Prom night Photography

Hi Everyone

I wonder if anyone could offer any advice.

I've been asked by a friend to photograph her daughter and school friend before her Prom night next week. I'll be going over to her house (not seen it before) and she wants photographs in her new dress, with her friend, getting into the posh car they've hired etc. I've photographed her before in a studio environment (I'll upload an image to my gallery) and I'm fairly confident in that environment, however not so used to shooting "on location" so to speak.

Just wonder if anyone had any good ideas regarding :
- Kit that would be useful (I have a K5, Kit Lens, DA50-300 and a manual 50mm Prime)
- Any ideas for poses?
- Any ideas for shots?
or any general advice really.


Thanks in advance

Andy

Kit lens and have a look at a book or website on wedding photography. You can adapt the ideas of shooting the bride getting ready and leaving/arriving in the car. Different event of course, but the ideas will be sound.

Having a daughter that age myself I think you'll find they'll take care of the posing themselves, just go with the flow. I can't imagine the 50-300 will be of any use at all. The 18-55 will cover it. I'd use an on-board flash with a Stofen diffuser.

I'd take the 50 and 50-300 as well and fire a few off with them also. it'll be a good learning experience on what you can get out of different lenses.

Do the usual posed dress shots obviously but I bet they'll love the relaxed candid shots.

This thread is very well timed as I've been asked to take some photos of my girlfriend's daughter and her friends on their Prom night. I'm slightly worried I'll cock it up as I'm not much of a people photographer, but as Ken says hopefully they will do their own posing.

300mm? Must be a hell of a size of a stretch limo.

50-300 is great focal length range for getting candids of people and close up details of the event. A wide range of perspectives makes for am interesting and diverse gallery IMO and taking that lens along would be a good compliment to the 18-55

I would urge the photographer to forget about trying out different lenses, there will be quite enough going on. Just like a wedding, the subjects will be distracted and eager to get on with things. There will be little time to mess, just get on with it and give them what they expect - nice flattering pictures quickly and without fuss.

It's all about the customers' expectations and the real trick is in guiding and controlling the shoot as much as we can in very limited circumstances.

I'd just go with the kit lens as your going to be in the house... Take the fast-fifty too...

As Smeggypants said longer lenses are great for candids at events but you implied that you're going to a house (pre-prom) rarther than the prom itself... I don't think you'll need the extra length...

Do you have a flash you can 'bounce'?

If not...
Windows are good lighting tools... a net curtain in your bag can act as a diffuser for window light and soften the sun... Dial your pop-up right down as a 'fill'...

Hope helps...
Dave

Fortunately many photographers would ignore that advice. My friend runs a very successful wedding photography business and uses all kinds of different lenses on a shoot.

Proof is in the pudding ....

http://www.dottiephotography.co.uk/#/image-gallery-1/




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the 50-300 range will be great for picking out details or candid close ups even in the house, such as dress accessories and whatnot.

Given the K-5s great ISO performance the use of flash can be kept to a minimum too.

The advice is aimed at someone doing this for the first time. It would be wise to Keep It Simple and get it right.

Plenty of time later, after some practice, to broaden the repertoire.

Catch-22

Taking along some other lenses isn't going to break the shoot. It takes seconds to change a lens.

Anyway there's a diverse range of opinions here for Hullman. Hopefully he'll take all advice on board and make his own decision

Have done a few prom shoots at clients home. Kit lens will be adequate, time of shooting will be around 6to 7 ish so nice lighting flash with a bit of fill for shadows. If they have a tall hedge or wall use that as a back drop and stand the subjects 3 or 4 feet in front of it. Shots would digest the following;

Daughter with mum
With
Dad
Daughter mum and dad
daughter siblings
Whole family
Daughter on own
Head and shoulders
Waist up
Full length
Then with transport

Hope that helps, like John said don't get bogged down with lens swaps you will have such a limited amount of time.

Apart from that enjoy.

Thanks guys, some great advice here.

I do like the idea of tring to keep things simple and concentrating on getting the shots rather thn worrying about kit.

I'll let you all know how I get on

Cheers