I'm new to using light reflectors... the big ones that need their own stand to hold them up. My scenario is this: a very large family is having a wedding outside, at night of course. So for the interviews I thought of using the light reflector and a large light with it. For outdoors like this do you shine the light through the translucent material to soften the shadows or do you use the silky cover and reflect the light back onto them (silky so it'll soften the shadows, too)? I've only considered this setup because, as I said, this family is very big, and very tightly-knit and will spend a long time talking on camera (all 20 of the family members, probably). A tripod, lightstand, reflector and mic should do the trick, eh?

-Michael

depends on how formal u want to make this shoot...

Personaly, id opt for some run and gun 25w light on the camera kinda thing.. Or if its one of THOSE kinda lighting situations, id run a lowel Total light with a brella. The brella will diffuse the light and offer a soft wide WHITE throw. Realy gorgeous colours and u can put it almost anywhere..

I agree with Peter, try an umbrella or two, that was the first thing that came to my mind, add an on camera light and you'll have a lot to play around with. If you decide to use the large panel, I'd shine the light through, I think it will give you a broader light.

You could also do two-point lighting by bouncing most of the light off the reflector and have the spill from the key fill the other side of the subject's face. Picture it this way: put a big piece of diffusion puffed-out on the end of your light. Put the light to one side of your subject. Put the reflector on the other side. Point the light not at your subject, but at your reflector. Aim the reflector so the light bounces back to the subject. With diffusion on the light, there will be lots of spill coming from the side of the light that is partially facing the subject. A second small light (a small parabolic halogen?) behind the subject will give you three-point lighting for the price of one key, a reflector, and a tiny light on a lightweight stand. Visit Walter Graff's site for further descriptions of this type of lighting.

http://www.bluesky-web.com/new-page6.html