Shooting a graduation ceremony- need advice!

[vikkijac]

I'm a teacher at a small charter school, and word got out that I'm a new photography buff, so I've been asked to shoot our graduation ceremony, including shots of each graduate receiving the diploma, and maybe a portrait of each in the cap & gown then a group shot, and put together some packages for parents to purchase if they want.
The ceremony will be held at night, most likely in a banquet hall-type setting with a small stage.
I have a Rebel XSi and am pretty comfortable with my camera. I understand all the basics, but I've mostly been doing nature shots/landscapes in natural light.

My question is: I haven't yet invested in an external flash, do I really need one, (not too jazzed about dropping another 300-400 bucks at the moment) or might I be able to use the on-board for the diploma shots? Also, can I get away with using an umbrella and some continuous lighting for the portraits? I'm going to have to do them pretty quickly since there will be 20-25 students. And what lens would you recommend? I have an 18-55mm and a 55-250mm.
Any input is GREATLY appreciated!:cool:

[Exposure101]

If you have never shot anything like this before you shouldn't do it. I mean if you're the only designate designer there and you screw up, they will raise hell.

[skygod44]

I'm a teacher at a small charter school, and word got out that I'm a new photography buff, so I've been asked to shoot our graduation ceremony, including shots of each graduate receiving the diploma, and maybe a portrait of each in the cap & gown then a group shot, and put together some packages for parents to purchase if they want.
Hey there! I'm a teacher too, so I know what the parents are going to expect.
The ceremony will be held at night, most likely in a banquet hall-type setting with a small stage.
Low-light photography, banquet-hall lighting setup...
I have a Rebel XSi and am pretty comfortable with my camera. I understand all the basics, but I've mostly been doing nature shots/landscapes in natural light.
So....no models/people in low-light or difficult artificial lighting situations using pro- or semi-pro gear?
My question is: I haven't yet invested in an external flash, do I really need one, (not too jazzed about dropping another 300-400 bucks at the moment) or might I be able to use the on-board for the diploma shots?
So you don't have several years experience of shooting with off-camera flash in high-expectation situations?
Also, can I get away with using an umbrella and some continuous lighting for the portraits? I'm going to have to do them pretty quickly since there will be 20-25 students. And what lens would you recommend? I have an 18-55mm and a 55-250mm.
So, you don't have a large aperture (f/1.2L or f/1.6~f/2L) prime lens....?
Any input is GREATLY appreciated.

Well, I hate to say it, but on the night, you're going to be in a lot of trouble.
The stress you're likely going to experience when you realise the complexity of what you're going to attempt could be through the roof. I can't say this strongly enough.

Don't do it.

And this is not judging your ability as such. But formal portraits...at a graduation...taken quickly....under pressure from all around you - parents, students and colleagues....at night....in artificial lighting....without a LOT of experience of those shooting conditions?

Please....don't do it.

[samsen]

Always there is a first time (With or without tomato).
Take care of two L s.
Location and Light.

[viperstrike]

If you have never shot anything like this before you shouldn't do it. I mean if you're the only designate designer there and you screw up, they will raise hell.

I agree with Exposure101, but if you have to do it in a pinch and if it was me:

- speedlight flash (580ex or 430ex)
- better (faster) lens: 24-70

Look into renting these items.

Hopefully the lighting is good enough to use just fill flash. And if you can, do some testing on site a few days before the event at the same time with the same lighting.

If you tried to do this event with the lenses you have and with the pop-up flash, you may get some disappointing shots.

Better yet...don't do it. From your post, it appears you are not ready to do such an event. I would hate for you to do an event, hate it, and later hate photography. There's a first time for everything, but usually it is best to be prepared for your first time.

Just my $0.02. Whatever advice you take, good luck.

[burnxkr]

Do your homework. Ask a friend to dress up and take some practice shots in the same place at the same time of day with the gear you have. If you like what you see show some students and ask what they think. If you are not greeted with open arms and praise then make an excuse and pass the job on.

You'll only learn pressure stuff by doing stuff under pressure. If you do your home work and play around a little then you may be surprised. Then again if it doesn't work at the rehearsal then take a rain check.

Use a good tripod!!!!

[Shamir]

I agree with Exposure101, but if you have to do it in a pinch and if it was me:

- speedlight flash (580ex or 430ex)
- better (faster) lens: 24-70

Look into renting these items.

Hopefully the lighting is good enough to use just fill flash. And if you can, do some testing on site a few days before the event at the same time with the same lighting.

If you tried to do this event with the lenses you have and with the pop-up flash, you may get some disappointing shots.

Better yet...don't do it. From your post, it appears you are not ready to do such an event. I would hate for you to do an event, hate it, and later hate photography. There's a first time for everything, but usually it is best to be prepared for your first time.

Just my $0.02. Whatever advice you take, good luck.


Well, I would go for a 70-200 2.8 IS or 135F2 for this, and of course, a 430EX or a 580EX..

