Equipment to Take on Cruise

[itsmeamanda]

I'd love to not have to shell out hundreds of dollars for the Shutters CD on our upcoming cruise. We're traveling with another family (the mom in that family has a photography hobby as well).

So my question is this:

What equipment do I need to take in order to replicate (to the best of my ability) the images that the Shutters photographers take? i.e. external flash, flash bouncer, etc.

Thanks,

-Amanda

 

[andytaro]

It might be helpful if you can reveal equipment you have. Otherwise, I can't give you good advice.

 

[itsmeamanda]

It might be helpful if you can reveal equipment you have. Otherwise, I can't give you good advice.

Here is my measly set up:

Nikon D50
85mm/1.8
50mm/1.8
35mm/2.0 (I think it's a 2.0)

Speedlight SB-600

Thanks for your help!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I don't think SHutters will let you use their setups, if thats what you mean. Otherwise my bad!

 

[itsmeamanda]

I don't think SHutters will let you use their setups, if thats what you mean. Otherwise my bad!

Daisy,

I guess I should've specified that I didn't mean the "sets," but mainly the images they take while you're at dinner and on Castaway Cay and with the characters.

Thanks!

Amanda

 

[ssanders79]

You should be just find with your 50 f1.8. I've been able to get by with just a 35mm f/1.8 in the dining rooms and character meet and greets. Feel free to look in my Flickr collections at my DCL sets.

I do not have a speedlight so that would also be a plus. The only issue is that most of the meet & greats are in the atrium lobbies where there is not ceiling to bounce your flash. The shutter photogs have light boxes to aid them.

As for the backdrops for the "formal" pictures they have never said no, but they do not offer to shoot with your camera.

 

[itsmeamanda]

You should be just find with your 50 f1.8. I've been able to get by with just a 35mm f/1.8 in the dining rooms and character meet and greets. Feel free to look in my Flickr collections at my DCL sets.

I do not have a speedlight so that would also be a plus. The only issue is that most of the meet & greats are in the atrium lobbies where there is not ceiling to bounce your flash. The shutter photogs have light boxes to aid them.

As for the backdrops for the "formal" pictures they have never said no, but they do not offer to shoot with your camera.

Thanks for your help! The character greets were one of my main concerns. I know that there are some pretty neat diffusers out there for times when you cannot bounc your flash, so I think i am going to look into on of those as well.

I am off to take a look a your flickr set.

Thanks again!

Amanda

 

[Evad]

I brought everything listed in my siggie and found no real challenges that I couldn't overcome. I also had my tripod and a diffuser for my speedlight as well as a polarizer filter to help with the bright tropical sun.

My Tamron was on the body nearly 90% of the time. You should be fine with what you have.

 

[itsmeamanda]

I brought everything listed in my siggie and found no real challenges that I couldn't overcome. I also had my tripod and a diffuser for my speedlight as well as a polarizer filter to help with the bright tropical sun.

My Tamron was on the body nearly 90% of the time. You should be fine with what you have.

Dave,

Thanks for your help! Do you mind sharing what type of diffuser you use?

 

[andytaro]

After looking at your equipment list, I recommend 50mm and 35mm for your cruise. Also taking your flash will be very helpful. Most of picture I've taken during character greet and meals, I used 24-50mm. However, I used full frame camera, and I notice you use a crop camera (1.6x) so 50mm might be too long, and you might feel you need a wider lens than 35mm during a character meal due to space limitation.

In regards to diffuser, you can pick up a stofen diffuser.

I would recommend using aperture bigger than 5.6f when taking photo with character(s) so everyone in picture will be likely in focus.

 

[TXFL]

You already have a nice setup, maybe add the Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce and a tripod and you are set. When it comes to pictures with characters always let the Disney photog take the first picture then the photogs assistant can take a picture of you and your friends/family; just make sure camera and flash are already setup and ready to go. Enjoy your trip

 

[Evad]

Dave,

Thanks for your help! Do you mind sharing what type of diffuser you use?

As others said above me I have the Sto-fen Omni-Bounce. It works really well. Glad I brought it!!