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D750 - Shooting 150+ event

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PatelR

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Hi everyone,

i will be shooting a event with over 150 folks mostly family and friends. I am also hosting this event with lot of help from immediate family. My main gear is nikon d750 and tamron 24-70 f2.8. the venue is indoors with lot of natural light, huge windows and lot of lights inside also. The ceiling is about 30 feet tall. I did a test run today and bouncing flash off the ceiling is not an option.

I am sure many or at least some of you have shot events that you hosted where one has to multitask socializing and taking photos so here are my questions

1) Ill have my tamron 24-70 mounted on d750 primarily. Should i use the flash or just let the d750 do its magic? (great shadow recovery and high ISO performance) I also have a 17-35 wide angle lens. its a family event

2) i am pretty much by myself with taking photos with may be one more person familiar with photography. how do i balance things out with taking photos and socializing

3) any particular settings you suggest for indoor with lot of light from windows? (white balance, metering and fstop)

Thanks a lot in advance!
 
PatelR said:
Hi everyone,

i will be shooting a event with over 150 folks mostly family and friends. I am also hosting this event with lot of help from immediate family. My main gear is nikon d750 and tamron 24-70 f2.8. the venue is indoors with lot of natural light, huge windows and lot of lights inside also. The ceiling is about 30 feet tall. I did a test run today and bouncing flash off the ceiling is not an option.

I am sure many or at least some of you have shot events that you hosted where one has to multitask socializing and taking photos so here are my questions

1) Ill have my tamron 24-70 mounted on d750 primarily. Should i use the flash or just let the d750 do its magic? (great shadow recovery and high ISO performance) I also have a 17-35 wide angle lens. its a family event

2) i am pretty much by myself with taking photos with may be one more person familiar with photography. how do i balance things out with taking photos and socializing

3) any particular settings you suggest for indoor with lot of light from windows? (white balance, metering and fstop)

Thanks a lot in advance!
Click to expand...
auto white balance, point your flash straight up with the bounce card out

I did a castle recently with extremely high ceilings and not too much light and there was more than enough using the bounce card
 
Pros for flash:
If professional quality event style pictures are the priority, be prepared with flash on camera. You don't have to use it all the time. But there is no substitute for good light. Shooting at iso 400 or 800 will produce much better skin tones, color, and clarity than shooting at 3 or 4 stops faster iso, regardless of the capabilities of the D750. Having a flash will eliminate shadows in eye sockets and allow you to compensate for whatever limitations the ambient lighting might present. If I am getting paid to shoot an event, there is a flash on my camera body with the 24-70 lens.

For the flash itself, the previous poster's suggestion to point the flash upward and raise the bounce card works pretty well. There are some attachable modifiers that basically work like larger bounce cards that also work well (for example, Rogue Flashbender).

Cons against flash:
If you like to shoot candids or in more of a journalistic style, you might prefer to shoot without flash. Without flash, guests are less likely to pose for photos as soon as they see you coming. Shooting without flash attracts less attention. Your camera will be more comfortable to carry around without a flash dangling from the top of it.

When shooting with ambient light, you have to observe the light's quality. You've got to wait for you subjects to move to the good light or place them there. Direction of light in relation to direction people are facing becomes important. Etc. Shooting with ambient light can be a more artful approach than shooting with flash, and can produce results that are more unique to the location and ambiance.

Socializing:
I find it's always good to socialize when shooting events, even if I am a hired pro and don't know anyone at the event. If guests see that I am comfortable, relaxed, and approachable, they become more comfortable, relaxed, and approachable.

When I'm shooting an event where I am both the photographer and a host or guest, I find it more difficult to wear multiple hats. But, what can you do, other than go for it and not over-worry it?

Second lens:
You didn't ask, but I think you should bring a second, longer lens. It's nice to sometimes step back and shoot from a bit of distance, and capture some unscripted, personal moments.
 
My suggestion, you being the host, should enjoy the event with your relatives and friends. Hire a capable person (free?) to do the photographing for you. It is not the time to show off your skills.
 
Last edited:
Don't rely 100% on ambient. Use manual mode without auto ISO ( 400 or 800 ISO should be fine), set the camera to record 1 stop or so under ambient, set flash to TTL and let it fill in the rest of the exposure. Grab a Gary Fong lightsphere collapsible or something like it to soften the flash, I shoot mine straight up, with the bounce card up and and no lid, works very well. I recently shot an event with a 20ft + ceiling and this still gave very pleasing results from the straight OOC jpegs.

