As I am new to the portrait photography world, could someone please give me some insight to what a good (relatively budget) basic prom portrait set up would work? I have a D200, SB 600 and 800 already, but not much else. I have done a significant amount of wedding photography but I have never incorporated this aspect in to my weddings as of yet. Could someone please share their experience and insight with me? Thank you so much in advance for all of your comments!
Maggie
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Prom Photography (lighting/Flash set up)
- Thread starter msampson
- Start date
Well, first someone needs to put together a very good background, either you or the prom committee. Try to be sure that they give you enough depth to get back a bit and to set your lights so that you don't have to use a wide angle.
Some form of studio lighting would be the best because of the modeling lights and the quick recycle time. Something like ABs would work very well.
But if you have to use your SB600 and SB800 you could trigger them from the D200. Be sure to rotate the base of the flash units so that the sensor (on the battery side) is toward the camera. Be sure to test it in a similar room, in advance, to be sure that the built-in flash will trigger the remotes. If the room is very dark you may have problems.
Since you will be shooting couples I would use two lights bounced off umbrellas (or some other form of diffusion). Put one at about 45 degrees to the side as the main light and the other near the camera for fill, turned down to about 1/3 the output of the main light. Experiment a bit to be sure that you get the ratio you want.
The biggest problem with using SB600/SB800s is that you will end up shooting at about f5.6, even at ISO 400. With some form of studio lighting you can easily shoot at f8, or even f11, and get better results.
Hope this helps a bit. Good luck.
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JohnE
Equipment list in profile
Some form of studio lighting would be the best because of the modeling lights and the quick recycle time. Something like ABs would work very well.
But if you have to use your SB600 and SB800 you could trigger them from the D200. Be sure to rotate the base of the flash units so that the sensor (on the battery side) is toward the camera. Be sure to test it in a similar room, in advance, to be sure that the built-in flash will trigger the remotes. If the room is very dark you may have problems.
Since you will be shooting couples I would use two lights bounced off umbrellas (or some other form of diffusion). Put one at about 45 degrees to the side as the main light and the other near the camera for fill, turned down to about 1/3 the output of the main light. Experiment a bit to be sure that you get the ratio you want.
The biggest problem with using SB600/SB800s is that you will end up shooting at about f5.6, even at ISO 400. With some form of studio lighting you can easily shoot at f8, or even f11, and get better results.
Hope this helps a bit. Good luck.
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JohnE
Equipment list in profile
Good advice from John. I would only change one thing: I've found it works better to shoot through the umbrella rather than bounce off it. That way, the flash is between your camera and the umbrella and there is a direct line of sight between the commander (camera) and remote flash.
I would also say you're much better off getting to manual (remote) settings that work (if you have 10 or 15 minutes to set up and do a little trial and error) rather than using TTL remote. That way you don't have to worry about who's wearing black and who's wearing white -- the same incident light levels will work for either.
I would also use a tripod head that you can easily filp between landscape (for small groups of kids or closeups of couples) and portrait (for longer length views of couples or singles).
If you have a portable inkjet printer, it's a lot of fun to give everyone a 4 x 6 before the end of the evening.
Here are a few examples our high school's prom last year (or maybe the year before last):
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Jim Kaye
I would also say you're much better off getting to manual (remote) settings that work (if you have 10 or 15 minutes to set up and do a little trial and error) rather than using TTL remote. That way you don't have to worry about who's wearing black and who's wearing white -- the same incident light levels will work for either.
I would also use a tripod head that you can easily filp between landscape (for small groups of kids or closeups of couples) and portrait (for longer length views of couples or singles).
If you have a portable inkjet printer, it's a lot of fun to give everyone a 4 x 6 before the end of the evening.
Here are a few examples our high school's prom last year (or maybe the year before last):
--
Jim Kaye
Roy Anderson 4266
Forum Enthusiast
The prior threads have some good advice. I shot a prom a few years ago with Nikon flashes and the results where just not that good. I ended up spending a bunch of time in post processing. I strongly recommend you go get at least one light and a nice big softbox. You could use a reflector to bring in some side light but a second light would be better, as indicated by another post. An Alien bees setup would be pretty cheap or if you don't want to buy anything, look into renting if that's available in your area. Another option is to buy a used setup, but you may be out of time for that.
