Requesting tips for shooting pre-prom pics

[DeannaD]

Hi,

Am going to take pictures 4pm Sat in a park setting of my friend's twin daughters before their prom. I have a D300 with a Sigma 70-200/f2.8, Tamron 17-55/f2.8 and Nikon 18-200 VR lens choices. I'm not interested as much in pictures of the entire group, but rather couples (maybe 4 kids max) trying to work on my portrait skills. I have a SB600 and a brand-new Stoffen diffuser, I'd like to try some fill flash.

Could anyone give me some ideas on lens choice and settings? I think I'll keep the flash on the camera since there will be a lot of moving around. If someone could point me to a simple fill-flash tutorial that would be great, but I need simple suggestions since hints like "meter one stop over ambient" don't mean ANYTHING to me! I plan to practice tonight! Teenagers being impatient creatures I won't have much time. Of course, this is JUST for fun, I am a rank amateur.

Specific questions: Which lens do you think is more appropriate? What mode should I put the flash in? For a group of 4 (for your suggested focal length), what is a safe aperture (to get everything in focus - but some background blur)? I'm most comfortable in Aperture mode as I shoot mainly my kids sports. Is that ok or do I need to try Shutter-priority?

thx!

[humminboid]

Deanna:
Try this: Your Tamron 17-55, aperture priority on your D300 at about f/8. SB 600 set at about half-mast, bounce wise, + StoFen. Get close, then, let the camera and flash do their magic.

If I understand correctly, the BL (Balanced Lighting) feature on the SB600 is designed for just such situations. If I am in error, please somebody jump in and correct me. But, if it's dark, the BL (balanced lighting) will try to light up the whole neighborhood, so turn it off!

Read the manual, and practice some today at about the same time your shoot will occur, so you will have time to adjust any errors. Then standardize! A couple of test shots, then go. Shoot. Enjoy! The photo is the thing, not messing with the machinery!

Hint! In the case of "WIIDOW" (What If It Don't Work? ) anxiety, Auto has saved many fotografers' fannies. Thy camera and thy flash shall comfort thee. Count on it! They are that good!

Now that you have the technical out of the way, concentrate on being the coolest camera jockey those teens have ever seen, and let it show in your work! Good luck.

humminboid added 1627 Minutes and 58 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Sooo, Deanna...how'd the shoot go? Did you just DIE of nervousness? Inquiring minds want to know.

[DeannaD]

haha.. it was really fun! Unfortunately it was pretty chaotic with kids & cameras EVERYWHERE. Often at least one kid was looking at a different photographer. I still had fun practicing! I know what NOT to do for next year when my son has prom.

Here are a few. Tips always appreciated. Thanks for your help!

[KdLaneJr]

Who are the kids looking at in images 1 and 2? Doesn't appear to be you.

[DeannaD]

Right, as the words BEFORE the pictures said they were looking at some of the other 10 people taking their pictures. I was just trying to use fill flash for the first time in an outdoor setting. I didn't really care if they looked at me. Thanks for your very helpful critique tho!

[carrbowl]

Deanna, good for you for practicing...who cares if they were looking or not!! It's hard for the kids if no adults are staying organized and going one at a time. This is also a good time to post the photos and ask questions. I've learned TONS from my mistakes...sometimes I get more feedback than I want but you have to suck it up and know that if they don't tell you, you wont' learn!! Good luck and keep practicing..

[humminboid]

Hey,Deanna:

You did good! Especially as you were in the midst of a gaggle of other photogs.

Not an ideal situation, and certainly no place to start slinging elbows. Leave that to the newsies. Your fill flash worked well.

Something I learned in a NIkon lighting seminar this week end...like your second image of the three girls.

Start the posing with the subjects facing about 30 degrees camera right or left. That's to avoid linebacker shoulders, especially with the young ladies. Then, have them twist their bodies slightly towards the camera, not enough to be uncomfortable, and shoot away!

Of course, that's not possible with a dozen rabid moms and dads ALL demanding "Look this way, or do this, that, or the other thing, without regard to others present. But, one day, you will be the chief photog, then you will be able to direct your client (even if it is your son ) to the best advantage.

Be aware of your bakground.

Another thing, also learned at the seminar: everybody has a "good" side. I knew that, but hadn't ever had anyone tell me what made it so.

We humans are not perfectly symmetrical. One hand and foot are always larger, and other things are always slightly higher/lower/larger/smaller than the opposite number.
One eye is aways slightly higher than another. High eye towards the camera. It'll look better, if only slightly. At least, according to the Nikon tech.

Looking forward to seeing more of your work!