Firehouse Posing: Well yesterday I volunteered to take photos for a small town volunteer fire department. I am about a year into taking photography seriously and I am not too worried...

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Well yesterday I volunteered to take photos for a small town volunteer fire department. I am about a year into taking photography seriously and I am not too worried about getting the right exposures. I have found the toughest part is finding the right background and posing scenarios. Would love to have some suggestions from the seasoned folks on the forum. Ill be taking my D7000 probably using the 18-200 if plenty of light. I do have strobes with a softbox and umbrella I could take along. They want to end up with a large group photo and individual shots.

snowbear

The group shots I have seen are usually in front of the apparatus - engine, truck, ambulance, etc. I guess it depends on the size of the group. Individual shots for those in this type of service (military, fire/ems, law enforcement) are traditionally done with an American flag (on pole) in the background.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I've been thinking about this...
You just have to work with what's there.
A firetruck, could be your backdrop.
Is everyone in uniform?
Sounds like there could be a lot of members....
Do they want props?
Axes, boots with firefighting pants on top. Fire helmets on top...
I like the flag idea!!!
Probably, not wear helmet.
All standing?
Standing, kneeling....
Do they have a past picture to look at?
I'm just throwing ideas out there...

I hope you post some finish images for us to check out and to enjoy!!!!
Pat

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

contact photoguy by pm. he is the offical photographer for his towns fire department. he could give you good advice.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

I would be happy to go over everything with you that I can think of from my experience. Shoot me a pm and we can go from there. Thanks

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Thanks everyone! Good ideas and I will post the shots. Probably in a couple of weeks we will get together. This is a great forum and how lucky can I get that a fire department photographer is part of it

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Here is 2 versions of the last group photo that I took at the dept. It was taken at the dept open house in 2010. All the dept members that came in on their day off last year decided to leave before I could take the photo last year since the other duty personnel were all out on calls.

Original Photo. Oct. 24, 2010. All the members that were working on duty that day plus the extra personnel that came in to assist. 18 of the dept's 25 were here on this day.

This version was requested by the Chief. The last time a group photo was taken before this was Sept. 2002. 2 of the members listed are no longer with the dept due to new jobs.

Blake Loc: Alfred NY

photo guy wrote:

Here is 2 versions of the last group photo that I took at the dept. It was taken at the dept open house in 2010. All the dept members that came in on their day off last year decided to leave before I could take the photo last year since the other duty personnel were all out on calls.

A beautiful pair of pictures photoguy. I'm trying to talk my guy into doing something simular.

If you are taking individual images of individual members of the department, another suggestion would be to have the firefighter sit if front of the pump panel with the American flag flanking the frame. The firefighter could be in dress uniform or bunkers ( structural ff gear) with Helment off. Same thing for EMTs but in front of the ambulance with the box of the rig as the background.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Thank you Blake. I am trying to talk the personnel into letting me take individual portraits at the station by the trucks and so far I have only go one half way nice one that is getting redone this spring. Still trying to get more. So far I have go a few of the personnel interested for this spring. We'll see what happens.

Blake Loc: Alfred NY

photo guy wrote:

Thank you Blake. I am trying to talk the personnel into letting me take individual portraits at the station by the trucks and so far I have only go one half way nice one that is getting redone this spring. Still trying to get more. So far I have go a few of the personnel interested for this spring. We'll see what happens.

Ah, thats the nice thing about digitial. If it were film just think how much that would have cost?

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Blake wrote:

photo guy wrote:

Thank you Blake. I am trying to talk the personnel into letting me take individual portraits at the station by the trucks and so far I have only go one half way nice one that is getting redone this spring. Still trying to get more. So far I have go a few of the personnel interested for this spring. We'll see what happens.

Ah, thats the nice thing about digitial. If it were film just think how much that would have cost?

Yeah, that gets brought up all the time. The chief keeps telling me since I shoot digital just to keep shooting since the cost is extremely low as compared to the days of film.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Just recieved word that a Firefighter the next county over to my East was killed today fighting a fire at a business. I don't know anyone on the dept that is immediately impacted but none the less it hits home.

LU10IT Loc: Daytona Beach, Florida

Here are a few pictures I took of my crew(well I gave the camera to someone in auto mode so don't be too criticle of the shot quality)

Blake Loc: Alfred NY

LU10IT wrote:

Here are a few pictures I took of my crew(well I gave the camera to someone in auto mode so don't be too criticle of the shot quality)

All I can say is the Irish Blessing and the Firefighters prayor

pmckay7509 Loc: colorado

any old helmets around? some of the real old ones are really cool...