HELP! I need some tips for shooting an event with the A7CR

[jhunna]

I have the A7CR and I am going to shoot a wine festival for a friend of mine. I am going to shoot photos and video, both in the day time and night time. Taking the 50GM and 24GM and I am going to bring my a6700 and 1655G for backup. I am bringing a flash and a shotgun microphone, and some spare batteries.

Just need some ideas on how to tell the best story. Thanks for anything you can advise.

 

[Jeff2013]

Take "establishing shots" of the whole venue and booths with your 24mm. Then take more personalized shots with your 50mm. if people want to pose for you, be creative about their posees. and not just have them stand facing the camera. For really interesting video, use 120 fps (slow motion) for some of the scenes with faster motion.

When outdoors, in the sun, be really careful about blowing-out the highlights (use your zebra's or histogram). Also, get down low for kids, dogs, etc. Pay a lot of attention to busy backgrounds when shooting a subject. I like using just a hint of fill-flash with the sun in the background on outdoor shoots.

--
Jeff
Florida, USA
http://www.jefftitteringtonphoto.com

 

[jhunna]

Take "establishing shots" of the whole venue and booths with your 24mm. Then take more personalized shots with your 50mm. if people want to pose for you, be creative about their posees. and not just have them stand facing the camera. For really interesting video, use 120 fps (slow motion) for some of the scenes with faster motion.

When outdoors, in the sun, be really careful about blowing-out the highlights (use your zebra's or histogram). Also, get down low for kids, dogs, etc. Pay a lot of attention to busy backgrounds when shooting a subject. I like using just a hint of fill-flash with the sun in the background on outdoor shoots.

Thanks Jeff this is exactly what I needed.

 

[lehill]

I have the A7CR and I am going to shoot a wine festival for a friend of mine. I am going to shoot photos and video, both in the day time and night time. Taking the 50GM and 24GM and I am going to bring my a6700 and 1655G for backup. I am bringing a flash and a shotgun microphone, and some spare batteries.

Just need some ideas on how to tell the best story. Thanks for anything you can advise.

When I shoot events, I want the client to be able to look through the photos and recall all the event highlights five or ten years from now.

The festival should have a flyer or announcement with a schedule or list of activities for the day. The organizers feel these are important enough to take up limited space on their flyer/announcement so get photos of those activities. It's a good start for a shot list.

Will there be any special guests, VIPs, speakers, or competitions?

Does your friend have any "must-have" photos they want?

Will there be any booths or vendors? Businesses should be proud of their product and will be happy to grandstand for photographers.

Finally, I've never shot a wine festival before, so I'd like to look at what others have done to get some ideas.

 

[jhunna]

I have the A7CR and I am going to shoot a wine festival for a friend of mine. I am going to shoot photos and video, both in the day time and night time. Taking the 50GM and 24GM and I am going to bring my a6700 and 1655G for backup. I am bringing a flash and a shotgun microphone, and some spare batteries.

Just need some ideas on how to tell the best story. Thanks for anything you can advise.

When I shoot events, I want the client to be able to look through the photos and recall all the event highlights five or ten years from now.

The festival should have a flyer or announcement with a schedule or list of activities for the day. The organizers feel these are important enough to take up limited space on their flyer/announcement so get photos of those activities. It's a good start for a shot list.

Will there be any special guests, VIPs, speakers, or competitions?

Does your friend have any "must-have" photos they want?

Will there be any booths or vendors? Businesses should be proud of their product and will be happy to grandstand for photographers.

Finally, I've never shot a wine festival before, so I'd like to look at what others have done to get some ideas.

THIS was genius!!! Really good ideas to be aware off...

 

[ray_burnimage]

Take "establishing shots" of the whole venue and booths with your 24mm. Then take more personalized shots with your 50mm. if people want to pose for you, be creative about their posees. and not just have them stand facing the camera. For really interesting video, use 120 fps (slow motion) for some of the scenes with faster motion.

When outdoors, in the sun, be really careful about blowing-out the highlights (use your zebra's or histogram). Also, get down low for kids, dogs, etc. Pay a lot of attention to busy backgrounds when shooting a subject. I like using just a hint of fill-flash with the sun in the background on outdoor shoots.

Great advice.

I'd just add that the best shots for gigs like this are often the unposed and candid ones.

Folk tend to freeze up and/or pose when you ask to take their photo. The end result is often "wooden".

What works for me is to just be yourself and socialise, then mention that you're gonna be taking some photos.

Most folk are fine with that, then proceed to ignore you when you are snapping away.

If you go down that route (which I highly recommend) be sure to cull EVERYTHING that isn't flattering to the subject.

The end result can be some gorgeous photos of people being themselves, and they will LOVE the results.

