Lighting for Prom

[cdbillups]

I've been asked to take Prom photos at our local high school (where my wife happens to teach.) They provide the back drop and lighting and I bring the camera. They have a JTL TL-2250 Everlight Kit (3 lights on stands with diffuser boxes.) I've never done any type of studio photography. I think they asked me because I've done 1 students Senior photos and I take pictures at all the sporting events at the school. The kids have gotten to know me through that and my wife working there. Anyways, I have no idea how to setup the lighting. Two lights at 45 - 90 degrees of the model with one straight on? Two on the sides set about eye level to the model and the one straight on slightly above eye level? Help!

[zona5101]

some thoughts:
- set the lights once, you don't want to be monkeying with them for each couple.
- Higher than eye level and angled down a bit. I would not set them opposite of each other (both at 45 degrees) that produces flat light... i would have my main on one side at 45 and the fill directly behind and above the camera position...might have to be slightly off axis to give you room for your tripod. That 3rd light can be a hair /rim light or a background light - i'd probably go BG, because, you won't have to worry about people heights like you would with a hair light.
- use a tripod
- shutter to no more than your flash sync speed.
- fstop will be determined by the light output - without a light meter you will have to go trail and error. You don't need or want a super high depth of field so go with the lowest fstop that still gives you some dof... it is focal length specific but for example f4 to f5.6 would be good (based on the MAIN light , not the fill and BG). That also lets your lights work easier with faster recycle.
- again with out a meter you will need to set your lighting ratios based on visual observation - so start by adjusting your main light power until you get a good exposure at your target fstop (like 5.6), you can then set your fill light by turning off the main and adjusting the fill until it is 1/2 stop to 1.5 stops less (that is a personal choice so maybe split the diff and shoot for a stop less then the main) Adjust the power so provides a decent exposure at f4 in the example of using f5.6 on the main. (If that seems a little confusing remember, it still comes down to how it looks so you can throw out the lighting rations and just set by eye if you need/want to) BG light by sight is easiest but it should be about the same as the main it, can be less to your taste.
I am not familiar with those lights but if they do not have a power output adjustment, you will set your lighting ratios by physically moving the light stands nearer of farther from the subject.

[OsmosisStudios]

Everything Zona said, though I would do one thing differently: Skip the tripod. Gives you more mobility, means there are less things to knock over, and will make each image unique. Unless you've got less than, I'd say, 8-10' of background to work with.

[cdbillups]

I'm not sure on the size of the backdrop. We chaperoned prom last year but I didn't even look in the room the photographer was setup in. After talking to my wife, the school has the light kit already because they use it in a class. Maybe the teacher will set it all up for me before I get there. I've always heard, go flashless inside and flash outside for fill lighting. Is using the flash necessary with all this extra lighting?

[zona5101]

I would expect you'll need no additional lighting beyod the school's kit.