Family Portrait in Hotel-What would you do?

[phichef]

I have a job tomorrow night doing a family portrait of 5 in a local hotel lobby. We are allowed to start shooting at 6:45 and their dinner reservation is at 7:30, so we will have 45 minutes to shoot.

It is very elegant with lots of good settings, color and lighting. I am debating whether or not to take my lighting set up or just shoot with my camera and speed lite. I shot there once before when I was in school for a bridal model class and of course we took the whole shebang (because the class was all about learning to set up and shoot on location).

With such limited time constraints I am concerned that with the set up of my lighting I will be wasting valuable time I could be shooting.

Here is a link to the hotel, showing where It will be: http://www.thehermitagehotel.com/site/hotel.aspx

Would you take all the gear or just shoot with the speed lite. If I take the lighting I will have to use the valet parking so I can unload at the door, otherwise I'd have a long walk from self parking (and the fact that the area surrounding the hotel is not the safest place to leave your car unattended).

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

[Aszental]

why don't you arrive 15-20 min early to set up and take a few test shots?

If they are paying customers you want to make sure you get the shots, what happens if the speedlight isnt adequate?

[egordon99]

Ditto getting there early to setup. Depending on the ceilings/walls available, the speedlight may or may not be suffice. The client is paying YOU to do the best job you can, so if you need your lighting setup, take it!

[AdrianeCale]

I agree. I always "case the joint" before any shoot. I'd have the gear packed up in the car just in case, but if the speedlite will work, then by all means, use it.

[amfoto1]

Hi Kristil,

Here's what I've done in that situation....

If you have anyone who can help you, take the lighting, go an hour or more early and set it up at one of the more ideal locations. Scout around for several other nearby locations you'll use as well.

When they arrive, take a few poses with the lighting set up first.

Then switch to your portable flash and walk them around to a few other locations and take some more shots, maybe semi-candids, whatever, while the person who came with you keeps an eye on your lighting equip.

After they go off to their dinner reservations, go back and take down your lighting rig.

You do have the hotels permission to shoot there, don't you?

[phichef]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I have decided to take my lights.

As I said I have shot in this lobby before and it has a lot of available light, however to the side of the lobby is an awesome staircase leading to a small platform area where a baby grand piano is located. The stairs definitely will need lighting. To the right of it is a wall that has mirrors made to look like windows, with panes crossing the mirror and elegant couches in front. That section is well lit as is most of the rest of the lobby.

The lady who contacted me got permission from the hotel to shoot. They told her that there is a wedding rehearsal dinner that will be going on as well and that it would be okay to start shooting at 6:45.

I am definitely going early, even though I know the layout, just to be sure I can set up and shoot where I am envisioning. I am trying to talk my husband into going with me for helping with the equipment, but not sure that I can get him to go.

[airfrogusmc]

Go early, set up and test is great advise. I would say to capture some of the environment, camera, tripod, soft light off to one side about 45 degrees and one over camera for fill (also soft) and drag the shutter. Ambient 1 stop less than flash so the ambient doesn't over power (good starting point anyway) but still has good detail.

[PhotosGuy]

It is very elegant with lots of good settings, color and lighting. Keep in mind that a family portrait is only going to use a very small part of that elegant setting, & try to not lose sight of what your objective is; to make the family look great. ;)
So do whatever you have to do the get that done.

[a_kraker99]

Keep in mind that a family portrait is only going to use a very small part of that elegant setting, & try to not lose sight of what your objective is; to make the family look great. ;)
So do whatever you have to do the get that done.


Very good point. I was doing a family photo a few months back and I wanted a nice setting for them but I realized that with group photos you almost fill the frame completely with people in most cases so the setting isnt really all that important.

[phichef]

Good ideas everyone. I do want to remember to focus on the family, not the background. I am thinking the couches and the stairs will probably offer my best shots. And from what I remember it would be the best place to set up the lighting (plugs evenly spaced between the two settings and to the side of the main part of the lobby away from most of the traffic).

Last time I shot there it was a bridal model shoot and the background played an important part in the shoot.

I just reloaded my lighting equipment, took out things I would not need and added things I would. I had to go this morning and get another extension cord. On my first shoot last week I found that my breaker bar had three prongs and my extension cord (both of them) only had two. Would have been a major screw up but was able to borrow a cord. Tonight it is just me and no way to borrow anything so I am glad I discovered that last week!!

I am sure it will go fine. I work part time in a portrait studio so posing is no issue.

Thanks for all your advise and wish me luck!!

[phichef]

Thought I'd give you an update on how my shoot went. I arrived 45 minutes early, took my studio lights. The hotel staff was clueless. Next time I should remember to get the name of who authorized the shoot with the client, or just call them myself.

Waited around about 15 minutes meanwhile putting my camera equipment together. Still no word from staff about setting up lights. Set about shooting test shots in various locations. Found out about 5 minutes before clients due to arrive that I was not able to set up studio lights. There was a large buffet set up on one side for a bridal reception, but there was still lots of areas available.

Ended up taking about 80 shots in 5 different locations with several different family groupings in about 20 minutes. Made sure to take several shots of each grouping. Most came out really great, some underexposed a bit, but had good duplicates of those that were correct.

Client only wants a few of the shots for printing, so plenty of good stuff to choose from.

Another good learning experience and MY FIRST PAID SHOOT FOR SOMEONE I DID NOT KNOW!! Whew, now on to the post work!

[rsmedley]

You might consider buying an AlienBees Ring Flash for these types of situations. The thing takes shadow-free portraits and doesn't require setting up studio lighting. I used it on my first wedding for the formal portraits and it worked very well. It is very bright though so you need to warn the "victims" lol. I bought the Vagabond II battery for power so it's pretty darn portable.

Glad it went well for you though!

[amfoto1]

Hi Kristil...

You do have the hotels permission to shoot there, don't you?

Hi again,

The problem you ran into is exactly why I asked that earlier.

At all 24/7 facilities like that, there are different shifts each day and on weekends. Even if you have permission from one, that may not be communicated to the manager on duty at the appointed time. Best to get it in advance, in writing, and with the signature/name/phone number of the highest person up the corporate ladder you can get to buy off on it.

Otherwise, the inclination of the manager on duty is too often just to say "nope".

Glad you were able to regroup and just get the job done. That's what counts in the end.

[MikeMcL]

take the gear. you are a photographer. do the job.

Go all the way. you will never regret the energy you expended.

[NZDoug]

All of the above advice is good, but, ask the hotel manager where the coolest photography spots are, as they know the "classics". ;)