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08/05/2011 06:54:32 AM · #1 |
Hi guys, I've be hired to cover a large festival next month for special needs children. I am very much looking forward to covering the event and making some great shots of the kids having fun and being happy. But, honestly, I'm going into this one a little scarred. I'm looking for some advice on anything I may not be expecting, I've been around many medical things with my own family but this is different. I feel I can go in and do the job well tomorrow, but, I just want to do the best job for the kids and their families that I can.
DPC, and you all, are such a great resource I am sure as a group you have ideas and experiences way beyond my own.
So, any advice or otherwise encouragement is greatly appreciated.
Here is the link from last years coverage, not great work and they were not very happy with it, they expect better from me, as do I.
https://picasaweb.google.com/Festival5D/Festival5DFotoSAlgemeen
Thanks everyone for being part of such an encouraging and helpful community. |
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08/05/2011 07:11:55 AM · #2 |
I have absolutely no clue whatsoever, so I can only guess.
My guessing pieces of advice are:
1. Don't be scared -- you will have a blast!
2. Don't be surprised at anything. It may be helpful to know what you're getting into, but it's really not necessary. Don't be surprised at anything, and roll with the flow. Your lack of knowledge will probably make it an incredible day and a wonderful learning experience. Embrace the unknown and enjoy.
3. Don't give in to pity. You may see things that make you very sad. Remember -- it's not about you, it's about them. Be upbeat and excited and help make their day incredible. :D |
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08/05/2011 07:32:01 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
3. Don't give in to pity. You may see things that make you very sad. Remember -- it's not about you, it's about them. Be upbeat and excited and help make their day incredible. :D |
I'll try to remember this when it gets to me, and I fear it shall. Thanks Wendy. |
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08/05/2011 07:43:41 AM · #4 |
I dunno - These shots look pretty good to me. Some nice candids, the lighting and focus is good. Okay, composition was a bit off on a few perhaps.
Did they explain what it was they didn't like about these shots, so you know what to avoid when you're doing it? |
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08/05/2011 08:16:19 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by JH:
Did they explain what it was they didn't like about these shots, so you know what to avoid when you're doing it? |
They thought they were "snap shot" type of images and did not capture the event atmosphere or experience. I was not there last year, so I have no clue.
I agree there are some good shots from last year, some not as good, also yes mostly composition being very flat or not catching a special moment.
These party festivals usually have many activities and acts, usually soccer ball juggling, lots of food and games and all sorts of crazy things.
The Dutch love a good party and having fun. They also seemed to do a thing posing inside of a ornate picture frame...
https://picasaweb.google.com/Festival5D/KiekjeInEenLijstAvondsessie5DFestival11September2010
Not sure if thats going to be done for me to shoot this year again...
I plan to use mostly my 24-70mm possibly with the polarizer on if its a real sunny day, may have to use the flash to fill. |
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08/05/2011 08:19:44 AM · #6 |
- Make sure you get shots of any of the events they run during the festival. Look for moments when the children show their excitement and capture their expressions.
- Look for crowd shots where parents and others are overcome by emotion of the moment also.
- Don't forget to capture any sponsors that happen to be set up for the festival. Most promoters / organizers want to showcase everyone that supports their cause.
- Get shots of lines formed at concessions and donation booths.
- Look for unusual characters in the crowd. Promoters like to show the diversity of people that show up to their events.
- Animals are always great event photography subjects if they are allowed. Children are attracted to behaved dogs and they present some wonderful photos.
- Try to frame shots to amplify the crowd size. No one wants their event to look empty or lackluster, even if it was.
- Ask the promoter / organizer if there are any VIPs attending and if they are willing to participate in some posed photos.
- By all means get the promoter / organizer doing their thing and ensure you capture them in flattering poses.
- Individual child photos will be more important to attending parents than the promoter. Of course he / she will want some but this is event photography not a portrait shoot.
- My guess is the intent is to use the shots to promote the next event and should leave people thinking "I wish I had gone, I'll be there next year." Keep that thought as you look for opportunities and you should be fine.
