Lighting white background with over head softbox

[Vivid Art]

I have to shoot a small clothing catalogue featuring models in staff uniform against a white background. For logistical reasons it has to be shot on the clients premises and the space available is a bit restricted. I would normally use a couple of strip soft boxes to light the background but there is not really enough room on site.

Although due to the location of a bay window in the room we intend to use it would be possible to use a single square soft box on a boom to light the background. I have never done this but am I likely to be able to get a reasonably uniformly white background with an OH soft box.

It would be good to get some idea of success before I drag all the kit down there. Any examples or links would be appreciated.

 

[Garry Edwards]

That's a method I would use if I wanted a graduated background - light at the top and becoming progressively darker as the light fell off as it travelled towards the bottom, following the rules of the inverse square law.

If you want the background to be lit evenly, it can't work.

Edit: My own technique is simple. If the client wants a particular effect then they have to provide the facilities needed, in this case plenty of space.

If they can't or won't do that then either they don't get that particular effect or they pay the extra needed for PP work.