BIGRO Loc: NYC

Did my first shoot of a retirement party. Learned quite a lot from the experience. Learned people with cell phones care less that you are getting paid. Learned that friends with cameras think they are more important than you and have a knack for getting in or blocking your shot as they point and shoot. Learned that my flash can overheat and cost me critical shots while I wait for it to recharge. Learned that my 24-702.8L is better than my 16-35L4. Which I used for the IS. Learned that flash photography isn't easy and trying to get the right exposure while compensating for flash while on manual takes skills.
Here is the question. Some of what I deem are critical shots are underexposed as my flash said I need a breather. Is it better to raise the exposure in Lightroom and have some noise or just scrap the shot? Also, is it safe to assume if you look at the photo 1:1 and see noise that it will also be present in a basic 5 by 7 for a photo album? Your help is always appreciated. Will post some pictures for critique soon. I guess i have TOO MANY pictures and now have to clear my c drive as everything didn't download. I did however take some screenshots from the laptop screen with my cell and will place them in the right section

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

No one can judge that better than you can. Try it and see for yourself.

BebuLamar

Do I have to respect you because you're getting paid??? I respect you less because you do it for the money.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I use Photoshop but I think the advice still applies. I get a big boost in noise when increasing the exposure in Photoshop. I do better with highlights and shadows which lets me tweak the midtone, highlights and shadows.

BIGRO Loc: NYC

That might be just how some people may feel BebuL

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Jacking up your ISO should help. I aim my flash head up and behind me and wrap the flash head with about 6 inches of black paper to prevent the flash from blinding those around me. I also use TTL on the flash and manual camera settings. I also go to the venue ahead of time to get my flash exposures down. I also use colored gells to balance my flash to the color temp of the venue. My camera settings for white balance is also set manually to match the light a source of the venue. When someone pays me, I do NOTHING on the fly. If you do not preplan you are no different than those using point and shots and cell phones. My bet is there exposures were better than yours. How does that make you feel?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

When it comes to taking pictures, it's every man for himself. Butting in and shoving are part of the routine. Manners and photography seem to be mutually exclusive.

Leitz Loc: Solms

You did pretty good. Most photographers need to know a bit before they get paid for their work.

Ron Dial Loc: Cuenca, Ecuador

Camera RAW images can be "developed" with your manufacturer's software at + or - 2 f stops, just like negative film. That is why wedding photographers like shooting with color negative film. Better chance of getting the shot. But if you take the digital pictures as JPEG's, then you are cooked and if they are under exposed, you have no options. This is the chief reason to ALWAYS shoot in RAW format. You can also cool down the strobe by setting it to shoot under by 1 fstop, this will get you a little more lattitude. You might consider purchasing a second strobe and switching back and forth if you are going to do that kind of event a lot.

BAL

No need for anyone to be rude or snarky in their replies.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

All constructive criticism on my post. If your going to bunch us all together as negative you may be headed down the wrong road.

BAL

Constructive is great.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

You have fewer options with JPEG, just as is true of slide film. I have successfully modified color levels with Kodachrome and I have have successfully modified color levels with JPEG, just as adjusting levels is one of the steps in processing images taken at the Olympics.

Bill_de Loc: US

I don't think most people are rude. I do believe that many of us can become oblivious to our surroundings whether we are trying to take a picture, texting, or ogling members of the opposite sex. How we approach people who might be interfering with our shot is important.

Years back I did a lot of political events that were set up. I was hired for these events and in addition to locals, I photographed (dare I say shot) congressmen, senators, a couple of governors and even one president in the Whitehouse. Aside from the Whitehouse where only two of us had cameras, I was always dealing with crowds.

I found what worked best, rather than asking people to move out of the way, was suggesting that if they moved back a little we would all get better shots. When the subject was agreeable I would take people's cameras and take photos of them with their cameras. Once people realized they weren't alone things would normally go pretty smoothly. It can be easier to engage the crowd than try fighting the situation and getting annoyed.

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canon Lee

Free is free and you get what you get!!!... I did a paid engagement shoot.... Their daughters were part of the shoot... 1 yr after the shoot, their home burned down and one of their daughters died in the blaze... I was asked to reprint all of the photos as their album was destroyed in the fire.... I mailed out over 100 shots to the family "AT NO CHARGE"! Those photos were priceless.... Some times we PROs don't get paid.... Other weddings I have done, "COST" me $ for a second shooter, printing, travel, having a liability insurance policy, travel, 12 hour shooting for an entire day, hours of editing, as well as pre wedding consultation... I did a ,4 hour, head and shoulders shoot, ( set up multiple lights, backdrops, wait time for costume change), for a young girls portfolio, she was chosen to be part of a TV show.... So I ask, how VALUABLE do you think my photography is to my clients? I would "RESPECT", you LESS if you did not get paid for the job you do..... Some of us charge for our time and talent....