Hope this helps. Sorry it sounds like a business but that is the attitude you should take to ensure you capture the "Spirit of the event." |
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08/05/2011 08:31:05 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by Dphoto:
- Make sure you get shots of any of the events they run during the festival. Look for moments when the children show their excitement and capture their expressions.
- Look for crowd shots where parents and others are overcome by emotion of the moment also.
- Don't forget to capture any sponsors that happen to be set up for the festival. Most promoters / organizers want to showcase everyone that supports their cause.
- Get shots of lines formed at concessions and donation booths.
- Look for unusual characters in the crowd. Promoters like to show the diversity of people that show up to their events.
- Animals are always great event photography subjects if they are allowed. Children are attracted to behaved dogs and they present some wonderful photos.
- Try to frame shots to amplify the crowd size. No one wants their event to look empty or lackluster, even if it was.
- Ask the promoter / organizer if there are any VIPs attending and if they are willing to participate in some posed photos.
- By all means get the promoter / organizer doing their thing and ensure you capture them in flattering poses.
- Individual child photos will be more important to attending parents than the promoter. Of course he / she will want some but this is event photography not a portrait shoot.
- My guess is the intent is to use the shots to promote the next event and should leave people thinking "I wish I had gone, I'll be there next year." Keep that thought as you look for opportunities and you should be fine.
Hope this helps. Sorry it sounds like a business but that is the attitude you should take to ensure you capture the "Spirit of the event." |
wow thanks! Awesome input and advice, I will try to remember a few of these, and it is the mindset and attitude that I think is proper, so no offense at all taken. |
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08/05/2011 10:53:59 AM · #8 |
"Of course he / she will want some but this is event photography not a portrait shoot."
Great piece of advice!! For ever closeup you shoot, zoom-out and get the context as well. |
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08/05/2011 09:59:59 PM · #9 |
Okay, this is a little off the wall, but.
If you have the time and there is a place nearby where special needs kids play or have facilities open to them,
drop in and get acquainted with them. You will likely find that they are just kids, like any other kids, and
once you are over the shock of finding how they adapt to being 'differently abled' you will gain a sensitivity that will last through the festival and more...
:)
If you can find one of Ron Jones' Books it will also give you some insight into these kids.
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08/05/2011 10:47:30 PM · #10 |
My main piece of advice is to look for the natural smiles and laughs, when people are unaware of the camera. These make the best pictures.
You want to have the pictures be tight enough to mainly focus on a few faces and give the images a personal feel, but wide enough to see what is going on.
I am working as a Camp Photographer this summer, and essentially it is exactly Event Photography, as I candidly capture what the kids are doing each day so the parents can see.
The Candid smiles, where one can see why they are smiling (for instance doing an activity or interacting with someone) are always always always the best ones.
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08/06/2011 12:12:36 AM · #11 |
| Be insightful. Capture the moment within the context of the activity. I would treat it as action photography. |
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08/06/2011 05:32:38 AM · #12 |
excellent advice from  dphoto,  Fiora, and vawendy!
let me just add a few more suggestions:
- make sure to vary your perspectives. avoid producing an eye-level documentation of what was in front of your camera.
- shoot kids at or lower than their eye-level (you want more shots looking up into their eyes than down towards the tops of their heads).
- to follow sfalice, these kids typically want nothing more than to be treated normally. just shoot them as kids having fun and you'll be fine.
- shoot the verb! eating, playing, creating, laughing, engaging, dancing, goofing, spinning, doing, trying - as long as there's action, there's a dynamic. sitting, talking, staring, sleeping, drooling are not action verbs, unless they have some interesting context.
- as you survey what you shot, don't feel you have to turn in everything. hone in on the images that contribute to the story they are trying to tell (and avoid static images).
- i prefer a wider lens for both up close and environmental shots. here are some examples from a street festival i shot this past spring; some were shot with my 70-200, but most were shot with my 16-35.
good luck, and have fun! |
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08/06/2011 04:27:41 PM · #13 |
Some great advice was already given, but I'll throw out a bit of tips I've picked up.