--
Stacey
 
Last edited:
Stacey_K said:
Don't rely 100% on ambient. Use manual mode without auto ISO ( 400 or 800 ISO should be fine), set the camera to record 1 stop or so under ambient, set flash to TTL and let it fill in the rest of the exposure. Grab a Gary Fong lightsphere collapsible or something like it to soften the flash, I shoot mine straight up, with the bounce card up and and no lid, works very well. I recently shot an event with a 20ft + ceiling and this still gave very pleasing results from the straight OOC jpegs.
Click to expand...
 
PatelR said:
Hi everyone,

i will be shooting a event with over 150 folks mostly family and friends. I am also hosting this event with lot of help from immediate family. My main gear is nikon d750 and tamron 24-70 f2.8. the venue is indoors with lot of natural light, huge windows and lot of lights inside also. The ceiling is about 30 feet tall. I did a test run today and bouncing flash off the ceiling is not an option.

I am sure many or at least some of you have shot events that you hosted where one has to multitask socializing and taking photos so here are my questions
Click to expand...
If it is that important use a p&s or hire a photographer. It is like be the Groom and photographer while the Bride is the second shooter.
PatelR said:
1) Ill have my tamron 24-70 mounted on d750 primarily. Should i use the flash or just let the d750 do its magic? (great shadow recovery and high ISO performance) I also have a 17-35 wide angle lens. its a family event

2) i am pretty much by myself with taking photos with may be one more person familiar with photography. how do i balance things out with taking photos and socializing

3) any particular settings you suggest for indoor with lot of light from windows? (white balance, metering and fstop)

Thanks a lot in advance!
Click to expand...
You need to set up light stands with off camera flash. Use pocket wizards to wireless trigger the flashes. You could also use a SB5000 with a rogue flash bender and minus flash compensation for close quarters.

You really need Two camera bodies the 24-70 and 85 mm prime. A ultra wide lens for room shots before guests arrive and destroy the display and cake whatever.

In short you can't do this in a professional manner. You are either a guest, host or professional.

You will get what you pay for

Search YouTube for more ideas. I shoot the D750 (s) and do this stuff for a living. Spend the money and hire a photographer should not cost you more than $400 - $800 I'd think. Pretty much the cost of having to buy a SB 5000 alone
 
Last edited:
Use the flash to bend light to your advantage. Don't rely on the D750's huge dynamic rage to bail you out of shadows. For closer shots I put the bounce card up on my SB-910 or strap on a smallish soft box diffuser along with the plastic diffuser cover on the flash to soften the light. Consider taking the flash off the camera, put the D750's on-board flash in commander mode and your flash unit on remote. Have your assistant hold the flash at different angles on subjects and get some interesting, more dimensional pictures. Shadows can work wonders on the face. Just have fun with it.

You can buy some great strap-on soft boxes in different sizes on aliexpress.com for really cheap.
 
Last edited:
Hugh2017 said:
PatelR said:
Hi everyone,

i will be shooting a event with over 150 folks mostly family and friends. I am also hosting this event with lot of help from immediate family. My main gear is nikon d750 and tamron 24-70 f2.8. the venue is indoors with lot of natural light, huge windows and lot of lights inside also. The ceiling is about 30 feet tall. I did a test run today and bouncing flash off the ceiling is not an option.

I am sure many or at least some of you have shot events that you hosted where one has to multitask socializing and taking photos so here are my questions
Click to expand...
If it is that important use a p&s or hire a photographer. It is like be the Groom and photographer while the Bride is the second shooter.
Hugh2017 said:
1) Ill have my tamron 24-70 mounted on d750 primarily. Should i use the flash or just let the d750 do its magic? (great shadow recovery and high ISO performance) I also have a 17-35 wide angle lens. its a family event

2) i am pretty much by myself with taking photos with may be one more person familiar with photography. how do i balance things out with taking photos and socializing

3) any particular settings you suggest for indoor with lot of light from windows? (white balance, metering and fstop)

Thanks a lot in advance!
Click to expand...
You need to set up light stands with off camera flash. Use pocket wizards to wireless trigger the flashes. You could also use a SB5000 with a rogue flash bender and minus flash compensation for close quarters.

