Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

And shoot raw or raw + JPEG.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Wouldn't be allowed.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

I don't know. Is there a discount if it is purchased after?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I see that Shohomish offers 2 different jump altitudes indicating that they operate 2 different types of aircraft for their tandem operation. Most likely a Cessna 182 and a DeHavilland Twin Otter. Standard altitudes for the Cessna is 9,000' AGL and 13,500' AGL for the Twin Otter. The Twin Otter is the only way to go. It will get to a higher altitude quicker then the 182 can to a lower altitude and it is a far more comfortable ride. Plus, the free-fall time is much longer and that is the whole point of the jump.
With either aircraft and the lens you have I wouldn't worry much about trying to get a shot of her leaving the plane. The plane will be at least 2 mi from your position since exits are always made upwind of the DZ. Even when under canopy you will have to wait till they descend enough and get close enough to the DZ. They will land facing into the wind so you will want to be upwind of the landing area. They will most likely land at or near an area known as the "Peas". It is a circular area about 20' or so in diameter consisting of pea gravel. It's used to practice landing accuracy and is also the softest spot to land, if the tandem instructor chooses. The staff can give you a heads-up on where to get the best shots from.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

It's part of the package but she doesn't get the parachute. The tandem instructor does. She's just there for the ride. But, if the parachute doesn't work the DZ will give her her money back!

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Seems fair!

Lars Bogart Loc: Camano Isl., Wa., U.S.A.

she is doing the higher drop.
longer fall / float time.
this is nothing like I remember at Fort Benning Jump School.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

That's because she is not jumping a T-10 round that will drive your knees up into your chest when you land. No PLF required! BTW, don't have her wear heavy boots as you would have at Benning. A pair of good, tightly laced sneakers are the way to go.

CaptainBobBrown

For my 45th b'day my wife gave me hang gliding lessons AND glider lessons. Guess she really wanted to make sure. The following Thanksgiving we had my insurance agent friend and wife over for dinner and told him about this plus my latest scuba diving adventures. He literally turned white at the dinner table and couldn't eat before he gathered himself up to say he wished I hadn't told him cuz ordinarily the company would have to cancel my insurance but maybe we could just keep quiet about it all?!

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

SO? How large a life insurance policy did you take out on her?

Tell her to "break a leg."

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Funny you should mention that. I just did a few parachute shots last Saturday, 8/11/19.

Make sure you talk to the pro diver she will dive with so you know who to watch as they are coinng down. He or she cam tell you what the chute looks like.

Maybe you'll take some shots when she is really high up, but don't waste your time unless you just want a few dots-shiloett shots. Wait until she is about a quater to 1/2 mile up. Most jumpers want to see something identifiable which means the last 1/8 mile to about 100 yards up. They also love part of the ground in a shot. That means just prior to the butt skid landing.

When you talk to the pro diver also ask if they can land coming towards you even though is will be around 25 to 50 yards away just so you can get her face.

One other thing would be to get detail shots prior to the plane taking off.

As for the setting, you don't need a speed over about 1/500 for most shots i like 1/400. Also around 1/200 to show prop movement as they take off.

Erkibler

Bump up her life insurance.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Don't forget to tell her that when they say "pull" them mean PULL! Hope she enjoys the experience and that you get some good shots. Very good advice above.

Ghery Loc: Olympia, WA

In Army ROTC back in the early 1970s our Sgt. Major loved to say, "Two things fall from the sky. Birds$%t and fools!"

A number of years ago I asked a colleague at work who was into skydiving why he would jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Then I saw the planes they were jumping out of and I understood why he said there was no such thing as a perfectly good airplane. They beat the heck out of those things. I'm not sure I'd fly one of their jump planes (and I am a pilot).

I hope she has fun.

CurleyB Loc: MAITLAND FL

Jackponoh was right on target. I would also suggest checking the histograms on your test pics to make sure you are well exposed. If you have not used histograms there are great Youtubes that explain setting up your camera and reading the histograms. The basics are pretty easy to digest but the advanced use is above my pay grade. If you are using you max lens, don’t forget your tripod, set the camera on infinity and set it for rapid fire. Best of luck.