Advice needed for Santa & kids shoot

[darley]

Hope this is the right place. I'm a fairly experienced photographer but have been asked to shoot a charity Christmas function in a community hall, specifically kids visiting Santa in his grotto, which I've never done. I foresee problems with lighting - lots of little lights in the background as well as ambient lighting, none of which I can control. I have a Canon 600D with a wireless 430EX II flash and intend using the kit 18-55 is II lens. I need fairly wide shots to include kid/Santa/grotto.

Any tips on lighting such a scene? Speedlite is controlled via camera flash so both will fire. I don't think I'll have long to set up and practice so need a basic starting point to work from. I'm thinking Speedlite off to the side bounced off ceiling and fill flash from camera, ISO 400, f5.6-6.0, WB I can figure out on the day but will shoot RAW as well.

I won't have time to do much PP as lots of parents will be wanting pics soon after!

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[stevewestern]

I would have thought that you need to keep it very simple, so something like your flash into a shoot-through umbrella above and off to one side of the camera. Try to allow the ambient light to contribute as little Christmas lights will add a little sparkle. The lighting will be even, no big shadows to worry about and you ought to be able to keep a light stand fairly safe and out of the way. Lencarta have just got their shoot-through umbrellas back in stock and Garry Edwards (look in the lighting section here for him) will be able to advise you what you will need to go with it if you don't own one.
The advantage of this will be that you will be able to keep the lighting all the same so minimal PP needed.
However, bear in mind that I am not a lighting expert and I am sure others will come along with better ideas shortly !

 

[darley]

Thanks for all replies. I have been mulling this over and although I want to minimize continuous lighting so as not to spoil the overall effect of the grotto, I think I may need some. The speedlite easily provides enough light to fill the area (I have tested it on site) but I was thinking of a couple of LED lights as they are fairly cheap and unobtrusive, no wires for people to trip over etc. Has anyone any experience of these and can they recommend one? I only need enough light to ensure the faces are clear so I was thinking a small LED either side.

Thanks again!