You really need Two camera bodies the 24-70 and 85 mm prime. A ultra wide lens for room shots before guests arrive and destroy the display and cake whatever.

In short you can't do this in a professional manner. You are either a guest, host or professional.

You will get what you pay for

Search YouTube for more ideas. I shoot the D750 (s) and do this stuff for a living. Spend the money and hire a photographer should not cost you more than $400 - $800 I'd think. Pretty much the cost of having to buy a SB 5000 alone
Click to expand...
Yuck pocket wizards those are so unreliable
 
barrym1966 said:
PatelR said:
Hi everyone,

i will be shooting a event with over 150 folks mostly family and friends. I am also hosting this event with lot of help from immediate family. My main gear is nikon d750 and tamron 24-70 f2.8. the venue is indoors with lot of natural light, huge windows and lot of lights inside also. The ceiling is about 30 feet tall. I did a test run today and bouncing flash off the ceiling is not an option.

I am sure many or at least some of you have shot events that you hosted where one has to multitask socializing and taking photos so here are my questions

1) Ill have my tamron 24-70 mounted on d750 primarily. Should i use the flash or just let the d750 do its magic? (great shadow recovery and high ISO performance) I also have a 17-35 wide angle lens. its a family event

2) i am pretty much by myself with taking photos with may be one more person familiar with photography. how do i balance things out with taking photos and socializing

3) any particular settings you suggest for indoor with lot of light from windows? (white balance, metering and fstop)

Thanks a lot in advance!
Click to expand...
auto white balance, point your flash straight up with the bounce card out

I did a castle recently with extremely high ceilings and not too much light and there was more than enough using the bounce card
Click to expand...
I second the bounce card idea. When I was shooting weddings I tried all sorts of light shapers and Gary Fong attachments and scrapped them all in favor of the little bounce card on my SB-800's or 910's. I normally used them pointed at about 45 degrees though.
 
Stacey_K said:
Don't rely 100% on ambient. Use manual mode without auto ISO ( 400 or 800 ISO should be fine), set the camera to record 1 stop or so under ambient, set flash to TTL and let it fill in the rest of the exposure. Grab a Gary Fong lightsphere collapsible or something like it to soften the flash, I shoot mine straight up, with the bounce card up and and no lid, works very well. I recently shot an event with a 20ft + ceiling and this still gave very pleasing results from the straight OOC jpegs.
Click to expand...
 
Stacey_K said:
Don't rely 100% on ambient. Use manual mode without auto ISO ( 400 or 800 ISO should be fine), set the camera to record 1 stop or so under ambient, set flash to TTL and let it fill in the rest of the exposure. Grab a Gary Fong lightsphere collapsible or something like it to soften the flash, I shoot mine straight up, with the bounce card up and and no lid, works very well. I recently shot an event with a 20ft + ceiling and this still gave very pleasing results from the straight OOC jpegs.
Click to expand...
 
PatelR said:
Thanks for all the advise that everyone has given! I have the yongnuo 568 ex for nikon and when i shoot at +1 on TTL mode it take about 10 seconds to recycle. Do you recommend any external battery pack that may cut down this time? I have a rogue flashbender and a gary fong diffuser.
Click to expand...
10 seconds? I have the same flash, and it's ready to go in less than 2 seconds. I use Eneloop rechargeable batteries (regular, not super powered).

I did discover by accident on my D610, that if I set the camera sync speed to to use FP (I think the options are 1/200FP and 1/320FP...), it will shoot HSS regardless of my shutter speed. This eats up flash power. Recommend set the sync speed in camera to 1/160th, and get reliable shots that don't utilize HSS and don't have any sync issues.
 
richiebee said:
PatelR said:
Thanks for all the advise that everyone has given! I have the yongnuo 568 ex for nikon and when i shoot at +1 on TTL mode it take about 10 seconds to recycle. Do you recommend any external battery pack that may cut down this time? I have a rogue flashbender and a gary fong diffuser.
Click to expand...
10 seconds? I have the same flash, and it's ready to go in less than 2 seconds. I use Eneloop rechargeable batteries (regular, not super powered).

