Reddit mentions of Interfit Photographic STR140 Metal Umbrella Bracket with Metal Adjustable Flash Shoe for Flash Units

> would like to go with Yongnuo for the triggers (YN622) and flashes themselves (probably 1 565EX and 1 560).

Good choices. But, you could get a 568EX which supports High-Speed Sync. This would allow you to use flash more effectively outdoors during the day. Otherwise you are limited to the normal sync speed of your camera.

The YN-622 support HSS so you're good there -- if you get a 568EX.

> I have no idea what to go with for the stands (Maybe Manfrotto Nano or Lumopro Compact?)

Both of those lightstands are great. I've actually found generic ones that I'm somewhat happy with: http://www.amazon.com/Ravelli-ALS-Cushioned-Included-Equipment/dp/B003TM600U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1410198056&sr=1-1&keywords=ravelli+heavy+duty+light+stand

> swivels

What's important with an adapter is that it's full-metal -- none of this plastic housing or cold-shoe bullshit. I have these and they're fine: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EGE39A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

> umbrellas

Are you sure you want to go with umbrellas? A softbox may be better for on-location work, especially without an assistant (outdoors, with an umbrella and no assistant, if it's windy, you're pretty much screwed). You may want to get one umbrella and one softbox, that way you can switch them between key and fill in two light setups, and pick whichever one is more appropriate for one light setups.

If you do want to go with umbrellas, size is the primary consideration. ~45" is probably a happy medium for on-location. I have had some ~30" umbrellas and found the light quality to be not so great. And I have a ~60" that I love, but rarely take on location unless I know I will have a lot of room indoors (60" umbrella is a big fail outdoors, even in low wind) and not have to move around a lot.

Another thing is the ribs -- aluminum ribbed umbrellas may wear out quicker. However, I don't think that umbrellas are a "buy it for life" thing at all and I've never been concerned about build quality in my umbrellas.

I use and recommend Impact convertible umbrellas.

If you want a softbox, I can recommend Westscott Apollo 28" as a good on-location softbox for hot shoe flash.

> I'm also not sure what modifiers to pick up for using an on-camera flash, like a softbox (LumiQuest Softbox or Lastolite Ezybox?), the Gary Fong Lightsphere that everyone has, or something else (LumiQuest Quik Bounce?).

Modifiers for on-camera flash don't actually do much. A bounce card of some kind is nice to offer catchlights when the light is bounced but that's about it. Save the money that you would have spent on on-camera modifiers and buy Neil Van Nierk's books and some beer instead.

> I will put some good rechargeable batteries (Eneloops?) into my budget

Good.

> is there anything else that I'm missing?

Since I do a lot of run-and-gun type work at festivals and conventions (often conventions have very high ceilings and bouncing the flash is difficult) as well, one thing that is very helpful to me is my painter's pole and a Kacey Pole Adapter ( http://www.amazon.com/Kacey-Enterprises-Pole-Adapter-Extension/dp/B00ANZVFME/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1410198878&sr=1-1&keywords=kacey+pole+adapter ).

Check out Syl Arena's blog here: http://pixsylated.com/blog/longarm-and-metalhead/

While it's ideal to have an assistant, I often use the pole solo. By simply holding the painters pole as if it were a walking stick (maybe you could say a wizard's staff at the con), with the end on the ground, in one hand and shooting with the camera in the other hand. In order to shoot like this, you will generally want to use a shorter focal length to get directionality and softness in the light. I try to shoot 5 feet away from the subject with this setup. The smaller shoot-through umbrellas are great here because placement is less precise. But you could use the 28" softbox as well.