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Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

10/14/2009 10:46:12 AM · #1

I just got offered to take the portraits at an Army ball. Before I take the job I want to make sure I can manage it as I've never done portraits at a ball before. The closest I did was fighter promo shots before an MMA fight. The only backdrop I have is a plain black one which I don't think would be nice at the ball. I was looking at getting some sort of neutral colored 10x20 backdrop for it. A nice gray maybe. I don't want the backdrop to clash with anyones dress. I'm looking to spend maybe $100.00 on the backdrop. (already found a few) For lighting I have two Alien Bee B800's and Cybersyncs. My big question is, will I need a 3rd light for seperation or hair? Or should a two light set-up be enough?

cryan

Nikon D700

10/14/2009 10:52:09 AM · #2

Do you have a speedlight that you can use for hairlight? If not just use one of your bees as a main light and use the other to fire from the side buy pointed more towards the backdrop.

AJSullivan

10/14/2009 10:53:45 AM · #3

Depending on where it is being held, the backdrop issue might not be an issue. I know we have done prom/ball pictures before, and the place had a nice fireplace flanked with pointsettias, so that was the perfect free backdrop.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/14/2009 10:55:55 AM · #4

I do have some speedlights with an optical slave I can attach. What I don't like is the color temp is slightly off and the recycle time sucks compared to the B's. Plus There's always the battery issue. But it's certainly an option.
Edit: Oh yea, the optical slave isn't 100% reliable either.

Message edited by author 2009-10-14 10:57:32.

rrdjserv

Canon EOS-7D

10/14/2009 10:56:49 AM · #5

I'm assuming, from your description, that you will be taking static, portrait photos. If they want dancing shots, you are talking a whole new ball game. You would then have very low light and movement. My suggestion is to take some test shots and see how they come out, then decide.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/14/2009 10:59:29 AM · #6

Yes just static shots. There is a window with a nice white curtain I could use. It's semi shear so I'd have to place my black backdrop behind it. The carpet on the floor is blue though.

AJSullivan

10/14/2009 11:10:32 AM · #7

Another option that comes out kind of nice is balloons. Also check with the group, because they may have something specific in mind, as I know other things weve done that the organization has had a specific backdrop they wanted to use.

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

10/14/2009 11:56:01 AM · #8

I did this recently as part of a team of photographers--it was my first time, and it was enlightening:

Backdrop: we had several stations--one had an american flag stylized backdrop (which faded out so that the lower portion of the muslin did NOT have it--where people would be standing). This was a hugely popular background. If you can rent one, this will be popular and likely increase sales. As for other colors, we had gray, blue, and they did not look too good with both the uniforms and gowns. My station used a dark mottled brown which did not look great to the naked eye, but photographed beautifully. Flags on each side would be nice.

Lighting: We used 3 AB lights: two for balanced lighting, one to each side (you end up shooting couple mostly, but also some groups), and one low for low fill (you are shooting full length). The low fill gets turned off when folks are wearing glasses, if you see reflections. You could probably get away without the low fill.

I would not recommend trying a hair light, as you will have individuals, couples, groups, and so it will be inconsistently applied. No specific background lighting was used, the two main ABs were cranked up to get us to f11-16, and threw enough light for the background.

Shoot jpeg, custom white balanced, set sharpness and some appropriate level of vivid, contrast. Test this first, well before the event, so you are sure of your settings--a long line of people watching you fiddle is worth avoiding :-) Set up for f11 to f16 so dof is there and you don't have to adjust when you get a group of 8 folks, etc. This will let you upload directly to a site without post processing. A prime lens will be nice, and you won't have to resist the temptation to zoom in and out :-) On a tripod, set to the right framing, with a cable release, gets you standard shots, and you just position the individuals/couples into the sweet spot. Put a tape on the floor where you position your tripod--when you get a group, you will need to back away, but you want to return the same spot quickly (there will be a line of people waiting).

Do not show folks the LCD--they will take time, and sometimes want to reshoot. I only did this when there was no line, and the person had a specific concern (reflection in their glasses, a scar on face not showing, etc.)

