How do you photograph stand-up comedy?

[LocalHero1953]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

This was my first time with a stand-up comedian (amateur, student) - she wanted photos to use for publicity for an an upcoming 1 hour show,; so they were taken in rehearsal, which is not ideal for a comedy club atmosphere!

I soon realised that once you had captured a good range of expressions, there wasn't much else to show. If I'm shooting drama, then I can at least think about the story and how to capture dialogue between two people, or their other interactions.

Has anyone else tried this, and what did they learn about the best approach?

SL2-S + Sigma 85 f/1.4 DG DN.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[stuny]

A terrific shot, but as you indicate, there's notch else one can do with standup.

[earleygallery]

Are you maybe over thinking this? Isn’t it really ‘just’ a portrait shoot? 
 

I guess it depends on what the client wants though, a headshot, shot during a performance, something quirky (pulling a face or doing something odd) etc. 

 

[hoolyproductions]

Wonderful shot! I can't speak to stand up but this is somewhat my experience with music photography - you can hope to get some good shots of musicians in ecstatic moments, but it's difficult to make any kind of narrative arc. The best complement I have received; quite a few times (from people who were at the gig): "that looked amazing, I wish I had been there" 😄

[LocalHero1953]

3 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

Are you maybe over thinking this? Isn’t it really ‘just’ a portrait shoot? 
 

I guess it depends on what the client wants though, a headshot, shot during a performance, something quirky (pulling a face or doing something odd) etc. 

 

It wasn't intended to be 'just' a portrait shot, though that is how it has turned out. She wanted a series of shots that she can drip feed to social media in the run up to her show. Looking through them, they are mostly just variations on her expression, with hand gestures.

But maybe that's all that is possible. 

[setuporg]

Great showcase of the Sigma lens!  It's bulky but worth it at 1.4.  Otherwise the tiny 90/2 would do.

[CP93]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Usually it’s my photos that are the joke.

[LocalHero1953]

56 minutes ago, setuporg said:

Great showcase of the Sigma lens!  It's bulky but worth it at 1.4.  Otherwise the tiny 90/2 would do.

For this sort of work weight and bulk are not a problem for me (that same evening I was photographing a concert with the 90-280). In this case I wanted the wide aperture to lose the grubby background in the venue. 

Edited October 10, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[Olaf_ZG]

Problem is this image doesn’t show stand-up comedy. It could be taken from a theatre or modern dance part. So, I would at least include some images with audience laughing. You might need to shoot her from the back for this, but it will give the viewer a sense what is going on.

[LocalHero1953]

38 minutes ago, Olaf_ZG said:

Problem is this image doesn’t show stand-up comedy. It could be taken from a theatre or modern dance part. So, I would at least include some images with audience laughing. You might need to shoot her from the back for this, but it will give the viewer a sense what is going on.

Yes, I agree - it would have been better to do this in a live gig. This time the only people present were her director and the tech operator. That probably constrained her more than me!

[fotografr]

I did a considerable amount of theater and performance photography prior to retiring, but never anything with a stand up comedian. Your shot is excellent in technical terms but doesn't really convey humor. I think the approach I'd have taken would have been to have her interact more directly with the camera (me) and run through a couple of routines. I'd like to see something with her laughing or smiling straight on.

[earleygallery]

19 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

It wasn't intended to be 'just' a portrait shot, though that is how it has turned out. She wanted a series of shots that she can drip feed to social media in the run up to her show. Looking through them, they are mostly just variations on her expression, with hand gestures.

But maybe that's all that is possible. 

It's difficult to imagine what else it could be. As mentioned, photos of her during a gig capturing some happy faces hopefully, or else a series of fun shots (doing certain actions or wearing different clothes/hats etc). Something in the shot to perhaps convey her type of comedy or subject matter.

Agree, it is a difficult one!