Event Photography

[Robbie B]

Sorry, I swear I'll stop starting advice threads soon!

I've been asked to photograph a masquerade ball for Cancer Research. I really want to do it, not only because I'd be helping them out in a big way, but because I would like the experience. The problem is exactly that though, I have a lack of experience.

Do I need a mammoth flash gun for this? I get the feeling I do. Has anyone done a similar event or does nightclub photography or something? I'd be required to get shots of people outside a manor house at the beginning of the night as they arrive and then inside as the night goes on.

Any advice on the subject would be useful. Cheers

[andy-xr]

I shot at a wedding reception last weekend, simple SB600 on the hotshoe with a Stofen on it. RearCurtain sync, slow the shutter down enough to drag in some ambient and away we went

[Simpo Two]

One idea might be to start with an idea of the kind of results you want, then work it backwards. You've got all possibilities from ambient through Speedlight/s to £££ portable flash. Quite a tricky job I'd say.

[Robbie B]

Yeah it is. I would prefer ambient. I'm not keen on the look of shots that are flooded with flash lighting.

The shots taken inside clubs and venues for websites like dontstayin.com etc., how are they taken? I've never been clear. High iso and flash gun? I just wouldn't know how to capture the atmosphere.

[Phunk]

I run a club photography company in Glasgow.

The settings we hover around are:

1st curtain sync (Don't use 2nd curtain as people look away quite often once they have seen the pre flash)

F 6.3 - Tends to be best for sharpness

ISO 800-1600

Shutter speed of 1/2sec - 1/8sec - depending on ambient light.

Hold the camera as steady as possible during the full exposure.

Try and get peoples backs towards any lighting there is.

Choose a nice wide lens.

Take 2 shots in quick succession of everyone, people will most likely be drunk!

I tend to go for 1-2 people = Portrait 3+ = Landscape

Use a flash gun, this is essential. Don't use a stofen, use a bounce card.

[Robbie B]

Phunk said:

I run a club photography company in Glasgow.

The settings we hover around are:

1st curtain sync (Don't use 2nd curtain as people look away quite often once they have seen the pre flash)

F 6.3 - Tends to be best for sharpness

ISO 800-1600

Shutter speed of 1/2sec - 1/8sec - depending on ambient light.

Hold the camera as steady as possible during the full exposure.

Try and get peoples backs towards any lighting there is.

Choose a nice wide lens.

Take 2 shots in quick succession of everyone, people will most likely be drunk!

I tend to go for 1-2 people = Portrait 3+ = Landscape

Use a flash gun, this is essential. Don't use a stofen, use a bounce card.

I really appreciate your post, mate. Exactly what I was looking for. 18-55mm is wide enough is it not?

Now I need to get a flash gun and bounce card for my 550D. Anyone got any suggestions?

[Phunk]

18-55 is perfect.

Most of my photographers use a A5 sized bit of white card/foam and a couple of elastic bands/velcro.

[Phunk]

Oh and as for a flash gun Canon 430EXII is ideal.

Avoid anything with a plastic hot shoe, this will break.

Also avoid Jessops flash guns, very unreliable.

[Robbie B]

That looks good but I'm not sure if my student budget can stretch to it. I'll have to have a think! Do you know of anything that's a bit less that's been good for you?

Thanks again, you've been a huge help.

[Phunk]

Scour gumtree/eBay for second hand flash guns.

Make sure it has TTL.

You could rent one or be a bit cheeky and buy one and then take it back.

[Ed_P]

Robbie B said:

Yeah it is. I would prefer ambient. I'm not keen on the look of shots that are flooded with flash lighting.

The shots taken inside clubs and venues for websites like dontstayin.com etc., how are they taken? I've never been clear. High iso and flash gun? I just wouldn't know how to capture the atmosphere.

There's no quick answer to this really. With experience, you can look at the scene and get a good idea what's needed to capture suitably atmospheric shots. Typically, you're looking for sufficient ambient (background) light to show the venue/location plus properly exposed attendees. This will need judicious balancing of ambient and flash.

