I occasionally get nutty requests from friends for a shoot from time to time. Never major events -- I don't do weddings or anything like that. It's usually a quick portrait session, some product work to help someone sell something online or possibly I get asked to attend a social event and casually work the crowd.
This latest one is odd. Thought I'd share and ask the team what they'd bring to the party.
Some friends are starting something resembling a social club, evening-out club, etc. and they want promotional shots of the two organizing people having a good time out. Casual shots, almost candids, but slightly scripted -- either seated at dinner or standing at a bar full of people. The only creative asks I could discern from them (from asking them for examples of what they're looking for) are low light shots with interesting backgrounds and small DOF -- they are all about hip dangling artisanal lightbulbs, string lights, or possibly neon in the background of the shot. That's the vibe they want. Samples they offered:
The tricky bit is they don't have social/influence/connections pull to actually stage a shoot in a restaurant or bar, so we'll be doing on the D/L without permission, can't use a speedlites, etc. In effect, I need to act like a buddy with a camera shooting his friends and not like a guy trying to nail a shot, chimping, directing the subjects, etc.
Yes, it's a ridiculous ask. I have told them this and they understand. They still want to try.
Was probably just going to bring the 35 f/2 IS and 50 f/1.4 and call it good. The only other remotely large aperture instrument would be shooting my 70-200 f/2.8L IS II on the long end, and I presume that's a non-starter in crowded places.
Tips appreciated. How would you handle this? Not just gear but also tips for using limited available lighting, strategies to setup and shoot very quickly, etc.
- A
This latest one is odd. Thought I'd share and ask the team what they'd bring to the party.
Some friends are starting something resembling a social club, evening-out club, etc. and they want promotional shots of the two organizing people having a good time out. Casual shots, almost candids, but slightly scripted -- either seated at dinner or standing at a bar full of people. The only creative asks I could discern from them (from asking them for examples of what they're looking for) are low light shots with interesting backgrounds and small DOF -- they are all about hip dangling artisanal lightbulbs, string lights, or possibly neon in the background of the shot. That's the vibe they want. Samples they offered:
The tricky bit is they don't have social/influence/connections pull to actually stage a shoot in a restaurant or bar, so we'll be doing on the D/L without permission, can't use a speedlites, etc. In effect, I need to act like a buddy with a camera shooting his friends and not like a guy trying to nail a shot, chimping, directing the subjects, etc.
Yes, it's a ridiculous ask. I have told them this and they understand. They still want to try.
Was probably just going to bring the 35 f/2 IS and 50 f/1.4 and call it good. The only other remotely large aperture instrument would be shooting my 70-200 f/2.8L IS II on the long end, and I presume that's a non-starter in crowded places.
Tips appreciated. How would you handle this? Not just gear but also tips for using limited available lighting, strategies to setup and shoot very quickly, etc.
- A