Confirmation Pictures
Jun 25, 2020 22:22:21 #
I don't know EXACTLY what the folks- the parents, the kids, the clergy are expecting. Is going to be formal portraits and groups, candid coverage of the ceremonies, is the location indoors (in the church), or outdoors on the grounds?
I have covered many dozens of these events and there are various approaches.
One method to ensure good consistent results is to set up at a stationary set location, design a standardized easy to control lighting system- soft direction umbrella light sounds good. After the ceremony is completed, each family reports to your location. You need to devise a routine- the groups first (family, clergy with each of the children), and then break down the groups and end each session with a series of poses of the confirmee.
If you can access the location prior to the day of the event to determine the location within the church, set your lighting and exposure setting, and have everything preset. You can light the subjects with electronic flash and use a slow enough shutter speed to pick up some ambient light in the background If you can find
a spot that shows some to the church atmosphere, such as a stained glass window or panel that is not overly cluttered and suggest an appropriate religious background.
A zoom lens is handy but avoids zooming in and out randomly. Select the best focal length for each kind of portrait- 75- 105mmm for head and shoulder or 3/4 length portraits at 4 to 8 feet from the subject. 50mm for full-length portrait and small groups for 8 to 12 feet from the subject(s). 50mm for larger groups from 12 to 15 feet from groups. This method will enable you to achieve a good perspective and preclude distortion or keystone foreshortening on full-lengths and groups. On close up, portraits the lens should be at the subject's eye level or slightly higher, 3/4 length at the chest level, and full length and full-length groups at the subject's waist level.
Aperature setting for the individual portraits can be set for less depth of field. Groups require more DOP, especially if they are multiple rows- f/8 or f/11 is safe.
If you are inexperienced or abut "rusty' at portraiture, simplifying and standardizing the system is best so that you can concentrate on posing and good expressions. At events, oftentimes there are constrained time frames so you don't want to bog yourself down with too many complex changes of settings or having to fumbles with your gear.
Tripod usage is recommended although I have done this handheld for fast positioning of the camera as per the aforementioned suggestions.
I hope this helps. This is a routine I used to quickly train crews to shoot high volume graduations, first communion, conformation, and similar mass-production portraits. It's based on more sophisticated portrait techniques- a kinda bare-bones but effective method.
This likes those movies where the guy in the control tower is "talking-down" a passenger who is at the control of an aircraft after the piolet goes unconscious. Thing is- you have done this before and you know your photography. As you go through the preparation and begin the shoot the event your prior people-photography skills will reemerge. It's nice of you to step in and provide the kids and their families with some great visual memories and documentation of an important milestone. If due to the pandemic, the event moves out-of-doors or if you need to cover the actual ceremonies, let me know and I'll make a few for alternative suggestions for you.
Good luck! Mask-up- be safe and healthy!
I have covered many dozens of these events and there are various approaches.
One method to ensure good consistent results is to set up at a stationary set location, design a standardized easy to control lighting system- soft direction umbrella light sounds good. After the ceremony is completed, each family reports to your location. You need to devise a routine- the groups first (family, clergy with each of the children), and then break down the groups and end each session with a series of poses of the confirmee.
If you can access the location prior to the day of the event to determine the location within the church, set your lighting and exposure setting, and have everything preset. You can light the subjects with electronic flash and use a slow enough shutter speed to pick up some ambient light in the background If you can find
a spot that shows some to the church atmosphere, such as a stained glass window or panel that is not overly cluttered and suggest an appropriate religious background.
A zoom lens is handy but avoids zooming in and out randomly. Select the best focal length for each kind of portrait- 75- 105mmm for head and shoulder or 3/4 length portraits at 4 to 8 feet from the subject. 50mm for full-length portrait and small groups for 8 to 12 feet from the subject(s). 50mm for larger groups from 12 to 15 feet from groups. This method will enable you to achieve a good perspective and preclude distortion or keystone foreshortening on full-lengths and groups. On close up, portraits the lens should be at the subject's eye level or slightly higher, 3/4 length at the chest level, and full length and full-length groups at the subject's waist level.
Aperature setting for the individual portraits can be set for less depth of field. Groups require more DOP, especially if they are multiple rows- f/8 or f/11 is safe.
If you are inexperienced or abut "rusty' at portraiture, simplifying and standardizing the system is best so that you can concentrate on posing and good expressions. At events, oftentimes there are constrained time frames so you don't want to bog yourself down with too many complex changes of settings or having to fumbles with your gear.
Tripod usage is recommended although I have done this handheld for fast positioning of the camera as per the aforementioned suggestions.
I hope this helps. This is a routine I used to quickly train crews to shoot high volume graduations, first communion, conformation, and similar mass-production portraits. It's based on more sophisticated portrait techniques- a kinda bare-bones but effective method.
This likes those movies where the guy in the control tower is "talking-down" a passenger who is at the control of an aircraft after the piolet goes unconscious. Thing is- you have done this before and you know your photography. As you go through the preparation and begin the shoot the event your prior people-photography skills will reemerge. It's nice of you to step in and provide the kids and their families with some great visual memories and documentation of an important milestone. If due to the pandemic, the event moves out-of-doors or if you need to cover the actual ceremonies, let me know and I'll make a few for alternative suggestions for you.
