markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Dean,
This guy (cthahn) is a troll. He's posted ONE topic since 2013. The rest are comments similar to this one - all negative, all critical, all from his "perch". Just ignore him.
Mark

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Fifty teenage girls? In one house? Good Luck!

If you can get them to stop talking long enough for one group shot, I think you will have done well. I suspect that most of your shots will be candid or semi-candid. If you want them to look at the camera, be ready, shout "Hay", most of them will look up, and trip the shutter.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Dean, I do not know if you made this portrait in a hurry but it was not well planned. You used direct flash and the result was that ugly shadow behind your granddaughter.
I cannot help very much with your intended shooting because I do not know the conditions under which you are going to be shooting or the size of the room but certainly those shadows should be avoided by bouncing the light.
All of those events, including weddings, require some practice to become familiar with posing, lighting and those important moments when a photograph will become a precious gift that will last forever.
Good luck with your project.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I have three teenage granddaughters. I also taught them for 40 years in Jr. & Sr. high school. Nowadays, with smart phones, most of them, if not all, love having photos taken. Shoot individuals & smalll groups. They'll pose for you and produce cool, silly and beautiful poses. Also many candids will be available. Get your exposure set, walk around, shoot away & have fun. Good idea to get there early and experiment with exposures. It won't take long before you find it. If you shoot from approximately the same distance, all you have to be concerned with is composition. It's not really difficult. If you laugh, smile and crack even corny jokes, you'll have a captive & willing audience. After taking one (or a few), show them the result. They'll give you instant feedback.
Mark

and quote=JCam]Fifty teenage girls? In one house? Good luck

If you can get them to stop talking long enough for one group shot, I think you will have done well. I suspect that most of your shots will be candid or semi-candid. If you want them to look at the camera, be ready, shout "Hay", most of them will look up, and trip the shutter.[/quote]

FreddB Loc: PA - Delaware County

cthahn - WOW! that was really cold!

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

LFingar has a good point - the party will have a lot of interesting candid moments to shoot. And you will want to be sure and capture the more important moments of the party, those you know in advance will occur, such as cutting the birthday cake, or opening presents, etc.

In my opinion, you should be prepared to shoot both types of photos. Inevitably there will be some who want a staged portrait or group shot (small group!). For instance, a girl who is wearing a pretty dress and has her hair styled may very well want to have her picture taken against a backdrop! Or a young couple could want to pose together. Also, although it would be good if you could get photos of every one of your granddaughter's guests, whether singly or with others, she will be your main focus and lots of pictures that include her is the goal!

It might feel overwhelming when you are first faced with that room full of boisterous young people. But like any other photo shoot, once you get started, you will be fully engrossed in the process. While you will take lots and lots of photos, and end up missing lots as well, in the long run what matters is that everyone had fun, including you!

Deecee

The flash lighting is pretty harsh, needs a diffuser. I have used this one for years, best diffuser ever. If you have low ceilings, you can bounce the flash off of them also to help diffuse the light.

https://www.adorama.com/galscsmk.html

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

Having shot many class reunions with 100 to 200 people, inside, 2 things to do. (1) Get up a ladder 2-3 steps, (2) have at least 2 studio strobes, with umbrellas and lots of luck. You will not get all with open eyes, but most. Relax, tell a dumb joke, take several pictures, your granddaughter and her friends will love the pictures from a great party. They have grandfathers too.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Why anyone (cthahn) would make such a comment that shows how foolish they are is beyond me. Probably flunked out in Kindergarten.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I wouldn't worry about all that stuff. Just go and have fun. Take your camera with the fastest lens you've got and/or put a speedlite on a frame so that it's not sitting on the hot shoe. (redeye) You'll do fine. Remember, they are just teenieboppers. They are used to pictures of themselves taken with whatever phone they have. I encourage you to tilt the camera 45 degrees on about half the shots. Get in close. Get far away. Go crazy and then let her go through the images when it's all over.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Yup. Perfect! Said the same. Dean, hope you follow the suggestions to make it fun and easy.
Mark

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

At 16 years old, most kids are NOT "just teenieboppers"! They are growing into young adults, and it won't be long before they will be off to college, getting married, finding their way in this world. Regardless of the phone-camera-syndrome, daddybear's granddaughter deserves to get the best that grandpa can provide. Sweet Sixteen parties are a symbolic "coming of age", and those kids don't need to be written off as less than they are!

I agree that the party should be fun for all, grandpa included, but that should be possible with plenty of planning ahead and a good attitude.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

With all due respect Susan, I don't think his comment was pejorative. I think he was simply saying what many others have said. Have fun, it's not that difficult and you will have willing subjects. He has been given many great suggestions, including yours. He'll be fine and I suspect he'll have great images to share with family & her friends. Maybe we'll see some too. Good luck Dean.
Mark

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Nice work. That is some fancy/expensive dress your grandaughter is wearing! Also, it's interesting how much younger the boys appear to be.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Actually, she is very mature "looking" and most of the boys are younger. I do understand your comment. Teenage girls seem to mature much faster than their counterparts. Her parents & other grandparents have BUCKS! I'm the poor one!
Thanks for the feedback!
Mark