Event Shooting from a Marketing Standpoint

11/16/2006 06:18:42 AM · #1

A few weeks ago, I found myself in an interesting situation where I had been hired by two schools to do the same job on the same day--but at different places...and I couldn't say no to either school. So I took both jobs, and subbed one out to a friend.

I knew I could count on this guy to show up and shoot good stuff, but I also knew that he had never done anything like this before. I put together the following list for him. As you'll see, at events like this, the actual thing that bring everyone to the event in only part of what needs photographing.

Following is a basic list and some guidelines, but don't let it constrain you--if you see something that would look good in an alumni magazine, on the athletics website, or the college website, shoot it. By the same token, if it can't be used in this manner, DON'T SHOOT IT.

--- the list -------------------------------------------

@ I don't mind some "posed" (Hey-take-our-picture type shots), but try to keep them to a minimum.

@ No smoking and/or smokers.

@ No visible alcohol in shots with students.

@ No food-in-mouth shots.

@ Lots of logo and sportswear shots (ESPECIALLY children!)

@ Cheerleaders
- try to get an action shot and a facial shot of each cheerleader (something their mom would want).
- get a group action shot

@ Pep Band
- if they're out there, shoot them as a group and individually while they're playing

@ Players - action
- shoot the QB in action.
- Make sure you get a shot of him with the ball on his fingertips, releasing a pass.
- Get a shot of him handing off
- Get a shot of him running
- Get a shot of him taking a snap, directly over the center (if that happens)
- Get a shot of him taking a snap in the pocket
- try to include jersey numbers when possible
- get interior linemen, standing and/or in their stance
- get linebackers, just before the snap
- get running backs, just before and after the snap
- get running backs running full-bore
- get tackles & sacks
- NOTE: in the action shots, look for emotion after a play has ended
- if anyone goes down, shoot them down, getting attention, getting up, and coming off (if they do)
- NOTE: shoot the scoreboard whenever either team scores

@ Players/Coaches - sideline
- look for sweaty, emotional faces
- shoot all the coaches on the sideline, talking to each other, to players, following the action
- if anyone gets treated by a trainer, get a shot of them and the trainer

@ Refs
- try to get one or two good shots of each ref

@ Halftime
- try to get a good portrait shot of anything/everything that happens on the field
- use fill flash (get your settings dialed in as soon as the half is over)
- if the homecoming court marches out, get them walking out
- if there are any presentations or recognitions, shoot them
- they like to use these as gifts
- NOTE: if there are any other photographers out there, don't assume they will be getting the job done
- NOTE: GO OUT ON THE FIELD TO SHOOT!!! Do NOT try to shoot presentations, etc from the sideline.

@ After Half-time/Before the 2nd half
- go up to the press box, unload what you've shot, and get a bite
- shoot candids of everyone up there (unless someone specifically tells you not to)
- hang around until the coaches get back up there for the start of the half, and make sure you shoot them

@ 2nd Half
- get some shots of the people on the roof
- get some shots from the roof
- try that wide shot. Make sure your camera is pointing straight down.

@ One Minute to Go (if it looks like we can win it)
- switch to your wide lens and follow the coach. You'll have to stay back behind the players, but, when time runs, GO WITH THE COACH! Shoot low, shoot high. Shoot him jumping, high-fiving, hugging, whatever.
- shoot the players. Get emotional shots.

@ After the game
- shoot tailgaters, take a break, download your cards, get a bite
- shoot around the fraternities and sororities (just keep in mind what you are shooting for--if it can't be used from a marketing standpoint, don't shoot it).

@ Grip and Grins
- you may be asked to hang around and shoot some award functions; if so, oblige them
- preferably, use your 24-70
- make sure you take 2-3 of each pose; check your histogram after the first one
- if 5 people or less, shoot in portrait mode; more than 5, shoot landscape
- if you are indoor, you should start at iso400, F/6.3, 1/125, and adjust your strobe as necessary.
- if you are asked to shoot any groups, do the best you can. Try to shoot at F/11, keep your iso at 800 or less, and bump your strobe to whatever it takes to get 1/100.
- watch the backgrounds
- these shots don't seem like a big deal, BUT THEY ARE! prints are going to be given to each person, and they really need to be nice and sharp.

11/16/2006 09:53:24 AM · #2

keyword search: shotlist, marketing-related photos, sporting events

cryan

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

11/16/2006 10:06:55 AM · #3

That is the most complete shot list I've seen for shooting an event like this. It should help out a lot of people.

