OK guys, set me up!!

Been asking alot of questions lately, haven't I?

There's a reason why I'm striving for lovely photos right now....

Ya see, I was asked to photograph a private party hosted by HBO for the Childrens' fund. They're asking for about 300 - 400 pictures from about 400 guests.

However, these guests are not ordinary guests, they're the full cast of the Soprano's, Sex in the City, Robert Dinero, Micky Rourke, and many others right down to Madonna!

After the party, they want all pics put a CD in JPG form.

My only concern was to be able to use a "mistake proof" method of making sure my pics are OK. That's why I entertained the idea of using RAW.

What would you bring to the party?

a professional

[email protected]

Anthony said:

Been asking alot of questions lately, haven't I?

There's a reason why I'm striving for lovely photos right now....

Ya see, I was asked to photograph a private party hosted by HBO for
the Childrens' fund. They're asking for about 300 - 400 pictures
from about 400 guests.

However, these guests are not ordinary guests, they're the full
cast of the Soprano's, Sex in the City, Robert Dinero, Micky
Rourke, and many others right down to Madonna!

After the party, they want all pics put a CD in JPG form.
My only concern was to be able to use a "mistake proof" method of
making sure my pics are OK. That's why I entertained the idea of
using RAW.

What would you bring to the party?

Click to expand...

mccance said:

a professional

[email protected]

Click to expand...

Good answer!

I guess if this wasn't for charity, they'd have a professional.

No fee for this one.

If it is someplace fairly close I'll come and do it for you, you just have to get my wife in...

Scott...

(Been a professional for many years now and have completely adopted the D30 now for work...)

Anthony said:

mccance said:

a professional

[email protected]

Click to expand...

Good answer!

I guess if this wasn't for charity, they'd have a professional.

No fee for this one.

Click to expand...

Anthony wrote:
Backups, and backups for your backups.

Extra storage cards.

Live events I always take my Powerbook (mac laptop) and and assistant. They can help log pictures, get names of the less famous people you may not recognize, as well as swap out cards and download onto the laptop for you if need be.

Extra batteries, lenses, and even an extra camera if possible. I was saved shooting a Sawyer Brown concert once because I packed a small Olympus XA2 (tiny point and shoot camera)in my bag. Images were not as good as my SLR but they were better than no images at all. With some careful Photoshop work, they were good enough to make a magazine article.

A monopod might not be a bad idea. Quick, light, and manuverable it might help with that extra bit of support, especially a couple of hours into the event when your arms are starting to get tired. You won't want to risk blurred pics.

Tons of business cards. Network, network, network...

As with everybody else, I'll volunteer my services and equipment.

Bobby Thompson
Adventure Media

Same here, sign me up! I figure the more D30's you have taking pictures the better. And I'm free.

Best,
David

My D30 and a my Sony Vaio.. extra batteris for the Ex Flash and shoot Large jpg for the entire night (with my trusty 1 g microdrive) Might even buy another 1 g and charge extra.
20-35L & 70-210L
grip as well

Anthony said:

Been asking alot of questions lately, haven't I?

There's a reason why I'm striving for lovely photos right now....

Ya see, I was asked to photograph a private party hosted by HBO for
the Childrens' fund. They're asking for about 300 - 400 pictures
from about 400 guests.

However, these guests are not ordinary guests, they're the full
cast of the Soprano's, Sex in the City, Robert Dinero, Micky
Rourke, and many others right down to Madonna!

After the party, they want all pics put a CD in JPG form.
My only concern was to be able to use a "mistake proof" method of
making sure my pics are OK. That's why I entertained the idea of
using RAW.

What would you bring to the party?

Click to expand...

Hi Anthony,

Firstly, if your not confident doing this assignment…don’t. If you are sure of your ability then pick up on the suggestions already made regarding equipment and precautions to take.

In your position I would try to get a look at the venue, if possible. Then you can check for any obvious problems, get a feel for the lighting, look at how and where you are going to take shots. There is nothing worse than going in cold…!!

