Lighting positioning for photo booth

[mateoc15]

The attached image is an overhead view of a photo booth I've put together. The star is the camera, the rectangle and circles are a bench and people and any subject really, and the green is the green chromakey background I want to use. I'm told that (and makes sense) the green background must be equally lit for everything to work correctly. I'm terrible with lighting. I've used some softboxes and stuff before, but not with much luck in equal exposure. I have two rectangular softboxes of about 40" diagonal. I don't really want to buy anything else if I don't have to, but if so then so be it. Can you suggest where and how I should put the lights? By the way, this booth is about 6' x 8', may vary though depending on the application and specific needs.

[OsmosisStudios]

Why are you using Chromakey? It really is more of a pain than it's worth.

If it were me, I'd throw a ring flash onto the camera and call it a day. You'd get cool, stylized results from minimal equipment.

[mateoc15]

This photo booth will be used for trade shows, parties, and lots of other events. A green screen with custom backgrounds for the client is a feature I'm offering.

If the subjects are standing in front of the green screen as I show in the diagram how does a ring flash work any differently than if I put a softbox or other light directly above the camera pointed at the subject? I'm worried (I think) about a shadow behind the subjects on the green screen.

[zona5101]

You will want to light the background and subjects independently. I think it would be hard to keep the lighting even on the background without lighting it separately. This should also eliminate/reduce shadows of the subject cast by the main light onto the background. That and maximizing the distance between the subjects and the background.

[mateoc15]

That's what I was thinking too. I may have to move the subjects away from the backdrop a little and put a softbox overhead onto the background. That's more than I wanted to mess with but I don't have much choice I suppose. So based on that approach, any more suggestions? Recommendations for a "boom" to put the light over the subjects?

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by mateoc15

That's what I was thinking too. I may have to move the subjects away from the backdrop a little and put a softbox overhead onto the background. That's more than I wanted to mess with but I don't have much choice I suppose. So based on that approach, any more suggestions? Recommendations for a "boom" to put the light over the subjects?

I have one of these:
LSB1720 Adorama Boom Arm with Weight Bag & Light Stand for Studio Lights, 6' Stand, 80" Boom Arm
it does a good job. I put a 5' octabox on it with no worries.
With only two lights I think you have little choice but to put one centered on the backdrop and one as your main. For fill on both the chroma and subject some foamcore should do the trick.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by mateoc15

This photo booth will be used for trade shows, parties, and lots of other events. A green screen with custom backgrounds for the client is a feature I'm offering.

If the subjects are standing in front of the green screen as I show in the diagram how does a ring flash work any differently than if I put a softbox or other light directly above the camera pointed at the subject? I'm worried (I think) about a shadow behind the subjects on the green screen.

A ringflash creates shadows. That's the point. It has a very distinctive look. I would suggest ditching the green screen, but if you wanna keep it, you're gonna have to light it separately as mentioned.