11/28/2006 12:59:34 PM · #4

Wow what a great thing, going into my watched threads for future use! I will tray and adapt this for basketball.

Konica Minolta MF 85mm f/1.7

11/28/2006 03:12:32 PM · #5

Originally posted by jdannels:

Wow what a great thing, going into my watched threads for future use! I will tray and adapt this for basketball.

off the top of my head, these are some of the things i'd look for in basketball:

huddles
- from a distance with a long lens
- up CLOSE with a wide lens
- from all perspectives (floor looking up, over the top, etc)
- hands joined together

celebrations after a shot

everyone at the scorer's table, individually and as a group

every coach

every player, even if on the bench

anyone who stands out in the crowd

lots of emotion, grimaces

when possible, try to shoot across the court to include crowds in the background.

here's a couple galleries to give you some ideas as to what i look for:
hoops
faces

have fun!

briantammy

Olympus PEN E-P3

11/28/2006 03:24:09 PM · #6

wow, that seems like an impossible task, can you actually accomplish all that? I'd be lucky to get 5-10 of those shots. How about quality? I know I've seen shots in the paper that aren't very good. Is that typical for most shots taken?

alfresco

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

11/28/2006 03:32:06 PM · #7

You *are* the man, Skip. Excellent list. Muchos gracias :)

11/28/2006 04:06:08 PM · #8

Thanks for the list skip, and I think I already have been through all of your galleries atleast once, Lol. I'll see how I do. I will have a 70-200 2.8 lens on a canon 300D that has no flash but the pop up. I have my D200 which I have a 50 1.8, sigma 10-20mm 4-5.6 and the 18-70 mm 3.5-4.5. I also have a Sb-600 and a lightosphere. Do you have any recommendations for the D200 setup? I was thinking 50 1.8 so I could shoot lowlight and closer than 70-200, or the sigma 10-20 with the sb600 and lightoshpere. Thanks for all the help. Most likely the paper will only use one or two photos, although I am the photo editor so atleast I get to pick the shots :).

11/28/2006 04:19:08 PM · #9

joe, you dog, you'll get the holes in your paper filled, no doubt ;-)

i know nothing about the nikon, so i can't offer any specifics there. what i can tell you is this: even though others do it, i've never used a flash for indoor sports, even when i was shooting with the 300d. i'd use the fastest glass possible, opened up as wide as possible, even if it meant shooting tight with the 70-200. from the corner of the baseline, even at 70, you should have plenty of room to get some good drives and rebounds. you can also get some good looks of concentration from the foul line, as well as some good boxing out shots after a FT. the thing to do is to take shots, and check your histogram. since you're only looking for a handful of shots, it's not like your really going to miss anything while your getting your settings. mainly, look for the lowest iso that will let you shoot at 1/250 (that's about the lowest decent shutter for anything moving).

one last tip: try to find what the basic range of light is across your shooting area and then set up in manual mode. that way your exposures won't go way off if you pan across any lights (like what you see on some scorer's tables).

cryan

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

11/28/2006 04:24:21 PM · #10

Hey Joe, I've got the 200 and just finished shooting indoor volleyball for one of the colleges around here in Vt. The lighting in gyms is horrible but here is what I used and it worked like a charm. I bumped the ISO to 1600, yes thats right, the 200 can handle the noise which turned out to be very minimal. I was shooting with the 80-200 2.8 and that let me shot at about 320 of a sec. For WB I used the florescent setting then adjusted to -1 to get rid of some of the blue. I'll see if I have an image here at work I can upload so you can see for yourself.

11/28/2006 04:31:12 PM · #11

Thanks skip. I usually put the camera into manual but I probably would have set the shutter at 200 or a higher ISO and shot closer to 500. I am thinking the 70-200 and the 50 1.8 then. It should be fun, from there I am playing/shooting a show so I'll get lots of lowlight shooting in. :). Really, thank you Skip. I am shooting for 10 out of 11 of your list :). Especially for the paper I don't know if I will get everyone on the bench. I don't know how big or what card the paper has for the 300D so memory may be an issue.

cryan

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

11/28/2006 04:32:35 PM · #12

OK, here are two shots from the vollyball shoot. Forgot to say I shot in manual.

Message edited by author 2006-11-28 16:33:06.

11/28/2006 04:35:46 PM · #13

Thanks for the tips too Chris, but 70-200 is for the rebel, but from what I have experienced, most noise isn't too much of an issue for the paper anyway, i have shots at 1600 with the D50. Although the D50 handles noise pretty well too.
apologize for thread hijacking.