I did discover by accident on my D610, that if I set the camera sync speed to to use FP (I think the options are 1/200FP and 1/320FP...), it will shoot HSS regardless of my shutter speed. This eats up flash power. Recommend set the sync speed in camera to 1/160th, and get reliable shots that don't utilize HSS and don't have any sync issues.
Click to expand...
I shoot in aperture priority. Is that the cause for 10 second delay maybe?
 
barrym1966 said:
Hugh2017 said:
PatelR said:
Hi everyone,

i will be shooting a event with over 150 folks mostly family and friends. I am also hosting this event with lot of help from immediate family. My main gear is nikon d750 and tamron 24-70 f2.8. the venue is indoors with lot of natural light, huge windows and lot of lights inside also. The ceiling is about 30 feet tall. I did a test run today and bouncing flash off the ceiling is not an option.

I am sure many or at least some of you have shot events that you hosted where one has to multitask socializing and taking photos so here are my questions
Click to expand...
If it is that important use a p&s or hire a photographer. It is like be the Groom and photographer while the Bride is the second shooter.
barrym1966 said:
1) Ill have my tamron 24-70 mounted on d750 primarily. Should i use the flash or just let the d750 do its magic? (great shadow recovery and high ISO performance) I also have a 17-35 wide angle lens. its a family event

2) i am pretty much by myself with taking photos with may be one more person familiar with photography. how do i balance things out with taking photos and socializing

3) any particular settings you suggest for indoor with lot of light from windows? (white balance, metering and fstop)

Thanks a lot in advance!
Click to expand...
You need to set up light stands with off camera flash. Use pocket wizards to wireless trigger the flashes. You could also use a SB5000 with a rogue flash bender and minus flash compensation for close quarters.

You really need Two camera bodies the 24-70 and 85 mm prime. A ultra wide lens for room shots before guests arrive and destroy the display and cake whatever.

In short you can't do this in a professional manner. You are either a guest, host or professional.

You will get what you pay for

Search YouTube for more ideas. I shoot the D750 (s) and do this stuff for a living. Spend the money and hire a photographer should not cost you more than $400 - $800 I'd think. Pretty much the cost of having to buy a SB 5000 alone
Click to expand...
Yuck pocket wizards those are so unreliable
Click to expand...
I use the TT1 and TT5 with AC-3 never any problems use them all the time. They are direct connections via hot shoe, no pc cords needed. I have not had any reason not to trust them. Only issue is if you do not replace batteries then yes they do not work.
 
PatelR said:
Stacey_K said:
Don't rely 100% on ambient. Use manual mode without auto ISO ( 400 or 800 ISO should be fine), set the camera to record 1 stop or so under ambient, set flash to TTL and let it fill in the rest of the exposure. Grab a Gary Fong lightsphere collapsible or something like it to soften the flash, I shoot mine straight up, with the bounce card up and and no lid, works very well. I recently shot an event with a 20ft + ceiling and this still gave very pleasing results from the straight OOC jpegs.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
PatelR said:
I shoot in aperture priority. Is that the cause for 10 second delay maybe?
Click to expand...
No. You should be able to shoot full power all the time and not deal with a 10 second delay.

That said, why leave it to aperture priority? Why not just fix the shutter speed and aperture, and let iTTL do its thing?

R.
 
j_photo said:
PatelR said:
Stacey_K said:
Don't rely 100% on ambient. Use manual mode without auto ISO ( 400 or 800 ISO should be fine), set the camera to record 1 stop or so under ambient, set flash to TTL and let it fill in the rest of the exposure. Grab a Gary Fong lightsphere collapsible or something like it to soften the flash, I shoot mine straight up, with the bounce card up and and no lid, works very well. I recently shot an event with a 20ft + ceiling and this still gave very pleasing results from the straight OOC jpegs.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
richiebee said:
PatelR said:
I shoot in aperture priority. Is that the cause for 10 second delay maybe?
Click to expand...
No. You should be able to shoot full power all the time and not deal with a 10 second delay.

That said, why leave it to aperture priority? Why not just fix the shutter speed and aperture, and let iTTL do its thing?

R.
Click to expand...
To be honest i have never shot in manual mode but i am open to learning. I shoot landscapes mainly. For a indoor event with good ambient light what settings should i set? I have a trail run today so i can test it out.
 
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