Recommended off cam flash set up for 1st dance

[roc1]

So looking at having a couple of speedlights on stands in opposing corners of the room when the 1st dance happens, with a third mounted on the camera with a diffuser on (such as a sto fen, Gary fong etc). My question is what would be the best and cost efficient way of firing these?

Seems to be plenty of third party options out there, so if any get people's vote it would be great to hear thoughts!

Thanks

 

[Phil V]

Canon / Nikon / other?

Do you already have any speedlights? if so which? Do you need to keep them or are you prepared for a complete change?

Do you need iTTL / ETTL?

Do you want to be able to control the speedlights from the camera?

Which camera?

Have you any previous experience of OCF?

Do you have lightstands or other ideas for mounting the speedlights?

 

[roc1]

Sorry I should have said.

Shooting canon, currently have a 580ex2 and would like to to keep this ideally. Ettl on them isnt essential. Not had huge experience with ocf so whether I need control of them from the cam I don't know (cam is 5dmk3). I also need stands for them.

Cheers

 

[Phil V]

The Yongnuo YN622 are brilliant value, and what I'd use if I was starting now. For your set up you'll need 3.

For the slaves, I think you can use the YN 568s and I believe you'll be able to control everything from the camera. So you can position yourself at one corner and use all manner of tricks just from the camera menu. Each flash can have a different group and you can set either ETTL or Manual ratio's on the fly.

I haven't checked whether the C functions on the Canon will hold external flash ratios, but if they do, you could set them up so that just changing from C1 to C2 would change from mainly on camera lit to a backlit shot. This would be excellent in a first dance situation, where you want the ultimate flexibility in a short time.

Or 'do you want to buy some Pocketwizards' I've got the Flex and they're awesome.

 

[roc1]

Thanks Phil great advice much appreciated