Shooting in an office

[sixshot]

I have a Canon 300 with a couple of lenses, but in a couple of weeks will be buying myself a 20D along with a 17-40 f/4 L lens.

Now, I have been asked to take some photos in an office of meetings and training for some in-house material. I will be using my new kit (when I get it) to do this. The thing is, I have never shot anything like this before, so would love some advice and suggestions.

Most of my work is landscape and cityscape photos - hence outside. Also, I have no lighting.........I know, not good. On top of that I'll be using a unfamiliar camera - I will take it out for a week or so first to get a feel for it, but this still doesn't get past the fact I have never done this kind of work before.

Also looking at getting 50mm f/1.4. Maybe this would be good to shoot with.

[tim]

I'd use an external flash bounced off a roof with a diffuser, and shoot RAW so you can fix the white ballance later. Alternately use JPG and do a custom white ballance. the 50mm would be fine, but you're going to want F8 or so, so the 1.4 isn't important. I'd use longer than 40 though, otherwise you'll make fat people look fatter and noses look bigger.

[Nabil-A]

i would have thought a 20D would allow you to shoot in iso 400 or 800 with minimal noise and not have to use an external flash.

[Wazza]

Beware the 17-40 with 20D, the built in flash doesn't clear, as the lens has such a large diameter of 77mm, and so close to the body. Any flash shots taken at 17mm, less than maybe 3 metres, will cast a big circle shadow on the bottom or sides of shots depending how you're taking them. If you do use the flash though, I generally use M mode, and set to 1/60th. AV mode with flash is not great, it will probably ask for maybe a 1/4th or less.

[PhotosGuy]

Since it's your office I suggest that you do some setups a FEW DAYS before & see which suggestion you get works the best. Here's what I'd try first. Use a tripod. Most offices have flourescent lighting which is green & you need to "fill" it in with some white light. Custom WB to start. Try setting the cam on "M" at what would be the proper exposure for no flash. See if you can get around f/8 for some DOF. Pop up the flash & use a card or tinfoil to angle the light up to the ceiling. Take a shot & chimp. Adjust. Shoot again. Etc. You should be able to zero in on an acceptable exposure by adjusting the shutter speed & ISO.
Finally, shoot RAW. You'll be glad you did! Remember, PPPPPP, & good luck.

[S230]

Technically you should not have any difficulty even shooting in auto mode with a kit lens.
Most meeting rooms and offices are small unless your's is huge. Depending on how demanding your photos need to be otherwise, the built in flash should be good enough. I had shot using my rebel 300d and had no issues. (Hacked). Just remember to increase the FEC which your 20D should have.
I had also used my Elph S230 (Point and shoot) camera to do group shots and was able to still do pretty good.

hope this helps.

[tim]

i would have thought a 20D would allow you to shoot in iso 400 or 800 with minimal noise and not have to use an external flash.

Like photosguy said, it's helps with white ballance, plus it reduces shadows caused by overhead lighting.

[sixshot]

Cheers, some useful info. Now all I need is the camera!