No picure, just a question

[richardtm]

I've got to go and take some pictures at a ballet school this Saturday (arranged via a work colleague who's wife teaches there). They want some for publicity glossies, and for web pages.

I've never done anything like this before, so any advice will be much appreciated. I can see a few problems looming, no windows, so no natural daylight. 2 sides of hall fully mirrored so keeping self and lights out of pictures could be fun. (I am NOT ballet material!)

I do have 2 fairly powerful mains flash units, with modelling lamps, plus brollies, snoot, barn-doors etc. Reflectors won't be a lot of use as everyone will be constantly moving, I expect.

Any clues, guys'n'gals??

[esso]

side lighting is almost always best for figures. try shooting with mirrored walls to your left and right. if they're constantly moving go for really tight shots, like limbs in action, head and shoulders, attitude, shapes etc..

[richardtm]

I should have said, mirrored walls are adjacent, into corner. The other 2 walls are a bit bland and ugly, with brackets and things screwed to them, so the more I keep them out of shot, the better.I was hoping to make reflections a feature (as long as me or my kit aren't in them), but then again.....

Flash synch is 125th, but if power is turned up, I could use slower and get some motion blur, plus sharp frozen image in same shot. That could even produce something quite 'arty'.

Thanks for your reply, I'll read it again every day until Saturday, then probably panic when I get there!