First, I want to reiterate what others have already said: treat kids (disabled and otherwise) just as you would an adult. Kids appreciate that. Joke with them a bit. Ask them questions. Have some small talk. Let them know you're a nice person and they'll open right up and give you amazing energy, which usually translates into amazing captured moments.
The advice about framing the scene to make it look the most crowded is a really good one too.
Other stuff:
- If you see a place where a good photo can happen, wait around, because it *will* happen. You just need patience. It's hard to anticipate these things sometimes, but it's so worth it when you can.
- Building off the last one, if you find a spot with beautiful light, wait around for someone to do something interesting in that spot. Someone almost always will, and great lighting always makes the shot so much prettier.
- Another similar one: if you find a group that's particularly photogenic or extra comfortable around the camera, take advantage of it! Just also be able to tell when you've already got a great shot so you can move on to the next group too : )
- Get there earlier than you think you'll need to so you can make sure you have enough time to capture everything.
- Plan shots ahead of time. See if there is a schedule of events so you can plan where you'll be and when, so you can optimize your time and hit the best things going around.
- You know what you're best at better than anyone, so stick to that as much as you can. At the same time, make sure you also use a good variety of things/techniques: wide angle, close up, deep DOF, shallow DOF, posed, candids, shots at eye level, shots from way up high, etc. Try to keep the processing all the same though. One shot may look really great in BnW, but if all the others are in color, don't make it stick out unnecessarily.
Enjoy yourself! These events are supposed to be fun and they're great chances to meet new people, which is why I love doing stuff like that. And congrats on the gig! |
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08/06/2011 04:51:48 PM · #14 |
Thanks everyone for your input, advice and encouragement, I will read the recent ones tomorrow when I can focus,
was a long day and I should be doing my shots from the day, or eating dinner, or sleeping.... (or posting useless blah about the US ;)
I think I will make a print out of points to remember to bring with me, I knew the DPCrew would think of many things I did not.
I just last week joined the smart phone world, so I have net with me now :)
Thanks again for your help all! |
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08/06/2011 05:00:25 PM · #15 |
Ooh, one more tip I thought of: Shoot in Aperture Priority mode and crank up the ISO to as high as you can while still having high quality not too grainy images.
That has been a life safer lesson for me. When you are shooting a big event, lighting is constantly changing as you shoot in different places, but more importantly the action is also constantly changing and you WILL miss shots if you are constantly having to fiddle with your settings.
For me, I work in AV Mode, and set my ISO to 400. Sometimes that will cause me to have pictures taken where the shutter speed ended up being something ridiculous like 1/4000. But it always saves me when I all of a sudden have to turn to take some pictures in a more shady area.
I have lost too many shots from keeping the ISO as low as I can and then all of a sudden needing to adjust because I was shooting in super low light.
The less fiddling you have to do, the better. |
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09/06/2011 05:09:08 AM · #16 |
Ok, four days to go. Was told the wrong day, it is 10, Sept. Going to start to prepare myself, they expect between 2,000 and 4,000 guests. The location is a very bizarre place, it used to be a factory wharf, there is a HUGE crane abandoned in place and some very old trams that people seem to be living in. It is an industrial site and there is a giant concrete ramp next to the crane that they used to get down to the water on. It is across the river and slightly west from Central Station if you know Amsterdam at all. There is a "Russian" submarine moored next to the ferry dock as well (west of crane). Such a crazy place. On the google map the area is named Buiksloterham.
Just re-read the advice you all have offered, so many great tips and things to keep in mind. I'm writing a list to print and bring with me so I can take a mid day break and re-focus my mind, I'll review the list and head out for the second half. It may be 10-12 hours before I am done. Then its a late night processing...
Again, I can not thank you all enough for your encouragement and advice, this one is very important to me to do well. Thank You. |
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09/06/2011 05:58:11 AM · #17 |
2000 - 4000 is a lot.
Interesting Dphoto's advice on taking the attitude of assignment and aiming to please the organisers. They're paying, so it makes a lot of sense.