I hope it all turns out well for you and don’t forget to post some of your results.
Regards,
John W.

Hi,

Take as much advice as you can, but if you don't do anything you MUST dry run somewhere else before hand. A party, a hotel lobby, a room full of people....anything. You'll get caught out otherwise.

Ian.

Anthony said:

Been asking alot of questions lately, haven't I?

There's a reason why I'm striving for lovely photos right now....

Ya see, I was asked to photograph a private party hosted by HBO for
the Childrens' fund. They're asking for about 300 - 400 pictures
from about 400 guests.

However, these guests are not ordinary guests, they're the full
cast of the Soprano's, Sex in the City, Robert Dinero, Micky
Rourke, and many others right down to Madonna!

After the party, they want all pics put a CD in JPG form.
My only concern was to be able to use a "mistake proof" method of
making sure my pics are OK. That's why I entertained the idea of
using RAW.

What would you bring to the party?

Click to expand...

IanJ said:

Hi,

Take as much advice as you can, but if you don't do anything you
MUST dry run somewhere else before hand. A party, a hotel lobby, a
room full of people....anything. You'll get caught out otherwise.

Ian.

Click to expand...

I truly appreciate all the advice.

I'm not too nervous because this "assignment" is more like:......

Hey Anthony!...Why don't you come to the party as my guest and take a bunch of photos? Take aout 3-400 pics and we'll have our production staff throw many of them on a web site.

I happen to be going to a wedding this evening. I'll get a little practice.

Anthony said:

mccance said:

a professional

[email protected]

Click to expand...

Good answer!

I guess if this wasn't for charity, they'd have a professional.

No fee for this one.

Click to expand...

Interesting. Is the catering being donated too? How about the security, and use of the venue it's being held in?

I can't help but notice, while the party might be for charity, it's being hosted by a company that's probably spending lots of money to host it.

Nothing personal--you probably just didn't know any better--but for the sake of the profession and those trying to make a living, I hope you don't do a very good job.

Anthony,

Anthony said:

Hey Anthony!...Why don't you come to the party as my guest and take
a bunch of photos? Take aout 3-400 pics and we'll have our
production staff throw many of them on a web site.

Click to expand...

In that case, you should have a fun time and get some great shots! Since there's no pressure if you don't actually get any, you don't have to worry about all the backups and extras.

Take a laptop/digital wallet to offload your CF card/Microdrive. Shoot RAW, just so you can control white balance/color casts later - mixed lighting will be tough to get correct at the location. The 550EX preferably on a bracket, use StoFen Omnibounce or similar (see Denis Reggie's post about his wedding shooting in separate thread here). If you're shooting candid/PJ, that should do it. If you can setup poses, maybe take another 550EX/420EX on a lightstand and umbrella and set that off to the side, triggered by the on-camera 550EX.

First off, take a shot of a grey card under the typical lighting - I'd think the event would be well lit, so your flashes will be mostly for fill. Hard to balance with ambient light, but the grey card shot should allow you to set a Custom WB and will help while processing later.

Enjoy!!

• Mohit

Al Goldis said:

Interesting. Is the catering being donated too? How about the
security, and use of the venue it's being held in?

I can't help but notice, while the party might be for charity, it's
being hosted by a company that's probably spending lots of money to
host it.

Nothing personal--you probably just didn't know any better--but for
the sake of the profession and those trying to make a living, I
hope you don't do a very good job.

Click to expand...

That's not a very nice thing to say.

I'd have alot more to say to you, but I'd rather be the "better man", and keep my mouth shut.

I see lot's of "professionals" on this thread, who'd be more than happy to contribute.

Al Goldis said:

Nothing personal--you probably just didn't know any better--but for
the sake of the profession and those trying to make a living, I
hope you don't do a very good job.

Click to expand...

wow... "them be fighting words" in my neighbourhood (Anthony's too)... in fact i've broken many jaws over comments much more subtle than this...

