Shooting an event for the first time: looking for tips!

[carlosecpf]

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Hi guys,

 

I am an amateur photographer and usually I bring my camera to any social events that I am attending. Lately I've been getting a lot of compliments on the pictures I took and this resulted in an invitation to shoot for free a charity event next week. Even though I won't get paid, I am excited about this opportunity!

 

So I would like to pick your brains to get some meaningful tips that a newbie in this arena might benefit from.

I am planning to take my Digilux 3 with the following:

- 2 spare batteries

- 11-22mm Olympus Lens (22-44mm in 35mm equiv.)

- 25mm f1.4 Summilux lens (50mm in 35mm equiv.)

- Olympus FL50 Flash gun + a set of AA spare batteries

 

Should I bring any of my other lens? 14-150mm, 14-50mm or 50mm f/2?

Any tips of how I should pose people? Or use the flash?

 

Even though I am not a professional, I want to do the best that I can, so any guidance from more experienced photographers is really appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Carlos

[lykaman]

Hi,

after some 40 years looking through the v/finder I still get jitters (like stage fright) before a shoot.

My best advice, look through as many local & national newspaper sites - look at the photos & past photos..framing, angles and composition are all there.

A few candids are always good, 2 cameras, plenty of spare batteries & good zoom + a 90mm on the second camera. Whatever cards you use - Format before the shoot.

If you can take a laptop you can d/load to the computer & see your results & cover anything you have missed before you leave.

Camera & flash settings -> Go Auto, then Program with some alternative settings ->

A -> to Isolate, S -> Fast Action. After looking at a few results you will do just fine.good luck.

[Stelyn]

Hi guys,

 

I am an amateur photographer and usually I bring my camera to any social events that I am attending. Lately I've been getting a lot of compliments on the pictures I took and this resulted in an invitation to shoot for free a charity event next week. Even though I won't get paid, I am excited about this opportunity!

 

So I would like to pick your brains to get some meaningful tips that a newbie in this arena might benefit from.

I am planning to take my Digilux 3 with the following:

- 2 spare batteries

- 11-22mm Olympus Lens (22-44mm in 35mm equiv.)

- 25mm f1.4 Summilux lens (50mm in 35mm equiv.)

- Olympus FL50 Flash gun + a set of AA spare batteries

 

Should I bring any of my other lens? 14-150mm, 14-50mm or 50mm f/2?

Any tips of how I should pose people? Or use the flash?

 

Even though I am not a professional, I want to do the best that I can, so any guidance from more experienced photographers is really appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Carlos

 

Definately take the 14-150mm as well. You will get a lot more sincere intimate pictures if you can keep your distance, no-one likes a photographer in their face, especially at charity function where there is an expectation that one is doing the charity for purely atruistic reasons, not for a photo op. IMO

 

Edit: Also all the best photographers at any event I've been at are like wallpaper, you never notice they're there, they are part of the event. They are also very quietly confidant and professional and approachable. You ARE a good photographer, and you DO have an absolute right to be there taking pctures. They wouldn't have asked you otherwise.

[clinchico]

Hi Carlos

 

Many years ago I was just like you. I did many events and functions as a volunteer photographer and that is how I honed my skills. Very first thing you should have is a badge that lets people know you are the events official photographer. You will be surprised how people will accept you and relax seeing you are official. As someone mentioned before me, a good events photographer knows how to blend in with the crowed. Camera wise I find one body is enough with a 50 to a 90 mm lens. I personally shot mostly with my 50 Nikor at that time. I found that carrying too many bodies made people uncomfortable and made it hard to get around in a crowd. A good flash with bounce capability is also an asset. One more thing inform yourself what the function you photograph is all about just in case someone asks you. Good luck and have fun.

 

Herb

[farnz]

Carlos,

 

If it was me, I'd leave the D3 at home and take the D2 with the DL4 as an emergency backup. But that's just me.

 

Pete.

[carlosecpf]

@DL4guy: thanks for the tips! I will do my homework and see how pro photographers are shooting events! I didn't think of formatting all my cards before, but I will do it! I will practice the flash configurations you suggested today in a happy hour with my friends!

 

@Stelyn: Thanks! I will leave the 14-50mm at home and take the 14-150mm instead. You are right: it will be a great lens for some candid pictures.

 

@clinchico: I never thought about having a badge. good call! I will talk to the event organizer to get more info about the event, it purpose and how the pictures could help her.

 

@farnz: I thought about taking the D2 with the SF24D flash instead. But the problem is the D2 focus hunts a lot in low light situations... if only the SF24D could beam a focus light to help...

 

Thanks for all your inputs guys, really valuable to me! Keep them coming!

[lykaman]

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Hey, don't forget to post some of the images...Good Luck

ps. I was once doing a shoot at a English Country House, the owner posed pre shoot so I could get some idea of exposure & framing.

Once I was all set up the shoot began - anyways all my images were badly exposed!

(35mm-no PS) The reason I had set up exposure etc when the subject was wearing a light colored dress, for the shoot she changed into a black suit.."say no more"

Thats why I love digital.........L

[topoxforddoc]

Carlos,

 

What sort of charity event is it? Is it all on stage or is it a drinks and canapes party (ie wander around and take candids)? What sort of lighting will the venue be in? That sort of info is important.

