Tips for shooting class reunion?

[fitzperry]

A friend has asked me to be the "official" photographer for his 25th high school reunion. There are several events--homecoming game, cocktails at a bar after the game, family picnic the following day and dinner that evening. He doesn't have many preconceived ideas about the photography. In fact, he mostly just wants someone to be responsible for getting snapshots of everyone there to be shared with all the attendees afterward.

Obviously I need to be prepared for a lot of low-light shooting at the two bar/nightclub type events. Also, although I'm generally a RAW shooter, I'll be doing these in JPEG because he would like to buy a couple of CF cards that I can simply give to him with the photos when I'm done. Normally, I would object and want to do some processing, but they really can't pay me for that time, so I think this is probably acceptable to me. I'll cull the really bad shots before handing over the cards though Other than that, I haven't had time to give this much thought. Has anyone photographed something like this who would want to share some tips?

My kit includes: Nikon D300, Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, Tokina 12-24 f/4, Nikkor 55-200 f/4-5.6, and the SB-600 speedlight.

Thanks!

 

[MICKEY88]

I 'd be leary shooting jpeg and handing over the cards for 2 reasons, one, bar/nightclub lighting can be extreme, I'd want to shoot raw for best end result...
2nd I've read in several places that deleting pics in camera can corrupt a card, if true, you run the risk of losing everything...

here are pics from a sweet 16 party and a hs prom, both in lighting similar to what you'll encounter in a nightclub...

both shot at iso 400 with my 28-75 2.8 lens



http://www.starrrshots.com/p742112256


http://www.starrrshots.com/p214755361

 

[fitzperry]

I 'd be leary shooting jpeg and handing over the cards for 2 reasons, one, bar/nightclub lighting can be extreme, I'd want to shoot raw for best end result...
2nd I've read in several places that deleting pics in camera can corrupt a card, if true, you run the risk of losing everything...

Those are my concerns as well. I had thought I might do the culling on the computer and just put everything back on the card, but at that point it might be easier just to burn dvd's. I suppose if I'm going that route I could also shoot RAW + JPEG.

here are pics from a sweet 16 party and a hs prom, both in lighting similar to what you'll encounter in a nightclub...

both shot at iso 400 with my 28-75 2.8 lens



http://www.starrrshots.com/p742112256


http://www.starrrshots.com/p214755361

Thanks! These are great and very helpful. Were you using an on-camera speedlight, or did you have off-camera light as well?

 

[MICKEY88]

Those are my concerns as well. I had thought I might do the culling on the computer and just put everything back on the card, but at that point it might be easier just to burn dvd's. I suppose if I'm going that route I could also shoot RAW + JPEG.



Thanks! These are great and very helpful. Were you using an on-camera speedlight, or did you have off-camera light as well?

on camera with my trusty Gary Fong diffuser..

 

[MICKEY88]

the sweet 16 party was the event that switched me to shooting raw, I had been content with my jpeg results... I got to the location early to check the place out and test the lighting etc, was having trouble getting the resus I wanted so I decided to shoot raw+jpeg, when I got home I was having a hard time getting the proper WB on the jpegs, so I opened up the raw, and quickly discovered it was much easier to correct those, I've been shooting nothing but raw since that night..

 

[fitzperry]

on camera with my trusty Gary Fong diffuser..

Excellent. Got that too!

I agree about the benefits of RAW shooting, especially in low light. Wonder if I can shake any more $$ out of them. The compensation is not great, but I agreed to do it as a favor to a friend and for the experience (and of course the fact that the money I do make can be put guilt-free toward a new lens). Much time spent on processing will significantly decrease the hourly rate, but then again my reputation is at stake.

 

[MICKEY88]

Excellent. Got that too!

I agree about the benefits of RAW shooting, especially in low light. Wonder if I can shake any more $$ out of them. The compensation is not great, but I agreed to do it as a favor to a friend and for the experience (and of course the fact that the money I do make can be put guilt-free toward a new lens). Much time spent on processing will significantly decrease the hourly rate, but then again my reputation is at stake.

I generally batch process all my raw files with my sony software, then individually process any that I don't like... eliminates having to do them all one at a time..