Anthony,

i got your e-mail, so i understand your situation better... don't worry about a thing, just do what you need to do...

here's some advice...

take your best lens (unless it's a megazoom like 100-400)... you'll be taking a lot of group shots...

if you don't already have it, use a bracket and take your flash off the camera... and get a sto-fein (gold, if you can)...

make sure you shoot in center weighed and not evaluative when using flash, i find it gives much more consistent results...

watch your focus points... especially when shooting a group of two... if you let your focus point get lost in between them, you'll get really f###d up pictures... in this case, expose one of the subjects, lock exposure while holding the shutter button, and recompose... getter get used to this sequence quick, as people will not stand around waiting for you to figure it out...

i assume that the party will be in the HBO building by Briant Park... watch out, they have a lot of mirrors in the banquet room there...

enjoy your night... as i told you earlier, i've run into a bunch of the "Soprano's" cast and they're all very good people...

Pasha said:

Pasha said:

Nothing personal--you probably just didn't know any better--but for
the sake of the profession and those trying to make a living, I
hope you don't do a very good job.

Click to expand...

wow... "them be fighting words" in my neighbourhood (Anthony's
too)... in fact i've broken many jaws over comments much more
subtle than this...

Anthony,

i got your e-mail, so i understand your situation better... don't
worry about a thing, just do what you need to do...

here's some advice...

take your best lens (unless it's a megazoom like 100-400)... you'll
be taking a lot of group shots...

if you don't already have it, use a bracket and take your flash off
the camera... and get a sto-fein (gold, if you can)...

Click to expand...

Why Stofen Gold and not white?

As far as fightin' words......The guy probably got beat up on a regular basis in school. He must feel very safe using the 'net.

i just got the gold one yesterday, and on my sample tests, found it much warmer and more pleasing to the eye... it also seems to work better on women with lots of makeup, i don't know why, just looks better... i figure the're will be a lot of makeup where you're going..

Anthony said:

Pasha said:

Anthony said:

Nothing personal--you probably just didn't know any better--but for
the sake of the profession and those trying to make a living, I
hope you don't do a very good job.

Click to expand...

wow... "them be fighting words" in my neighbourhood (Anthony's
too)... in fact i've broken many jaws over comments much more
subtle than this...

Anthony,

i got your e-mail, so i understand your situation better... don't
worry about a thing, just do what you need to do...

here's some advice...

take your best lens (unless it's a megazoom like 100-400)... you'll
be taking a lot of group shots...

if you don't already have it, use a bracket and take your flash off
the camera... and get a sto-fein (gold, if you can)...

Click to expand...

Why Stofen Gold and not white?

As far as fightin' words......The guy probably got beat up on a
regular basis in school. He must feel very safe using the 'net.

Click to expand...

Anthony said:

Anthony said:

Interesting. Is the catering being donated too? How about the
security, and use of the venue it's being held in?

I can't help but notice, while the party might be for charity, it's
being hosted by a company that's probably spending lots of money to
host it.

Nothing personal--you probably just didn't know any better--but for
the sake of the profession and those trying to make a living, I
hope you don't do a very good job.

Click to expand...

That's not a very nice thing to say.

I'd have alot more to say to you, but I'd rather be the "better
man", and keep my mouth shut.

I see lot's of "professionals" on this thread, who'd be more than
happy to contribute.

Click to expand...

I could have worded it better--but not without more caffeine first--and though I said "nothing personal," and meant it in a more metaphoric sense than a personal one, you missed my point entirely.

My point was that you probably didn't even realize that by doing it for free you're either screwing yourself or taking money away from people who are trying to make a living. And let's be perfectly realistic, you're not helping the children's network, you're giving a freebie to HBO.

We see this all the time in the photography business. People just don't realize what they're doing. It's like "Hey, Joe has a nice camera, he can shoot it for free." Yet no one ever says, for example, "Hey, Joe has a nice kitchen, he can cater it for free."