Hi all,
I got an event in a ball room coming up at Grand Hyatt, about 35 tables. It is NOT a wedding but something like an organization event.
So there will be mass game, speech, prize presentation, table shots, etc.
I took weddings before but not in any official capacity. Just use fast primes like those f/1.4 without flash and shoot from far so as to not interfere with the actual day photographers. But now in this event, I will be the main and only official photographer. So I am a bit clueless. Not because of lack of confidence. Just try to minimize mistakes that I can avoid making by learning from you all.
I have a D300.
Lens:
10.5 2.8 FE
11-16 2.8
17-55 2.8
18-200 3.5-5.6
30 1.4
50 1.4
85 1.4
70-200 2.8 VR2
Flash:
SB900
Diffuser:
Gary Fong Lightsphere II Clear
Gary Fong Lightsphere II Cloud
Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce like (default SB-900 cap)
Bounce card (default SB-900 bounce)
SoftLite Diffuser from Passion Photographers (made from someone in PSS)
I most likely will not rent a second body so will make do with one body.
For lens, I think I have a good range to choose from. Am thinking of 2 or 3 the most to bring along.
My sharpest lens are the 85 followed by the 70-200. So initially I thought of bringing the 30, 85 and 70-200 and shoot mainly without flash. But will bring SB900 as backup. Then I remembered that most ballroom will need flash.
So most likely I might changed to 17-55 and 70-200 only. I do like the 85 a lot for the bokeh but from other experiences, I may not have time to change lens so fast or sometimes I am just lazy to do that. 85 also means I may have to go up close for the speech. And for wide angle shots, it's almost impossible.
I am very new to flash and flash diffusers. I find all the flash diffusers are almost the same. The difference are too subtle to tell most of the time and they perform differently in different conditions. So I end up using the default SB-900 cap because it's the lightest and easiest to carry.
Can anyone advise me:
- What I need to look out for.
- What lens combination you suggest.
- What diffuser you suggest.
- Do I shoot in TTL or manual flash?
Not a paid thingy but doesn't mean I can live with sloppy work. Thanks.
I got an event in a ball room coming up at Grand Hyatt, about 35 tables. It is NOT a wedding but something like an organization event.
So there will be mass game, speech, prize presentation, table shots, etc.
I took weddings before but not in any official capacity. Just use fast primes like those f/1.4 without flash and shoot from far so as to not interfere with the actual day photographers. But now in this event, I will be the main and only official photographer. So I am a bit clueless. Not because of lack of confidence. Just try to minimize mistakes that I can avoid making by learning from you all.
I have a D300.
Lens:
10.5 2.8 FE
11-16 2.8
17-55 2.8
18-200 3.5-5.6
30 1.4
50 1.4
85 1.4
70-200 2.8 VR2
Flash:
SB900
Diffuser:
Gary Fong Lightsphere II Clear
Gary Fong Lightsphere II Cloud
Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce like (default SB-900 cap)
Bounce card (default SB-900 bounce)
SoftLite Diffuser from Passion Photographers (made from someone in PSS)
I most likely will not rent a second body so will make do with one body.
For lens, I think I have a good range to choose from. Am thinking of 2 or 3 the most to bring along.
My sharpest lens are the 85 followed by the 70-200. So initially I thought of bringing the 30, 85 and 70-200 and shoot mainly without flash. But will bring SB900 as backup. Then I remembered that most ballroom will need flash.
So most likely I might changed to 17-55 and 70-200 only. I do like the 85 a lot for the bokeh but from other experiences, I may not have time to change lens so fast or sometimes I am just lazy to do that. 85 also means I may have to go up close for the speech. And for wide angle shots, it's almost impossible.
I am very new to flash and flash diffusers. I find all the flash diffusers are almost the same. The difference are too subtle to tell most of the time and they perform differently in different conditions. So I end up using the default SB-900 cap because it's the lightest and easiest to carry.
Can anyone advise me:
- What I need to look out for.
- What lens combination you suggest.
- What diffuser you suggest.
- Do I shoot in TTL or manual flash?
Not a paid thingy but doesn't mean I can live with sloppy work. Thanks.