Here's a few other tips:
Take all your portraits in the beginning to avoid shiny faces that will result when they start "getting down and getting funky" on the dance floor. I like to announce this at the beginning of the dance--its always fun to insinuate that the girls might glisten in their pictures a bit if they don't get the pics first. I don't say "sweaty pig" but thats pretty much how they interpret it.
Shoot candids during the dance (people talking, dancing...). This will drive more traffic to your web site and interest in the pictures. You'd be surprised how many candid shots sell.
If your shooting candids and only have one camera, try to take all the portrait shots up front to avoid changing settings back and forth between portraits and candids. If you've got two cameras, use the lower res of the two for the candids. Most people end up ordering 4x6 or 5x7 of the candids. Take as many as possible. Some parents will buy every shot their kid is in. I had one parent buy 40 candids for their scrapbook.
Get some studio strobes, you won't regret it.
LOL,
Roy
Here's a few other tips:
Take all your portraits in the beginning to avoid shiny faces that will result when they start "getting down and getting funky" on the dance floor. I like to announce this at the beginning of the dance--its always fun to insinuate that the girls might glisten in their pictures a bit if they don't get the pics first. I don't say "sweaty pig" but thats pretty much how they interpret it.
Shoot candids during the dance (people talking, dancing...). This will drive more traffic to your web site and interest in the pictures. You'd be surprised how many candid shots sell.
If your shooting candids and only have one camera, try to take all the portrait shots up front to avoid changing settings back and forth between portraits and candids. If you've got two cameras, use the lower res of the two for the candids. Most people end up ordering 4x6 or 5x7 of the candids. Take as many as possible. Some parents will buy every shot their kid is in. I had one parent buy 40 candids for their scrapbook.
Get some studio strobes, you won't regret it.
LOL,
Roy
Thank you for the advice.... What kind of tripod head would you recommend? Can you give me a link to an example since I am really interesting in buying one. Also does anyone have any recommendations for a digital flash kit (Stands, mounts and umbrellas?) someone has recommended the Insight off of B&W, I just was wondering if there were any others out there. I don't mind doing a lot of work in post editing since I have only about 20 couples max to shoot and I do a lot more work than that when I do weddings (That is my primary photography business). Also, this might be a stupid question, but when you have your built in set to commander, does the built in still go off? How would this effect the pictures if I have it in Portrait vs. Landscape? Thanks again for everything!
Maggie
Roy Anderson 4266
Forum Enthusiast
It is common for a bunch of kids to want extra group shots of 5, 6, or more kids. That's really tough to do with a couple of Nikon flashes. Give some thought up front to how you'll accommodate a group and adjust your light far enough back so that you won't have to readjust if get a group request.
Print some cards up front that you can hand out so that people know the address of your site and hand them to everyone who gets a portrait.
One of the other posters mentioned using a small printer for 4x6s on site. I've never done it, but it sounds like a great idea. I wouldn't try to do too much on your first go around, but if you have help go for it. I think you mentioned doing weddings. If that's the case, then this will be a cake walk compared to a prom.
If the students are doing the background for the shots, make sure you go in when they start decorating. They'll want it to look good, can make choices that make lighting very difficult. I've had to deal with gazebos that made setting up the lights impossible, strong lights right above the subjects that couldn't be dimmed or turned off, highly reflective and distracting materials ... the list goes on. You'll just have to eyeball it to make sure it will work.
Finally, make sure you get some pictures of the chaperons, especially the couples. Those pictures almost always sell well.
LOL,
Roy
Print some cards up front that you can hand out so that people know the address of your site and hand them to everyone who gets a portrait.
One of the other posters mentioned using a small printer for 4x6s on site. I've never done it, but it sounds like a great idea. I wouldn't try to do too much on your first go around, but if you have help go for it. I think you mentioned doing weddings. If that's the case, then this will be a cake walk compared to a prom.
If the students are doing the background for the shots, make sure you go in when they start decorating. They'll want it to look good, can make choices that make lighting very difficult. I've had to deal with gazebos that made setting up the lights impossible, strong lights right above the subjects that couldn't be dimmed or turned off, highly reflective and distracting materials ... the list goes on. You'll just have to eyeball it to make sure it will work.
Finally, make sure you get some pictures of the chaperons, especially the couples. Those pictures almost always sell well.