 

[A74Me]

every one has recommended candid shots, the only problem is your lens selection is not good for candid shots you need a lens like a tamron 70 180 2.8 for those dreamy pro shots. 50 mm is to in your face , id also use both cameras at the same time with different lens focal length in this situation the a6700 is no B cam to the a7cr, and would use it over the cr for video even in low light situations.

 

[ray_burnimage]

every one has recommended candid shots, the only problem is your lens selection is not good for candid shots you need a lens like a tamron 70 180 2.8 for those dreamy pro shots. 50 mm is to in your face , id also use both cameras at the same time with different lens focal length in this situation the a6700 is no B cam to the a7cr, and would use it over the cr for video even in low light situations.

I massively disagree with you.

Sure, you can use a 70-180mm and hide behind a tree like a sniper, paparazzi or voyeur. I guess it might work if you’re a bit shy or lacking in social skills etc.

The resultant photos will be very sterile and lacking human warmth though. Like an outsider looking at a party they weren’t invited to from the other side of the fence.

Or, you can socialise, engage and then snap away. Some of the best wedding photos I’ve seen are at 20mm, not 200mm…….

 

[Jacques Cornell]

Who is this for? Why are you doing it? Who is the audience?

--
Event professional for 20+ years, travel & landscape enthusiast for 30+, stills-only.
http://jacquescornell.photography
http://happening.photos

 

[pollup]

every one has recommended candid shots, the only problem is your lens selection is not good for candid shots you need a lens like a tamron 70 180 2.8 for those dreamy pro shots. 50 mm is to in your face , id also use both cameras at the same time with different lens focal length in this situation the a6700 is no B cam to the a7cr, and would use it over the cr for video even in low light situations.

I massively disagree with you.

Sure, you can use a 70-180mm and hide behind a tree like a sniper, paparazzi or voyeur. I guess it might work if you’re a bit shy or lacking in social skills etc.

The resultant photos will be very sterile and lacking human warmth though. Like an outsider looking at a party they weren’t invited to from the other side of the fence.

Or, you can socialise, engage and then snap away. Some of the best wedding photos I’ve seen are at 20mm, not 200mm…….

Hah, we basically wrote the same reply. Needless to say, I agree with you!

The only thing when you're so close is that you really need to shoot with the electronic shutter and disable all the sounds, because when people hear the clicks, they will realize that someone is about to take photos of them, and that will impact their behavior.

That's why I like the A9 and A1, but even the other cameras can handle silent shooting to some degree.

 

[jhunna]

Who is this for? Why are you doing it? Who is the audience?

A friend is selling his wine at a function and asked for photos

I am doing it because I enjoy taking pictures of functions and people.

As of today, myself, him and whomever he decides to share it.

 

[Jacques Cornell]

Who is this for? Why are you doing it? Who is the audience?

A friend is selling his wine at a function and asked for photos

Why does he want them, and how does he intend to use them?

I am doing it because I enjoy taking pictures of functions and people.

As of today, myself, him and whomever he decides to share it.

What is the story you're to tell about the event? From whose point of view will you tell it?

 

[jhunna]

Who is this for? Why are you doing it? Who is the audience?

A friend is selling his wine at a function and asked for photos

Why does he want them, and how does he intend to use them?

I never asked him. He could use them for marketing or just for remembering the event.

I am doing it because I enjoy taking pictures of functions and people.

As of today, myself, him and whomever he decides to share it.

What is the story you're to tell about the event? From whose point of view will you tell it?

Third person, I just want you to get a sense of what it would have been like to be there. And I wanted to show case him pooring displaying his product.

 

[Jacques Cornell]

Who is this for? Why are you doing it? Who is the audience?

A friend is selling his wine at a function and asked for photos

Why does he want them, and how does he intend to use them?

I never asked him. He could use them for marketing or just for remembering the event.

Big difference.

I am doing it because I enjoy taking pictures of functions and people.

As of today, myself, him and whomever he decides to share it.

What is the story you're to tell about the event? From whose point of view will you tell it?

Third person, I just want you to get a sense of what it would have been like to be there. And I wanted to show case him pooring displaying his product.

 

[jhunna]

Who is this for? Why are you doing it? Who is the audience?

A friend is selling his wine at a function and asked for photos

Why does he want them, and how does he intend to use them?

I never asked him. He could use them for marketing or just for remembering the event.

Big difference.

I am doing it because I enjoy taking pictures of functions and people.

As of today, myself, him and whomever he decides to share it.

What is the story you're to tell about the event? From whose point of view will you tell it?

Third person, I just want you to get a sense of what it would have been like to be there. And I wanted to show case him pooring displaying his product.

Any suggestions?

 

[Jacques Cornell]

Who is this for? Why are you doing it? Who is the audience?

A friend is selling his wine at a function and asked for photos

Why does he want them, and how does he intend to use them?

I never asked him. He could use them for marketing or just for remembering the event.

