcus Geezer]

I plan to use the canon ST-e2 to trigger my flashes so that I can have ettl working for me (i do plan to eventually go fully manual and use rf-602 triggers for greater flexibility but for now i want to be able to quickly take pics of my fast moving kids).

Any advice and ideas would be appreciated.

Dub.

I'm not sure if this helps but the ST-E2 will still fire the flashes if they are set to manual and you want to control the exposure yourself. The only down side is the ST-E2 wont always work on bright days and needs line of sight to fire them.

Also, as far as a background goes, I use to muddle around wiith fabric and stuff, but when I actuallly bit the bullet and got a proper background I just found it much easier. It's worth the investment if you are serious about taking those kind of shots.

 

[dubcat]

Marcus could you send me a link to what a proper background is? There seem to be so many types out there it's confusing.

Regarding the ST-E2 - i really had to think very long and hard before i paid out what i think is WAY too much money for what it is. I was going to just get a cord but i read they can be unreliable and I'm taking pics of my little ones so it would likely draw their attention leading to cable biting and kids crawling out of shot towards the cable I then thought about radio triggers which are MUCH cheaper but I want to maintain the ETTL capability as I'm a relative beginner and my subjects are extremely fidgety I will probably use the ST-E2 until I can operate manually very very quickly and then I will ebay it off and move to radio triggers full time.