Good luck! Mask-up- be safe and healthy!
Jun 25, 2020 23:36:50 #
[quote=charlienow]How large will the group shots be?
Chuck
It will be 5 confirmands and 2 pastors plus individual shots, and shots with parents.
Chuck
It will be 5 confirmands and 2 pastors plus individual shots, and shots with parents.
Jun 26, 2020 00:33:31 #
I have done too many indoor events like that and the settings depend on the light in the church at that time.
First of all, forget big lights with umbrellas, softboxes, etc. They are cumbersome and the people will move, get off center, etc and will give you more problems than solutions.
You need a camera body, D810, a lens, 24-70mm f/2.8 and a flash with a white diffuser, I use Nikon SB910 and the system never failed me.
If you have a second body, use it with the 70200mm lens and another flash. You will not have enough time to change lenses in occasions like these.
Regarding the settings, you have to experiment maybe an hour before the event to get the right settings.
Shoot on manual mode, NOT Aperture priority, because the light is uniform inside the church.
Aperture f/5.6 for individual shots or when they are in the same focusing plane. F/8 or f/11 for group shots with more depth.
Shutter speed between 1/100sec to 1/200sec depending on the focal length of the lens and subject movements.
The ISO depends how bright or how dark you want the background. This is why you practice an hour before the event. Remember, the luminance of the church background depends on the shutter speed and ISO.
The aperture will control the luminance of the subject given the flash output. Take some photos of the people at different distances from the camera and when you find the distance that the exposure is right, then keep shooting at this distance for the duration without changes in the flash or other settings. Zoom in more for individual shots and zoom out for group shots without changing the distance between camera and subject. This is why a zoom lens comes handy here.
If the background is dark, increase ISO and/or decrease shutter speed. The opposite if it is too bright.
If the subject is too bright, go from f/5.6 to f/8 or f/11 or reduce the flash output or move back a little.
It takes some practice but it is easy when you understand what changes can do when you change the settings.
Good luck!
First of all, forget big lights with umbrellas, softboxes, etc. They are cumbersome and the people will move, get off center, etc and will give you more problems than solutions.
You need a camera body, D810, a lens, 24-70mm f/2.8 and a flash with a white diffuser, I use Nikon SB910 and the system never failed me.
If you have a second body, use it with the 70200mm lens and another flash. You will not have enough time to change lenses in occasions like these.
Regarding the settings, you have to experiment maybe an hour before the event to get the right settings.
Shoot on manual mode, NOT Aperture priority, because the light is uniform inside the church.
Aperture f/5.6 for individual shots or when they are in the same focusing plane. F/8 or f/11 for group shots with more depth.
Shutter speed between 1/100sec to 1/200sec depending on the focal length of the lens and subject movements.
The ISO depends how bright or how dark you want the background. This is why you practice an hour before the event. Remember, the luminance of the church background depends on the shutter speed and ISO.
The aperture will control the luminance of the subject given the flash output. Take some photos of the people at different distances from the camera and when you find the distance that the exposure is right, then keep shooting at this distance for the duration without changes in the flash or other settings. Zoom in more for individual shots and zoom out for group shots without changing the distance between camera and subject. This is why a zoom lens comes handy here.
If the background is dark, increase ISO and/or decrease shutter speed. The opposite if it is too bright.
If the subject is too bright, go from f/5.6 to f/8 or f/11 or reduce the flash output or move back a little.
It takes some practice but it is easy when you understand what changes can do when you change the settings.
Good luck!
Jun 26, 2020 02:31:27 #
ecurb
Loc: Metro Chicago Area
Jayne wrote:
Our church is having confirmation this Sunday and ... (show quote)
Easy peasy, I haven't done confirmation pictures since my film days when I had a minister drinking buddy. Group shot in front of the alter, main exposure from your softbox, 1/30 or 1/60 to catch ambient background.
Jun 27, 2020 13:13:05 #
It will be 5 confirmands and 2 pastors plus individual shots, and shots with parents.
Jun 29, 2020 10:26:15 #
Thank You all so very much! Sunday went fine! I survived the anxiety, the pictures were taken without a glitch, and the suggested settings worked great! Would I do some things differently if ever a next time, sure...always learning from my mistakes and shortcomings, but I got the pictures! I am so thankful and proud of my Ugly Hedgehog connections! You have all been so open and sharing and I can’t possibly adequately express my humble gratitude! I also came across this link and am keeping it for future reference.... http://blog.dojoklo.com/2014/06/30/nikon-d800800e-nikon-d810-setup-guide-with-recommended-settings/ Thank You all again for being there for me!!!
Jun 29, 2020 12:04:44 #
Jayne wrote:
Thank You all so very much! Sunday went fine! I su... (show quote)
Glad for you that things went well, and your work was well-received.
I had a similar experience when asked by my stepdaughter to take graduation pictures of my grandson. It worked out well; and, as you said, it was a great learning experience.
Jun 29, 2020 12:53:23 #
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