Indoor event!
Mar 15, 2015 21:53:45 #
This is not about a wedding, but could be. I am going to shoot a black tie event in a few weeks and it will be indoors and the guests will be sitting at big top tables. Most likely 6 to 8 a table.
I will be taking my 16mm fisheye, 28-70 f2.8 and most likely my 70-200 f2.8. I have a 50 f1.2 that I will have in my bag as well. Shooting with a Nikon D3, any tips one can give me with regards to getting all the group at each table sharp, would be most helpful. Not sure yet how the lighting will be. This is a new clubhouse that will hold this event. I'm not a pro and this is a freebie.
Thanks in advance for your help with this.
I will be taking my 16mm fisheye, 28-70 f2.8 and most likely my 70-200 f2.8. I have a 50 f1.2 that I will have in my bag as well. Shooting with a Nikon D3, any tips one can give me with regards to getting all the group at each table sharp, would be most helpful. Not sure yet how the lighting will be. This is a new clubhouse that will hold this event. I'm not a pro and this is a freebie.
Thanks in advance for your help with this.
Mar 16, 2015 01:31:10 #
juicesqueezer wrote:
This is not about a wedding, but could be. I am g... (show quote)
Courtesy of http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
Standing back 3-4 ft and focusing per the attached should get everybody in focus. Adjust lighting and shurrershutter speed with ISO.
Mar 16, 2015 06:28:09 #
Mar 16, 2015 09:07:08 #
One HUGE tip that I like to give all our "second shooters" and apprentices before their first reception is to shoot these as "selfies" In other words, don't just try to walk around the table and take photos of everyone that fits in your viewfinder. All you will get are boring photos of people shoving food in their mouths, turning their heads, or with their eyes half closed. what you want to do to get stellar "reception" or "event" photos is to actually approach the table, make eye contact with people in a section of the table, and ask them to move together and "get in close" they will naturally lean in towards each other and smile. (depending on the group, they may even make some goofy poses...don't count on it with a black tie affair, but you could always get a good one, then say, "do something goofy" if they seem to be the "party table" )
Now, you will have several shots of different groups at each table, making eye contact and interacting with the viewer of the photos.
If you get to the point where you are selling images, those will be the ones you sell. Nobody wants, or pays for random shots of people eating.
Your camera and lenses are perfectly capable of handling the lighting situation. If you are at all worried, contact the venue and ask them if you can go see it in advance, and ask them to have the lights set up the way they will be during the event.
Post some pictures when you get done, it will be fun to see.
bk
Now, you will have several shots of different groups at each table, making eye contact and interacting with the viewer of the photos.
If you get to the point where you are selling images, those will be the ones you sell. Nobody wants, or pays for random shots of people eating.
Your camera and lenses are perfectly capable of handling the lighting situation. If you are at all worried, contact the venue and ask them if you can go see it in advance, and ask them to have the lights set up the way they will be during the event.
Post some pictures when you get done, it will be fun to see.
bk
Mar 16, 2015 11:20:55 #
Mogul brings up the same point I was ........
We typically have a habit of snapping to shallow. You mention 50mm f/1.2 ...... you won't shoot at 1.2 at a function like that. your 28-70 will be your lens of choice in this setting.
You typical 'sweet' spot on your lens will typically be F/8 - F/13 which is the perfect range for round table setups with 6-8 people. As your cutting down on light with the Fstop I would use a flash with a diffuser of some kind. Your shutter speed will be dictated by the ambient light available and as this is a black tie dinner situation there should be enough light you give you ample light and keep a fast enough shutter speed in the 1/60 - 1/125 range. Set your flash in manual and take a few test shots, start at 1/4 power.
A good starting point will be:
1/80 - 1/100
F/9 - F/11
ISO 400
Flash at 1/4
10 feet away from the center of the table.
Once you nail it with a few practice shots just remember to keep your distance close to the same at every table. 10 feet from the center of the table usually works well and remember to have people scoot around to the far side of the circle, set your focus spot at the dish location of the person in the center, this will give a good DOF for the people at the farthest point and at the sides. When in question on the DOF always add one F/stop beyond what you think you need ;)
Oh, one last thing, people generally don't like a camera in their face while they are actually eating. Snap just before eats and after the table has eaten ;)
Sorry if I'm talking to you as if your an amateur, if you already know some of these answers I'm sure some won't so it's all good.
We typically have a habit of snapping to shallow. You mention 50mm f/1.2 ...... you won't shoot at 1.2 at a function like that. your 28-70 will be your lens of choice in this setting.
You typical 'sweet' spot on your lens will typically be F/8 - F/13 which is the perfect range for round table setups with 6-8 people. As your cutting down on light with the Fstop I would use a flash with a diffuser of some kind. Your shutter speed will be dictated by the ambient light available and as this is a black tie dinner situation there should be enough light you give you ample light and keep a fast enough shutter speed in the 1/60 - 1/125 range. Set your flash in manual and take a few test shots, start at 1/4 power.
A good starting point will be:
1/80 - 1/100
F/9 - F/11
ISO 400
Flash at 1/4
10 feet away from the center of the table.
Once you nail it with a few practice shots just remember to keep your distance close to the same at every table. 10 feet from the center of the table usually works well and remember to have people scoot around to the far side of the circle, set your focus spot at the dish location of the person in the center, this will give a good DOF for the people at the farthest point and at the sides. When in question on the DOF always add one F/stop beyond what you think you need ;)
Oh, one last thing, people generally don't like a camera in their face while they are actually eating. Snap just before eats and after the table has eaten ;)
Sorry if I'm talking to you as if your an amateur, if you already know some of these answers I'm sure some won't so it's all good.
Mar 16, 2015 17:27:25 #
Thank you everyone! All valid points and great advice. I normally shoot in manual mode and take some test shots before hand.
Appreciate all the feedback and will post when done. Coming up in 3 to 4 weeks.
Appreciate all the feedback and will post when done. Coming up in 3 to 4 weeks.
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