my apologies if there is a previous discussion thread on this... i did a quick search, but didn't find anything that seemed right...
our organization is having a professional development conference over next couple of days... a couple folks are taking pictures informally... as i had my camera, i said i would take some too... figured if nothing else it would be a good learning experience...
well - no frickin' kidding! i am running into a bunch of challenges, and would welcome any suggestions...
here's my list...
1. lighting sucks... speakers were in front of large windows and it was bright outside today... i messed with exposure some to compensate - tonight when i have time to download the photos i'll see if it worked... but not entirely confident i got the mix right...
2. stuff in the way... trying to get clear shots of speakers is tricky! inevitably there is a mike, a water pitcher or other heads in the way... i could move around more than i did today, but it feels awkward... i'm supposed to be paying attention, not skippin' around pretending to be a photog ;p
3. photos of talking heads (literally) don't seem all that interesting... inevitably the speaker is looking down at their notes, or has their mouth open... and unless they are incredibly photogenic, the photos as seen on the camera viewer are underwhelming... when they're not speaking, they aren't generally looking animated...
4. during breaks when people are schmoozing many are fine (thrilled even!!) to have a group shot taken, but they all stand stiff, arms' length apart... i know most of the ones i was photographing and joked them into getting closer together and not looking so wooden, but this is not my forte, and my meager efforts did not accomplish much...
5. during the talks i started looking around to take pictures of the audience... to me, these are the most interesting subjects! some totally engrossed in the content being discussed, some looking bored, some playing on their smart phones, doodling, or otherwise doing something other than paying attention... however, i suspect these photos will not be of interest to the communications folks who want to do a "story" on the conference for internal viewing...
any tips for overcoming these challenges and helping me take photos that might actually be view-worthy and interesting will be much appreciated!
what Jase said...and after you get your clothes back on, get more comfortable with getting the angles and getting closer to the people and speakers. You volunteered, and they expect you to be shooting photos....you're a (the) photog so do it, listen when you can!
Take some snaps of people schmoozing and then go up to them and ask for a group shot...tell them you already have the candids so they don't have to worry about looking bad, you already got that side! Generally do what needs to be done with the photos, rather than worry about your co-workers....they will understand and probably feel at ease on the next day and any after that....
Take some shots that others might not see, like the doodles, or other details, IDK if any of this makes sense or if you're already doing it...kinda rambling before I shut this off and get gone!
1) Not sure what kind of venue this is held in, but if you have any input with those conducting these confrences perhaps you could suggest moving the speaker tables away from the wndows. If not, you'll just have to adjust your camera to deal with the backlighting.
2) You volunteered to be the photographer -- so, be the photographer. Do whatever is necessary to 'get the shot". Don't be so self conscious. I've learned to loose myself behind the lens. Once I'm "in the zone" behind the lens, I become fearless and my world is what I see through the my viewfinder. One you feel comfortable doing that, the rest is easy. That said, you also have to learn to keep a low profile. You don't want to be the center of attention distracting the speakers and their audience. Are you using a zoom? That would help, natch!
3) Shoot a lot. Different angles helps. The more you shoot, the better the chances are that you'll get a better shot (expression, smile, laughter, etc).
4) Don't be timid. Again, you're the photographer. Don't be afraid to pose your subjects. You already said they were enthusiastic about doing so. Pose them in a joking matter. Say something hokey like "Come on, get closer. Act like you like each other." Believe it or not dumb lines like that work.
5) Take these anyway. If you get the right capture I'm sure the speakers will appreciate those shots as well. Hey, the rest of the funny ones you can post here/
@byrdlip tx JA... i think i might try that... could result in a more interesting shot...
@shadesofgrey tx Shades... i actually don't feel like i am "the photog"... i feel more like a nuisance... i would feel sooo much more comfortable if i didn't know anyone there, and if i didn't have status in my position in the organization (i'm a manager, altho' it hasn't quite been articulated exactly what i am manager of... i do strategic planning, project coordination and that sort of "stuff")...
@cromwell tx Cromwell... you've kind of nailed it in that i really do feel self-conscious in doing this... not going to post any of the pictures here... just wouldn't feel right...
@38mm Jase - pppthhh!!! ok - i'm still laughing at your suggestion... and remembering a former boss who said that if things ever got too much for her at work, she'd come in one day, take off all her clothes and sit down at her desk... and see how quickly they escort her off the premises with an offer of a package to stay home... an exit strategy par excellence in my opinion!!!
If there is one thing I learned, you can't feel like the photog, you have to BE the photog....( a little star wars analogy for ya, paraphrased of course)....bottom line is that until you decide to forget feeling self conscious, you will feel it and won't get the photos you want. Here or in "real" life! Just concentrate on getting the shot you see in your minds eye and do what you need to do to get it. After a bit, you will let yourself go and the feeling is amazing....kinda like taking a selfie for the first time...apprehensive but then it gets easier and addictive, you'll feel the spark of why you got into photography in the first place!
Have taken photos at events like this. Just approach the speakers afterwards and pose them during a break. Often they know exactly how to look like they are speaking, but can hold that for you to get your shot. Or look at your photos and how them the bad one and get a "re-do" of the same photo, but with flash or better lighting.
