Absolute minimum

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Albedo

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Adam
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The company I work for are looking for some photographs in and around the office to use in promotional material, their website, etc. I've done some already and they seemed to go down well (just things like the reception area, their logo, etc). There are a few other things they want photographed, and I'm happy with all of them.... except one.

I'd be pretty happy taking a portrait in available, natural light (and have done a few times). But indoors, when you need flash, it's a different ballgame. The idea of using my 40D's inbuilt flash seems pretty ridiculous....

So my question is: in terms of lighting, etc, what would be the bare minimum I'd need to have a good crack at this?

Any other thoughts, comments, tips would be welcome.

Thanks
 
a flash gun (any with manual control will do), a means of triggering it (pc cable/wireless system - I would go ebay triggers for flexibility and cheapness) a light stand an umbrella adapter an umbrella (shoot through or bounce - I have one with a removable cover) and a set of free lee filters sample gels to let you match flash temperature to ambient.

I would also recommend a LOT of time playing so you know the kit inside out before a real shoot - I am at this playing stage and as such have messed up many shots - if your being paid you need a greater ratio of successful shots
 
All I did for some portrait shots at work was bounce the flash off the ceiling (didn't have brollies or anything). The thing to remember with flash is that your shutter will control ambient light, you apeture will control flash. Bouncing flash gives a pretty uninteresting light, but it saves buying brollies etc if you're not likely to use them much. A flash however is worth buying. You can buy a non-dedicated flash for peanuts. My flash is an old Vivitar 285, it hsa a plain old 1-pin hotshoe and is huge, but it's plenty good enough for all I do.
 
Jessops do one for the canon for about £35, not manual (i don't think), but there are planty of comments about it on here.
 
wasn't really sure what the plan was I just got a set of brollies and people suddenly think I'm a real photographer, before I just bounced or had lights off camera in direct or bounce modes
 
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