Are you near a professional camera shop? There are pieces of equipment that might come in handy. For one, a frame to mount that camera on so you aren't hand holding the camera. Be sure to get a good microphone to attach to your camera. You can also attach a monitor to the frame so you're not having to look through the viewfinder or trying to get a good view from a small LCD display on the back of the camera. You should be able to get good advice on how to put this equipment together.....and rent it. If there's not a camera shop, check for video rentals. Also, you might need a light to attach to the frame as well. The rental place should help you out.

Are you near a professional camera shop? There are pieces of equipment that might come in handy. For one, a frame to mount that camera on so you aren't hand holding the camera. Be sure to get a good microphone to attach to your camera. You can also attach a monitor to the frame so you're not having to look through the viewfinder or trying to get a good view from a small LCD display on the back of the camera. You should be able to get good advice on how to put this equipment together.....and rent it. If there's not a camera shop, check for video rentals. Also, you might need a light to attach to the frame as well. The rental place should help you out.

If there is time before the event, make a trial run at the "Club" and test out your equipment with the existing in house lighting.

Talk to the "Club" management in advance to introduce yourself.

Is this a "Private" event, or will there be general admittance "Public" attendees there as well? Will you need signed releases from everyone at the club?

Personally in this situation, I would hire a professional videographer for the "Sweet Sixteen" party, and enjoy myself instead of stressing out over the quality of the video that you're shooting, and if you gotten a shot of everyone who's important to capture for this special event.

Based on my limited experience I would still suggest giving it a test run. Years past I had top rated video equipment but that was a long time ago. I recently needed to video a church function and used my Nikon 7100 since I did not have a regular video camera. I found it went very well. I did purchase an external mike and was shocked to find the camera mike picked up almost as good as the external but most of the event was increased volume due to the PA system. Again, I was shocked and ready to go purchase video equipment and found that it was much easier than expected. If you give it a quick test you may be amazed at what you can do!

Just when I was starting to feel a bit more comfortable and confident taking pictures (Still have a ways to go), the women in my family (Wife, daughter, and granddaughter) want me to take videos of her upcoming Sweet 16! Since I didn't want to ruin this once in a life time event by taking bad pictures, I suggested they hire a professional to take pictures which they did. However he will only be taking pictures, and my wife and daughter want me to video the event! Needless to say I'm in a total panic hoping that I'm not biting off more than I should. How different/more difficult will taking a video in a Disco type event, compared to taking pictures?

I have a Canon 7D MK II, a EF 50mm 1:1.4 AF/MF, EF 24-105L 1:4 IS USM, EF 70-200 1:2.8L II IS USM. I also have an Canon EF 1.4 III extender, and a 580 EX II speed lite. Since the venue is indoors (Night club setting) with flashing colored lights, the greatest distance I'll be from the entrance, and other party activity will be about 75' or less, I think the one of above lens will suffice. I also have a sturdy tri-pod.

Now all I need are some suggestions that will give me a chance to video some decent footage.
Your help is greatly appreciated.

Easier in some ways, and harder in others. Some serious practice is in order before the event. One of the most important considerations in video is being able to hold the camera steady. Best to stay on a fairly wide lens setting to capture the big picture. If you want to get closer, move in; do not zoom in. That's a prescription for "seasick-cam." Play your practice material back on a video monitor to check quality and consistency. You cannot judge it adequately on any camera's tiny view screen. This process will give you confidence and a much better outcome. Best of luck! >Alan





Thanks Cookie

Just when I was starting to feel a bit more comfortable and confident taking pictures (Still have a ways to go), the women in my family (Wife, daughter, and granddaughter) want me to take videos of her upcoming Sweet 16! Since I didn't want to ruin this once in a life time event by taking bad pictures, I suggested they hire a professional to take pictures which they did. However he will only be taking pictures, and my wife and daughter want me to video the event! Needless to say I'm in a total panic hoping that I'm not biting off more than I should. How different/more difficult will taking a video in a Disco type event, compared to taking pictures?

I have a Canon 7D MK II, a EF 50mm 1:1.4 AF/MF, EF 24-105L 1:4 IS USM, EF 70-200 1:2.8L II IS USM. I also have an Canon EF 1.4 III extender, and a 580 EX II speed lite. Since the venue is indoors (Night club setting) with flashing colored lights, the greatest distance I'll be from the entrance, and other party activity will be about 75' or less, I think the one of above lens will suffice. I also have a sturdy tri-pod.