Big difference.

I am doing it because I enjoy taking pictures of functions and people.

As of today, myself, him and whomever he decides to share it.

What is the story you're to tell about the event? From whose point of view will you tell it?

Third person, I just want you to get a sense of what it would have been like to be there. And I wanted to show case him pooring displaying his product.

Any suggestions?

Well, if it's for your friend's nostalgic reflections, then personal interactions, particularly those involving him, will be a key part of the story. If it's for marketing his product, then shots involving the product, including folks enjoying it, will be valuable.

In my fund-raising event work, often it's the event itself that's the product, so I highlight the key figures and look for engagement and emotion among attendees so that folks considering the next event will be more motivated to attend. OTOH, corporate events may be more focussed on distributing information, so I'll pay more attention to what's being said (via visual aids) in presentations.

I try to put myself in the client's shoes, consider what they want the photos to communicate, and think about who the audience is and what we want them to get from the photos.

--
Event professional for 20+ years, travel & landscape enthusiast for 30+, stills-only.
http://jacquescornell.photography
http://happening.photos

 

[panther fan]

Make sure your lens has sufficient close focus ability to get some detail shots of the wine glasses, and bottles.

The 50mm GM doesn't have amazing close focus ability. The 24mm GM is better, but has a very wide perspective (also can't focus super close)

The 16-55 will work fine for this. (I hope) just if you already own a macro just bring it.

Check out the venue lighting beforehand. If you cannot do that bring some lights.

 

[Jacques Cornell]

Make sure your lens has sufficient close focus ability to get some detail shots of the wine glasses, and bottles.

The 50mm GM doesn't have amazing close focus ability. The 24mm GM is better, but has a very wide perspective (also can't focus super close)

The 16-55 will work fine for this. (I hope) just if you already own a macro just bring it.

Check out the venue lighting beforehand. If you cannot do that bring some lights.

I was surprised to find that my Samyang 135/1.8 has a shorter MFD (69cm) than my Samyang 85/1.4 MkII (85cm). Nifty for closeups.

 

[jhunna]

Who is this for? Why are you doing it? Who is the audience?

A friend is selling his wine at a function and asked for photos

Why does he want them, and how does he intend to use them?

I never asked him. He could use them for marketing or just for remembering the event.

Big difference.

I am doing it because I enjoy taking pictures of functions and people.

As of today, myself, him and whomever he decides to share it.

What is the story you're to tell about the event? From whose point of view will you tell it?

Third person, I just want you to get a sense of what it would have been like to be there. And I wanted to show case him pooring displaying his product.

Any suggestions?

Well, if it's for your friend's nostalgic reflections, then personal interactions, particularly those involving him, will be a key part of the story. If it's for marketing his product, then shots involving the product, including folks enjoying it, will be valuable.

In my fund-raising event work, often it's the event itself that's the product, so I highlight the key figures and look for engagement and emotion among attendees so that folks considering the next event will be more motivated to attend. OTOH, corporate events may be more focussed on distributing information, so I'll pay more attention to what's being said (via visual aids) in presentations.

I try to put myself in the client's shoes, consider what they want the photos to communicate, and think about who the audience is and what we want them to get from the photos.

Thanks for this Jacques. I posted the shots in another thread, and I will use these the next time I shot.

 

[Satyaa]

Take "establishing shots" of the whole venue and booths with your 24mm. Then take more personalized shots with your 50mm. if people want to pose for you, be creative about their posees. and not just have them stand facing the camera. For really interesting video, use 120 fps (slow motion) for some of the scenes with faster motion.

When outdoors, in the sun, be really careful about blowing-out the highlights (use your zebra's or histogram). Also, get down low for kids, dogs, etc. Pay a lot of attention to busy backgrounds when shooting a subject. I like using just a hint of fill-flash with the sun in the background on outdoor shoots.

Great advice.

I'd just add that the best shots for gigs like this are often the unposed and candid ones.

Folk tend to freeze up and/or pose when you ask to take their photo. The end result is often "wooden".

What works for me is to just be yourself and socialise, then mention that you're gonna be taking some photos.

Most folk are fine with that, then proceed to ignore you when you are snapping away.

If you go down that route (which I highly recommend) be sure to cull EVERYTHING that isn't flattering to the subject.

The end result can be some gorgeous photos of people being themselves, and they will LOVE the results.

I can relate to this advice.

I am bad at shooting posed photos and most of my audience are bad at posing I get better results with candid shots.

Sometimes, when they realize I am taking a photo, they alert the others and everyone poses. I take a shot and give a thumbs up. Then I take real shots when they go back to what they were doing.

Overall, lot of good advice on this thread.

--
See my profile (About me) for gear and my posting policy. My profile picture is of the first film camera I used in the early 80s, photo credit the internet.