My first thought was to capture at least one image for each individual special needs child attending, in which they can be recognised etc. This would be aiming to please the end users rather than the promoters/organisers. What do the p/o (s) want? Ask.
Try to capture, through the children's eyes, as it were, the things that apparently excite them most and capture their imagination.
OK the bar is high.
Don't know if it 'helps', but there can be advantages to being detached and professional. The advantage of not drowning in empathy is one thing, but it's not easy to spread your favours evenly. Some kids will leap out and milk your attention, which is a buzz, but equally deserving kids with the same desires as all the rest of us, will shy out of the limelight. I'm a lousy photographer, but I've done time in schools, so...
You can't cure all the world's ills and neither are you expected to, but on Saturday you're Miracle Man for a day - have a blast. |
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09/06/2011 01:25:49 PM · #18 |
OMG! I looked at some of last years' shots. No wonder they weren't happy. On top of all the other great advice, I'd add or emphasize the following:
1) After the shoot, go through and select the shots to give them. I pretty much guarantee that they'll be happier with 30 great shots than 135 that have 30 great shots among them. Last years' photog got some very nice shots, but included some AWFUL ones.
2) As a parent of two children with autism, I can guarantee that the last thing I want to see in photos of an event my children attend is behavior or actions that make them look socially out of place. See #50 for a great shot. Children with the tongues hanging out inappropriately should have been culled from the deliverables - just like you would a picture of an adult picking their nose...
3) Don't beat yourself up if you miss a "critical" shot - even if it was one specifically asked for - much will be forgiven if the rest of your stuff is excellent. If you are down on yourself for missing a shot, it probably won't be the last one you miss that day. You are recording history - the next shot is the one you need to focus on.
From viewing your profile and entries on dpc, you will have no problem beating the performance of last years' photog.
Finally, remind yourself that you are shooting heros. These kids struggle against incredible odds to accomplish the simplest of tasks (at least for everyone else). The parents and caregivers have sacrificed just about everything they have and are in order to give their children the love, attention, and support they need. Some of the most fantastic, selfless, understanding folks you'll ever meet are in the disability community. Also the caregivers - these are folks who have volunteered to work with those with special challenges, and most of them LOVE their work - and it shows. Capture that in your images, and I guarantee you'll be asked back next year. |
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09/09/2011 09:27:38 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by raish:
...but on Saturday you're Miracle Man for a day - have a blast. |
Now, how can't I smile at that thought? I'm going to sleep with that one, not for long though...
Thanks for your input and support guys n gals, this bizarre group of creative individuals will be on my mind tomorrow. Send me some good vibes, they always help! |
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09/09/2011 10:43:56 PM · #20 |
Good luck tomorrow, you'll be awesome!
...and don't forget to have fun! |
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09/09/2011 11:14:23 PM · #21 |
| Let those kids each take a few shots themselves. You might be amazed by their response and the results. Surely you have a P&S they can use. |
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09/09/2011 11:29:55 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by amsterdamman:
They thought they were "snap shot" type of images and did not capture the event atmosphere or experience. I was not there last year, so I have no clue. |
When I scan the list... I see a lot of distracting backgrounds. I know it's not easy but that is one thing I could see. I agree there are some decent images and it's worth discussing what they are looking for so you can address their concerns directly. |
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09/10/2011 02:57:51 AM · #23 |
I'm awake! Glad to see the rain they called for to start in the morning may not start until the afternoon. I'm off to do my thing, don't think I'll get a sun in frame shot though. :)
Thanks again for helping me to focus on the task vs thinking about the day. This is the 1st event I have had any concerns about, since I like to help, and it seems a nice day and these kids have had enough hard breaks already. Now, lets all focus.... Go DPC! |
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09/10/2011 03:10:50 AM · #24 |
| If it's not too late ... extra batteries/charger, and make sure you have enough empty memory cards or a digital wallet or laptop to offload the pictures onto as you go. Good luck! |
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09/10/2011 03:47:42 AM · #25 |
| Best of luck, Dutchboy! Can't wait to see the results. |
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