toddler portrait help please!

[yohov6]

I tried to do a few shots of a friends toddler - here the scenario:

Using an EOS 50d with 24-70L and 430ex strobe

1: A very small room, at night so no natural light.

2: the room has many shiny coloured christmas decorations all around.

3: Cannot use studio flash and metering is a nightmare as the room is very cluttered and from a safety point of view it would not be wise ( the little one would have them over).

4: no matter what i try the little one will not stay still for a second

5: I tried to bounce the flash off the ceiling and walls but the decorations were causing havoc.

My question is: How do i get the shot without having too much shadow and then spending hours trying to post process?

Any help would be appreciated

[kelleyrie]

use a reflector, turn the flash to the side opposite your subjest and use a reflector angled back at your subject. You may have to play to get the angle right but that will probably get the light where you want it. If you end up with too much shadow on one side of the face, then put another reflector angled in toward the face to catch the light form the first reflector. I hope that made sense. Also try giving the kiddo something to play with: an ornament or something, that will help them stay still. You will ned to work fast and take lots of breaks, toddlers do not have a very long attention span

[kelleyrie]

by reflector I mean anything, could be a foam board(what I use) or even a sun reflector (the car for your car windshield) that's silver or gold