Now all I need are some suggestions that will give me a chance to video some decent footage.
Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks Cookie

Just when I was starting to feel a bit more comfortable and confident taking pictures (Still have a ways to go), the women in my family (Wife, daughter, and granddaughter) want me to take videos of her upcoming Sweet 16! Since I didn't want to ruin this once in a life time event by taking bad pictures, I suggested they hire a professional to take pictures which they did. However he will only be taking pictures, and my wife and daughter want me to video the event! Needless to say I'm in a total panic hoping that I'm not biting off more than I should. How different/more difficult will taking a video in a Disco type event, compared to taking pictures?

I have a Canon 7D MK II, a EF 50mm 1:1.4 AF/MF, EF 24-105L 1:4 IS USM, EF 70-200 1:2.8L II IS USM. I also have an Canon EF 1.4 III extender, and a 580 EX II speed lite. Since the venue is indoors (Night club setting) with flashing colored lights, the greatest distance I'll be from the entrance, and other party activity will be about 75' or less, I think the one of above lens will suffice. I also have a sturdy tri-pod.

Now all I need are some suggestions that will give me a chance to video some decent footage.
Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks Cookie

You are going to need some light to do video. Invest in a LED portable video light and get some help for the event. You'll need someone to hold the light and follow you around. Don't take really long takes. 30 seconds to a minute and then find another take. I don't know if you've ever used a DSLR for video or not, but there are some settings you'll want to adhere to. First off, you want to set up for a shutter speed of about double your video frame rate. So if you are shooting 24fps HD video (for 30fps use 1/60th of a sec shutter) you want to set your shutter for 1/50th of a second, start with ISO 100, and then adjust your aperture to get the proper exposure with the light you use. If the light is too bright, have your helper back off a few feet or stop down the aperture. If the light isn't bright enough, raise your ISO or open up the aperture. One of your problems is going to be keeping your camera steady if you don't have a 3 way gimbal. You can get fairly steady video without one, but it's going to take practice. Turn the lights off in your living room and practice shooting video on a test subject. There is a lot more to learn about video using a DSLR, but there isn't enough time for me to type all of it. I've taken some 2 hour classes and even those were pretty basic classes and I could learn more with some hands on training sessions.

You are going to need some light to do video. Invest in a LED portable video light and get some help for the event. You'll need someone to hold the light and follow you around. Don't take really long takes. 30 seconds to a minute and then find another take. I don't know if you've ever used a DSLR for video or not, but there are some settings you'll want to adhere to. First off, you want to set up for a shutter speed of about double your video frame rate. So if you are shooting 24fps HD video (for 30fps use 1/60th of a sec shutter) you want to set your shutter for 1/50th of a second, start with ISO 100, and then adjust your aperture to get the proper exposure with the light you use. If the light is too bright, have your helper back off a few feet or stop down the aperture. If the light isn't bright enough, raise your ISO or open up the aperture. One of your problems is going to be keeping your camera steady if you don't have a 3 way gimbal. You can get fairly steady video without one, but it's going to take practice. Turn the lights off in your living room and practice shooting video on a test subject. There is a lot more to learn about video using a DSLR, but there isn't enough time for me to type all of it. I've taken some 2 hour classes and even those were pretty basic classes and I could learn more with some hands on training sessions.

Just when I was starting to feel a bit more comfortable and confident taking pictures (Still have a ways to go), the women in my family (Wife, daughter, and granddaughter) want me to take videos of her upcoming Sweet 16! Since I didn't want to ruin this once in a life time event by taking bad pictures, I suggested they hire a professional to take pictures which they did. However he will only be taking pictures, and my wife and daughter want me to video the event! Needless to say I'm in a total panic hoping that I'm not biting off more than I should. How different/more difficult will taking a video in a Disco type event, compared to taking pictures?

I have a Canon 7D MK II, a EF 50mm 1:1.4 AF/MF, EF 24-105L 1:4 IS USM, EF 70-200 1:2.8L II IS USM. I also have an Canon EF 1.4 III extender, and a 580 EX II speed lite. Since the venue is indoors (Night club setting) with flashing colored lights, the greatest distance I'll be from the entrance, and other party activity will be about 75' or less, I think the one of above lens will suffice. I also have a sturdy tri-pod.

Now all I need are some suggestions that will give me a chance to video some decent footage.
Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks Cookie