LOL,
Roy
Does any one have some examples of packages that they have put together in the past for Proms? I have some ideas of my own, I was just curious of what other people have offered.
Did you mean that Proms are easier than Weddings? If so that puts me at ease some since I am kind of nervous using a portrait set up for the first time. It always turns out fine, but I still get a bit nervous. Also the worst that can happen is usually correctable in post production. Any and every advice is absolutely welcome! Thanks again!!!!!
Maggie
Did you mean that Proms are easier than Weddings? If so that puts me at ease some since I am kind of nervous using a portrait set up for the first time. It always turns out fine, but I still get a bit nervous. Also the worst that can happen is usually correctable in post production. Any and every advice is absolutely welcome! Thanks again!!!!!
My own experience is that for this sort of assignment, where the shooting comes fast and furious but still has to be relatively carefully set up, a three-way (pan-tilt) head is better than a ball head -- no need to level it more than once (just change the pitch and rotation as needed), so it saves time in not having to straighten the images later in post. There are many good tripod heads; I happen to have an older version of this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=106&A=details&Q=&sku=445434&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
I mounted a Custom Bracket Pro M on it to keep my on-camera SB-800 (master and fill) above the lens:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=430862&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
I use the "camera flip" feature of the bracket to change from landscape to portrait (rather than flipping the tripod head) -- it's very quick and saves effort in reframing as well as not requiring any change in tripod balance or setup.
Yes, the built-in does fire a bit during the actual exposure but it is really faint and won't influence the lighting overall unless there is something highly reflective opposite the lens -- then you'll get reflected glare and possibly underexposure (if you're using i-TTL). To avoid this you can cover the built-in it with an SG-3IR:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=product.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=SG3IR
or some people have reported success taping a piece of exposed, developed film over it (which apparently can still transmit the infrared light that conveys the commander signal to the remote flash(es).
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Jim Kaye
Roy Anderson 4266
Forum Enthusiast
Regarding packages, I use SmugMug and let folks order whatever they like. Their pro option lets you set prices to whatever you want.
I did mean that weddings are far tougher than proms. I've helped a bit in a few, but never done one and probably never will. At the slightest wrinkle in the perfect wedding plan, normally sane people grow horns, carry pitchforks, and look for people to cast into the pit of fire. It probably doesn't help matters that some of them just took out a second mortgage on the house to pay for it.
Proms are just the opposite. A few of the young ladies will have the jitters, but everyone generally is there to have some fun and go home. Frankly, there a lot of fun.
Roy
I did mean that weddings are far tougher than proms. I've helped a bit in a few, but never done one and probably never will. At the slightest wrinkle in the perfect wedding plan, normally sane people grow horns, carry pitchforks, and look for people to cast into the pit of fire. It probably doesn't help matters that some of them just took out a second mortgage on the house to pay for it.
Proms are just the opposite. A few of the young ladies will have the jitters, but everyone generally is there to have some fun and go home. Frankly, there a lot of fun.
Roy
Antal I Kozma
Senior Member
Believe or not I had the same initial reaction. What? Someone wants to get into porn photography and asks for advise on this forum? Not as if some good advise could not be derived from other photographic disciplines.For some deeply disturbing reason I thought this thread was titled
"Porn Photography"... Although I suspect the basic lighting setups
may well be similar...
Then I realised that; "gee you old pig. You need to use the proper glasses". I started laughing at myself.
Regards to all,
AIK
I have been wanting to try more "shoot through" rather than "bounce off," and am going to use it the next time.
Yes, I should have mentioned shooting manual.
I used to use a tripod, but now usually do better without one, but I understand the preference.
Nice images!
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JohnE
Equipment list in profile
Yes, good point. I had help from members of the parents' committee. Otherwise it would have been impossible. I also live not too far from the high school and had plenty of time to set up beforehand, which was also essential.
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Jim Kaye
I fortunately have 2 assistants that I use for Weddings, plus another friend that will more than help me out if I need it. I don't think anyone has answered (or I am blind) but does anyone have any suggestions for a tripod head that I can use to rotate my camera from Landscape to Portrait view? I am curious since I would really like to buy one, examples would be great. thank you all for the great comments! Maggie
Maggie,
The one I referred to in my second post above will do that, although as I mentioned, I find it easier to do the "camera filp" using the flash bracket.
Others may have additional thoughts...
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Jim Kaye
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