 

Best wishes,

[John Thawley]

I think the Digilux 3 might be a little more "sure footed" for you in this instance.

 

Take 14 - 50 should be long enough in this situation. (It's about 110mm 35 equiv, isn't it?)

 

But, shoot with the fast 25 f/1.2 - I think that'll be your bread and butter.

 

Watch the white balance. Can you keep the flash OFF camera? Try to keep it dialed down... you don't want greasy looking "hot" photos.

 

Keep people off the walls and try to shoot away from the walls to interior of the room. That will minimize "monster" shadows from the flash.

 

Watch for junk in the background that appear to grow out of peoples heads. Wall lighting, flower arrangements etc.

 

Look for a location that is clean or far away from a background and see if you can funnel people through for a quick posed shot. If it's working, be redundant and get as many people in that location as you can.

 

If you shoot people at tables, lower the point of view... don't shoot down on them from YOUR eye level. Shoot at their eye level.

 

Don't worry about being overly creative... capture the people and the event.

 

Shoot A LOT. Shoot till you think you have way too much... then shoot some more.

 

DO NOT show people shots of them on the back of the camera. It may not be sharp on download... and you don't want them asking for it later.

 

Shoot more than I told you above. Seriously, 1000 frames wouldn't bother me in the least. You can cherry them out later and "wow" them.

 

JT

[abrewer]

I've done this several times

 

Best approach is to be discreet (as you can given the equipment you have)

 

I'd definitely shoot the best light-gathering lens I had so as to avoid using that flash

 

Circle the room once with your camera poised to get the crowd used to you being there before you even attempt to make a shot

 

Then move to a comfortable distance (and I agree a tele is terrific for getting candids) and snap away

 

As you gain confidence and the crowd gets used to you being there move in closer, possibly switch to a wider lens at this point, open up that aperture and get some great portraits and duets

 

If they ask you to do a group photo of people in a line across the frame, have the left half turn quarter-step to the left and the right half a quarter-step to the right so the two halves are sort of facing each other with their chests whilst looking with heads turned to you with the camera at the snap

 

And smile, have a sense of humor and enjoy the people around you--it will make a difference

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Allan,

 

I like your "circle the room with the camera" introducing you a bit, I kind of just circulate to figure the place out, but Im pretty sure in some scenarios making clear your job is a good idea.

 

.

[carlosecpf]

@topoxforddoc: I will find out about the event on wednesday so I can get to know the venue better. The event will happen on Feb 9th. Thanks!

 

@John Thawley: I will take the Digilux 3 for sure. As much as I love my D2, I believe the D3 will be a better fit overall. I will be using the Flash on the camera's hot shoe, though this flash gun can bounce to the ceiling and walls. Thanks for the "monster" shadow tip! I didn't think about it. Thanks for the positining tips as well. Really helpful! I am taking several spare batteries and cards with me! So i will shoot a LOT for sure! Thanks!!!

 

@abrewer: Great suggestion about circulating the room. I will do that for sure! i am a little tense already but I will try to relax and make everyone comfortable! At least I will keep that smile on my face the whole time! Thanks for your suggestions!

[LuxBob]

I do this regularly for my company.

I take my D700 with 28 - 120 and my D-Lux 2, mainly for back up, but it does mean I can make quite a quick shift.

I use an SB 600 flash but mainly say, where there is a procession of people coming up to be photographed and I can set up everything before hand. I try to get there an hour before, check out what is happening where and to take some test shots.

you have to try and exert a bit of control, If it is a regular procession, check out the background for extraneous flotsam and warn everybody you do not want to be in the regular shot to stay out of range. Subjects tend to wander even for static presentations so do not be afraid to tell them to move back, they appreciate it. If you can and in my experience it is rare, take two shots as there is always some people who blink at the wrong moment.

I recently did a cooking competition in a large professional kitchen. At first I got every team to pose several times, just so that i could chat and they could realize I wasn't threatening them - I also needed the shots.

Have spares for everything, cards, batteries and even a flash.

As I said check it all out before hand and make a lot of test shots. Even so things go wrong. On another one recently, for the every first shot, I pressed the shutter and nothing happened. I could have panicked but realized that this was something straightforward. I joked ask then to freeze it and checked everything - focus - I switched off auto which hadn't been able to lock and away we went.

It can also be a bit tiring, think of carrying some water and a small bar of something snacky.

I was also alongside a TV cameraman recently who seemed to think it his right to barge me out of the way and home in on the shot. I didn't give and soon noticed him copying some of my angles. Phot-jorno freinds tell me that TV cameramen think and act like this but i am sure they have a counter view-

[Michiel Fokkema]

I'd be very uncomfortable without any backup camera or lens and I always need the lens I've left home.

 

Bounce you flash while using high iso and a fast lens. Try to get some background light in your picture. It will look much more natural. Otherwise you'll have a black background.

For posing look for a clean background no clutter, cables etc. Use the flash of camera or bounce from the wall behind you if possible.

You already got compliments for your pictures. So, you know what to do. Don't change your wow to much.

 

Cheers,

 

Michiel Fokkema

[Symeon]

A wide angle and a short telephoto should be enough. But I normally take 2 cameras with two fast prime focus lenses, I hate changing lenses when it comes to intimate photography. Fully charged li-on batteries should cover you for at least 200-300 photos each. Think about having to process over 500 pictures!

have fun.