As a general guide (well, this is what I'd do), first work out how to get the correct ambient lighting. Put camera in Manual mode and set lens to a wide aperture. Experiment with shutter speed and ISO so that you're seeing around -1.0 to -2.0 stops on aperture display. Take a test shot and review. You may well need a high ISO to keep shutter speeds to a reasonably level (I'd opt for 1/60th or faster initially). Use a speedlight flash in TTL mode to light the guests, preferably bounced off a side wall or ceiling. Check the display regularly and adjust to taste. If the flash lighting looks a bit "hot" for your taste, dial down with FEC. With TTL flash though, as long as it's bounced, you shouldn't get that "flooded" look that you're worried about.

If you haven't tried this sort of thing before; practice indoors or at a similar location before the event! Remember to change the settings or switch to a non-manual mode when the lighting changes. Experiment with slower shutter speeds as you gain confidence.

Edited by Ed_P on Friday 1st July 12:27

Edited by Ed_P on Friday 1st July 12:38

[Dogsey]

A couple from events I've shot all using the 50mm f1.8 and lit by bouncing the 430EX off the ceiling. I've included the EXIF to help.


Mad Hatter 02 by dogsey, on Flickr
1/60s . f/5.6 . ISO 200 . 50 mm


Mad Hatter 07 by dogsey, on Flickr
1/60s . f/2.8 . ISO 200 . 50 mm


SteamPunk 15 by dogsey, on Flickr
1/40s . f/2.8 . ISO 200 . 50 mm

[Robbie B]

That's spot on. Clear, not under exposed and the flash isn't turning people into Inuits. Thanks for that. How were you bouncing it off the ceiling?

I'm desperately trying to justify buying that flash gun. Anyone want to buy a 350D?

[Phunk]

You can bounce flash off the ceiling if the venue has nice low white ceilings. Just point your flash at the ceiling.

Otherwise stick with the bounce card.

50mm is nice, using it on a cropped body does mean you have to stand quite far back.

I normally go out with two bodies, one with a 10-20 or 17-40 and another with a 50 1.4.

Have a look at these:

http://tinyurl.com/6esj6ua

Ambient shots are taken with the 50mm, others are taken with the 10-20 - mostly at 17mm ish.

Please excuse the quality of some shots, it was a freebie for a friend and I enjoyed the free bar a bit too much!

[Nick Grant]

Robbie B said:

I would prefer ambient.

Me too, I used 85mm 1.2 and ISO 3200. Then look out for any chinks of light available. These were the results:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantgb/sets/72157625...

[Robbie B]

Phunk: Thank you. I'll have a look when I get in from work, I can't download here. I've got the trusty 50mm, I'll have a play around with that too.

Nick: That is a superb set. I know I've not been learning photography particularly long but some of the examples on this thread alone pales my ability to say the very least! I thought 3200 ISO would look worse than that. Much PS involved? It looks almost like you've added a filter effect after.

430EX II, even second hand is crawling towards £150. What a pain.

[Nick Grant]

Robbie B said:

Nick: That is a superb set. I know I've not been learning photography particularly long but some of the examples on this thread alone pales my ability to say the very least! I thought 3200 ISO would look worse than that. Much PS involved? It looks almost like you've added a filter effect after.

3200 was on a 5D MKII so is pretty good. Yes I age most of my shots, this is how my workflow goes: http://www.nickgrant.co.uk/content/?p=287

[Robbie B]

Nick Grant said:

Robbie B said:

Nick: That is a superb set. I know I've not been learning photography particularly long but some of the examples on this thread alone pales my ability to say the very least! I thought 3200 ISO would look worse than that. Much PS involved? It looks almost like you've added a filter effect after.

3200 was on a 5D MKII so is pretty good. Yes I age most of my shots, this is how my workflow goes: http://www.nickgrant.co.uk/content/?p=287

Ah, that's almost exactly how I thought you would do it although I wondered if you were using a preset from Adobe AE or something. Luckily I'm good on PS; it makes up for my photography skill! Very nice effect, especially with that type of event.

Ah the 5D will handle it a little better than my 550D. I'll do some tester shots tomorrow night and see how far I can push it. Thanks again. You've been good to me today, Nick!

[Blukoo]

I bought myself a 430EX II a few weeks ago and I haven't regretted it. The ability to bounce flash makes the world of difference.

If you can afford it, then get yourself one

[Dogsey]

Robbie B said:

I'm desperately trying to justify buying that flash gun.

Why buy when you cam rent?

At least it'll give you a chance to play with it for this event and see if you like using it or not.