Sweet 16 party

[jlozano180]

I was ask to do a sweet 16 for a friend, I have a rebel xt 350d with the 18-55 lens kit. I wanted to know if I should get the 580 flash or the 420 flash and what other lens should I get? the place that am doing the pictures is in a party hall. Any tips whould help, thankyou. Also what setting should I use?

[Liam:]

If youve got the money get the 580,
My freind took his 50mm f1.4 to a 16th they came out well
But the kit lens or the cheaper 50mm f1.8 will probs do.
As for settings long exposures look really cool,
experiment.

[DAMphyne]

Check into a flash brackett to get the flash farther from the camera, and maybe a diffuser.

[pup]

It all depends what you want to spend...

[StealthLude]

He needs a flash before he can get a bracket. Id say go for a 430ex or a 580ex if you can afford it. Getting an external speedlight flash for something like this is going to be your best friend. If the place has dim lighting, your going to tank youself for sure.

Other option is getting a really fast lens, but shooting at f 1.4 or something like that fir your first time might be a little hard. Lenses with a very shallow DOF have a learning curve to them, so I would go for the more DOF and add the light youself combo.

If you are comfortable with a prime lens, or fast lenses, a 580ex and bounce light would give you the absolute best looking photos.

[Vinni]

Using the kit lens at a party hall is like trying to light your way with a candle, your aperture is not going to get you far. Either invest in a good flash (not advised) or get a faster lens, I suggest the latter because fill flash is never really pleasing to the eye in a dark(er) environment.

[Hellashot]

I was ask to do a sweet 16 for a friend. Also what setting should I use?

When is this party? Learning external flash indoors isn't a quick process, unless you want to leave it on P mode and hope for the best. Do you feel the need to spend $300+ for a flash, that you obviously haven't had the need to use yet, just for this party? Are you getting paid?

I'd suggest using the built-in flash and just know your limits of what you can do with it. Learn with the flash you have then graduate to an external when you know how to use M mode with your flash instead of auto or P modes.

[bobbywang]

on the contrary to what vinni says, i'm going to have to suggest that you go get a flash for now. bounce it off the ceiling and your shots will come out just fine, you'll also be able to get a bit of the ambient background.

[jlozano180]

I have done a wedding before with the stock flash and the 18-55 lens kit and the picture came out nice. I will post some of them up. The party is next Saturday and I will be getting paid for this. I already ordered my book for the 580 flash. I also plan a getting the diffuser. what lens should I get that fast?

[prime]

I have done a wedding before with the stock flash and the 18-55 lens kit and the picture came out nice. I will post some of them up. The party is next Saturday and I will be getting paid for this. I already ordered my book for the 580 flash. I also plan a getting the diffuser. what lens should I get that fast?

Probably a 50mm f1.8, or f1.4 if you can afford it, or an 85mm f1.8. I guess a 50mm would be better if you were planning on using the kit lens initially.

[RgB]

On a XT a 50mm will be to long you might need something wider, my 24-70mm on my 30D isn't wide at all.

[jlozano180]

On a XT a 50mm will be to long you might need something wider, my 24-70mm on my 30D isn't wide at all.

Is there another lens that I can get that isnt so expensive. that price for that lens is out of my price range. Can I get a 28-135mm lens?

[cdifoto]

You can get more mileage out of your current kit plus a 430EX flash than you can a prime lens or decent zoom, cost-wise. You never really stated a budget so we can't recommend lenses yet.



As an aside I have to be blunt and say I think if you're getting paid for something like this, you should already know what tools you need for the job. While it's not a wedding, she does only have one 16th birthday and money = expectations.

[Zepher]

Good luck and post a few shots from the party so we can see how they turn out.
I am also shooting a Sweet 16 party for a friend of mine in our Car Club on June 1st.
I plan on having a friend of mine help me since I will also be shooting the video.
He'll be using his Rebel XT and 50mm 1.8, I'll be using either a 10D with a 50mm 1.4 and 28-105, or a 20D with the 50mm 1.4 and EFS 17-85IS. 580's will be on the 2 cameras we bring just in case it is really really dark in there.

[jlozano180]

Its not big money, its for my best friend's consin. This is why I tring to get the best advice from you guys. I have done other party before, but I dont have all the skills and the experience that some of you guys have. I want to take good pics even if the money is not so high. I will post pics from a wedding the I was invite to, and I took pics with my camera, just to get more practice.

[RgB]

Is there another lens that I can get that isnt so expensive. that price for that lens is out of my price range. Can I get a 28-135mm lens?

I wasn't saying to get it, I was saying even it isn't ideal you need something wider.

[RgB]

Use your kit it's the perfect range for this. Just get a good flash.

[jlozano180]

Here are the pics I took at the wedding
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/jlozano180/KenyasWedding004.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/jlozano180/KenyasWedding023.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/jlozano180/KenyasWedding030.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/jlozano180/KenyasWedding060.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/jlozano180/KenyasWedding063.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/jlozano180/KenyasWedding127.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/jlozano180/KenyasWedding149.jpghttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/jlozano180/KenyasWedding154.jpg

[jlozano180]

this is with the 18-55mm lens and the stock flash.

[Liam:]

They came out well,
I would recemend the sigma 30mm f1.4 if you want a WA,
I have seen and heard gd reviews of this lens

[jlozano180]

Thanks for the comments, Thats me in the last picture, on right with the white shirt.

[liza]

If you're wanting to invest in a lens for future work or just an all around good lens, consider the 17-55 IS. It's a good focal range, has fantastic image quality, and has IS for low light. That lens and the 580EX should serve you well. If you want more of a budget lens, the Tamron 17-50 or a Sigma 30mm 1.4 would suffice with the 430EX.