Get there EARLY. Folks will want to get shot before the ceremony starts if they can. Once the Ball gets going, people are off doing stuff, and are otherwise engaged. I think we probably did 60-70% of the shooting before the event started. We were requested to stand down from shooting entirely during the 2 hour ceremony/dinner so that people would not be leaving the ballroom and coming out to the lobby. So at the end of the event, we got some more, but most were either partying or heading home. It was their last night stateside before deployment.

Take some water, gatorade, whatever you need. A sandwich or two, as well. You likely will not be IN the ballroom, and not invited to eat. If you have a laptop and wireless, you may be able to use the ceremony downtime to upload shots, but otherwise you may want a good book....

Do some math ahead of time: number of attendees is worth knowing. You won't get everyone, but for example if you have 300 couples and you spend 1 minute with each, you are shooting for 5 hours. So, you cannot spend more than a minute, and you need a production line mentality so that folks can step in, get the shot (one or two, check for blinks on the LCD) and out in 30 seconds on average. You won't GET 5 hours (two will be stand-down, most likely) so you might get 90-120 minutes ahead of the event, and 90 minutes afterward of shoot time.

Bring backups if you have em. A backup body, alternate lens, extra batteries, extension cords and TAPE to secure power cords to the floor for safety. If you can bring the power to your station from one side, and have the people enter and exit the set up from the other side, this will help keep them away from light stands, cords, etc.

Pre-print information about how they can obtain photos and hand it to them. If you have someone to take the money (our event was not funded by the military, so they had to pay 10 bucks to get shot and get a single 5x7) have them hand out the info. Better if you don't agree to provide a print directly, but direct them to a site like smugmug where the shots will be and where they can order as many as they want, in whatever size. Our deal was to send all the prints to the base, and someone there was to distribute them--they never got distributed, but we had the smugmug running. If you do smugmug, you don't need to take names or anything--just give them a handout with the site location etc.

Beware of printing on-site: aside from the amount of supplies you'll need, do the math again: x time per print means a lot of time! And you will need someone to run the computer, printer, go back and forth with memory cards to get files, if you are not shooting tethered, and you will be putting people thru the shoot set up faster than they can get the prints, so there will be a backup at the printer station. The shooting is actually the easiest and most fun part of this sort of thing--the logistics need a lot of forethought. Check the venue well ahead of time if you can.

Message edited by author 2009-10-14 12:12:37.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

10/15/2009 03:42:06 AM · #9

Chromeydome, thank you so much for taking the time to write in such detail. It was a big help. I have an idea for the shots. It is for the artillary unit for their St Barbara's Day Ball. The venue has a wonderful staircase with red carpet and I will see if they can place cerimonial canons on either side. That might be cool. As far as dinner goes, I just might get invited because I am retired Army and also a member of the order of St. Barbara. I can only hope. I offically don't have the job yet but I wil tell them I want it, even though it's on my wifes B-Day. I will see if I can get $200.00 to shoot it and then whatever the sales are from the couples. I do have a smugmug site and will place all shots in a password protected folder for viewing and purchase.

Thanks for all the suggestions and info from everyone. As always the dpc community has been a big help.

jdannels

Nikon D300s

10/15/2009 05:33:32 AM · #10

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Beware of printing on-site: aside from the amount of supplies you'll need, do the math again: x time per print means a lot of time! And you will need someone to run the computer, printer, go back and forth with memory cards to get files, if you are not shooting tethered, and you will be putting people thru the shoot set up faster than they can get the prints, so there will be a backup at the printer station. The shooting is actually the easiest and most fun part of this sort of thing--the logistics need a lot of forethought. Check the venue well ahead of time if you can.

Use the two hour lull to make prints. Offer a special(higher) rate for those who want their images at the end of the night, and don't give the option to them to receive their print immediately. Not everyone will do this so the number could be doable. If you don't want the couples to fill out paperwork which needs to be managed by someone, buy a roll of raffle tickets and give the couple their ticket for pickup and note the image number on your copy. Doesn't solve the problem of supplies though and an extra person to run the prints while shooting though.
Nice post chromey, lays everything out nicely.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/15/2009 06:21:15 AM · #11

Nice job, Chromey.