Of the speakers - I think getting up nice and close, on the side, with a zoom lens (250mm-ish), to get a nice depth of field and a different perspective - include their face as well as their hands/microphone as they speak.
I agree with Teresa - @pocketmouse - Move to the side so the light is not directly behind the subject and shoot from there with a zoom lens so the person fills the frame.
If you can to that turn you camera to spot metering and meter of the persons eyes, the background will be blownout but the face should be OK. Check and adjust the exposure compensation accordingly.
Here is a photo I took at a music event:
The lighting at these events are all over the shop but as you can see by zooming in close you can remove all the other stuff and just focus on the subject.
Do what I do and steal chairs... If there is a spare chair around grab it and use that to stand on. Drag it up the front and to the side to get your shot. Drag it down the back to get your shot, heck even drag it on stage and behind the subject to get a "from the speaker" shot.
When talking with people about posing joke about, make them feel compfortable and they will do what every you ask them to do. Get them ot jump in the air with their hands and arms up. Get them to yell, heck get them to do anything that shows emotion.
When I do group shots like this I will normally tell them that we are going to take two photos.... 1) serious 2) stupid stuff where they can do what ever they like. Dont give them too much time to think about it, just count them down and you will suprised what comes out..
thank you so much for all the suggestions and insight... i did manage to put some of this into practice today, and it was fun... i printed out some of yesterday's shots and brought them in this morning and people seemed to like them... i don't think they are great, but then i think of the photos that generally show up on the staff website after conferences or other such events and i think the bar is rather low ;p
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
All else fails, use your flash?
Take some snaps of people schmoozing and then go up to them and ask for a group shot...tell them you already have the candids so they don't have to worry about looking bad, you already got that side! Generally do what needs to be done with the photos, rather than worry about your co-workers....they will understand and probably feel at ease on the next day and any after that....
Take some shots that others might not see, like the doodles, or other details, IDK if any of this makes sense or if you're already doing it...kinda rambling before I shut this off and get gone!
2) You volunteered to be the photographer -- so, be the photographer. Do whatever is necessary to 'get the shot". Don't be so self conscious. I've learned to loose myself behind the lens. Once I'm "in the zone" behind the lens, I become fearless and my world is what I see through the my viewfinder. One you feel comfortable doing that, the rest is easy. That said, you also have to learn to keep a low profile. You don't want to be the center of attention distracting the speakers and their audience. Are you using a zoom? That would help, natch!
3) Shoot a lot. Different angles helps. The more you shoot, the better the chances are that you'll get a better shot (expression, smile, laughter, etc).
4) Don't be timid. Again, you're the photographer. Don't be afraid to pose your subjects. You already said they were enthusiastic about doing so. Pose them in a joking matter. Say something hokey like "Come on, get closer. Act like you like each other." Believe it or not dumb lines like that work.
5) Take these anyway. If you get the right capture I'm sure the speakers will appreciate those shots as well. Hey, the rest of the funny ones you can post here/
@shadesofgrey tx Shades... i actually don't feel like i am "the photog"... i feel more like a nuisance... i would feel sooo much more comfortable if i didn't know anyone there, and if i didn't have status in my position in the organization (i'm a manager, altho' it hasn't quite been articulated exactly what i am manager of... i do strategic planning, project coordination and that sort of "stuff")...
@cromwell tx Cromwell... you've kind of nailed it in that i really do feel self-conscious in doing this... not going to post any of the pictures here... just wouldn't feel right...
@38mm Jase - pppthhh!!! ok - i'm still laughing at your suggestion... and remembering a former boss who said that if things ever got too much for her at work, she'd come in one day, take off all her clothes and sit down at her desk... and see how quickly they escort her off the premises with an offer of a package to stay home... an exit strategy par excellence in my opinion!!!
If you can to that turn you camera to spot metering and meter of the persons eyes, the background will be blownout but the face should be OK. Check and adjust the exposure compensation accordingly.
Here is a photo I took at a music event:
The lighting at these events are all over the shop but as you can see by zooming in close you can remove all the other stuff and just focus on the subject.
Do what I do and steal chairs... If there is a spare chair around grab it and use that to stand on. Drag it up the front and to the side to get your shot. Drag it down the back to get your shot, heck even drag it on stage and behind the subject to get a "from the speaker" shot.
When talking with people about posing joke about, make them feel compfortable and they will do what every you ask them to do. Get them ot jump in the air with their hands and arms up. Get them to yell, heck get them to do anything that shows emotion.
When I do group shots like this I will normally tell them that we are going to take two photos.... 1) serious 2) stupid stuff where they can do what ever they like. Dont give them too much time to think about it, just count them down and you will suprised what comes out..
thank you so much for all the suggestions and insight... i did manage to put some of this into practice today, and it was fun... i printed out some of yesterday's shots and brought them in this morning and people seemed to like them... i don't think they are great, but then i think of the photos that generally show up on the staff website after conferences or other such events and i think the bar is rather low ;p