@ Kayaker:
Regarding small, not intrusive, travel capable lighting setup. I also implement a budget concern from my perspective.

This lighting setup could fit in a briefcase or backpack, the lightstands are very strong and short too, I have very heavy interfit stellar 300s with heavy 39” octobox on them, but I also use them for speedlights with umbrella.

For the simple portraits, I would be using a 7’ Matthews reversible lightweight stand, only 20” or so long when stored
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...e_Stand_7.html

One of these brackets to hold the 600 speedlight or yongnuo triggers (unless using the flashpoint triggers I mention later as they have hardware built on)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...u=50067&is=REG

Plus an inexpensive $10 36” shoot through umbrella

I would be doing this with a 600 exrt and doubling the lighting with the same gear except second light is an $85 Vivitar 285HV flash. One could use two Vivitar flashes instead of a 600exrt. One should be sensible and not mount a beautifully designed high end Canon 600exrt on a yongnuo trigger...

For triggers I have 4 transceivers from Yongnuo ($65 for all 4 and also serves as a shutter release remote) I also have a second set of triggers designed completely different: flashpoint triggers, buy 1 kit and buy 1 extra receiver, this will trigger two flashes, they are hot shoe mount. These have ¼” and can be mounted very easily. Make sure the extra receiver is also 4 channel and not 16 channel, or vice versa, or it wont match.

http://www.adorama.com/FPRRS4RN.html

I bought my Yongnuo 603 C# triggers on Amazon

You could get a two moonlight kit for this much, it would be AC and require cords, the stands would be very long and would not fit in a backpack, etc. I think if you buy moonlights, they should be 500ws or more, otherwise just use speedlights/flash

Also, theres a manfrotto extention pole for about $50 that goes to 9 feet. You can put this on top of these 7’ Matthews stands to reach 16’, or as I plan to do, have someone hold it for on location shoots where the subject is moving about in different areas and it becomes a boom.

Obviously a couple of 600EXRT would be optimal, the yongnuo are not TTL and not high speed sync, but they are very inexpensive. I personally would prefer those bubble popper or whatever those other ones are, radio tronix something, the $100 ones if I used triggers. There are small softboxes but I think umbrellas are going to be great for what you suggest.

By the way, you should probably be giving me photo ideas, now the other way around. I suggest you have two Canon speedlights, get two stands, two brackets and two umbrellas. Maybe throw in the extension pole from manfrotto. Even if you have 1 600exrt and a 430ex or a 580ex I think it will be better than the vivitar.