[vikkijac]

Man! Some of you are real downers...
Let me make it a bit clearer... this school services very "at-risk" kids and the parents are really not very involved in general. Last year, one of the tutors took pics with her point and shoot and the kids wanted copies of those and were very happy, so really, expectations are not that high. NOBODY will raise hell in this crowd (The only reason I'm considering it) My co-workers are very chill and it's all about saving money with us. And I have actually done some shots in low-light situations with no flash at all just using stage lighting at some music venues, and they turned out pretty damn good. Even with my "pathetic" slow lens.

So, while I appreciate all the DIScouraging words, I think I'm going to push forward anyway. I'm in the market for the flash anyway, I've seen some really pretty decent shots done with a single flash/umbrella. I can go over to the site and play around plenty before hand. I've got a good tripod, I can easily rent a faster lens... and I'm just going to take the tone of burnxkr and samsen and go for it. I'll never hate photography, and the only way to learn for me is to DO. The point here is not to win any photography awards, but to give these kids (some of whom have dealt with parents being killed in gangs, some of whom were in gangs themselves, parents in jail, abuse, homelessness) a memento of their accomplishment and of the moment.

[burnxkr]

I totally agree with the OP. There is far to much negative advice on this forum often from people who's ability far exceeds their pretentious stance.

In my opinion this forum should be a learning forum sharing tips and advice on how to improve. Too often you see don't do it and stay away rather than try this or that. Learning by trial and error is all well and good but some friendly options are so much better.

I am not advocating that everyone should ask "How do I shoot a wedding" and then go out and have a bash but with some helpful input the learning curve could be so much steeper.

As long as the customer/client in this case the students and their parents know what they are getting then I see no reason not to have a go.

Do your home work and the best of luck.

I probably wouldn't charge for this job. What I may suggest is that as you are a teacher and not sure of the outcome you could process and print using schools resources so that should the results be less than outstanding you would not feel bad not taking money from some of the disadvantaged families.

[Exposure101]

Man! Some of you are real downers...
Let me make it a bit clearer...

Well you should have made that clear in the first place. Usually a graduation, be it middle, high, or college, is a pretty important thing in one's life (as well as one's parents). Thus one would normally assume that the designated photographer is competent enough to capture that precious moment. So I (as well as some others) were not trying to put you down, but IMO a graduation is not a good place for a "practice session" (for the lack of better words). If I somehow offended you then I apologize.

Anyhow, if expectations are low, you can just turn down the output on the built-in flash and fire away. There really is no need for you to buy anything else. Just remember that the camera/flash needs a few seconds to recharge quite often when using the flash. Honestly I would just put it in auto and just shoot. If you're going to buy a new flash and/or rent/buy a new lens then just be sure to play around with them to get a hang of everything. Like someone's suggested, just practice taking pictures of someone in the same settings so there won't be any surprises. Have fun and g'luck!

[skygod44]

Man! Some of you are real downers...
Let me make it a bit clearer...
As Exposure101 says, this info' was kinda vital on a forum where people take photography quite, err, "seriously".
...The point here is not to win any photography awards, but to give these kids (some of whom have dealt with parents being killed in gangs, some of whom were in gangs themselves, parents in jail, abuse, homelessness) a memento of their accomplishment and of the moment.
Ah hah. Not quite like a "standard" graduation set up then.
Well you should have made that clear in the first place. Usually a graduation, be it middle, high, or college, is a pretty important thing in one's life (as well as one's parents). Thus one would normally assume that the designated photographer is competent enough to capture that precious moment. So I (as well as some others) were not trying to put you down, but IMO a graduation is not a good place for a "practice session" (for the lack of better words). If I somehow offended you then I apologize....

I second all that ^^^^
Sorry if you felt we were being NEGative, but knowing the whole situation would have meant I, for one, would have given you completely different advice.
...if expectations are low, you can just turn down the output on the built-in flash and fire away. There really is no need for you to buy anything else. Just remember that the camera/flash needs a few seconds to recharge quite often when using the flash..... Have fun and g'luck!
Yep. Bang on there Exposure101.
You don't need to buy a flash - they do take a lot of practice. Just read the camera manual and turn down the power of the on-camera unit.
And, good luck!
:D

[rodlrock]

Here is how I would do it (btw I shoot all my daughters high school plays please have a look)
http://public.fotki.com/rodlrock/south-platation-hig/
I don't have one fast lens for my camera all them are slow.
Shoot on A mode set your ISO high 800 to 1600
use a tri pod if you can and use flash and get Energizer Lithium batties
more then one set of them after a round 150 shots change them for the other set they get hot and slow with a lot of flash use.They are the best batties.
to use and last a very long time. One last thing if you can have a back up camera just in case one that you know how to use on the fly.You will be fine have fun and don't worry.
I am shooting my daughters grad night to night and will post tomorrow.

[jillybean]

OK, you may have already had this event but I do these all the time and here is the scoop. These are always a prepaid program with me. I give the school order envelopes or forms and then stop by and pick them up before the event. I photograph every student wether they order or not. I take an assistant you matches the person/childs name with my frame so when I get home it makes sense for order fufillment.

40D set on manual, 580flash on bracket set at 1/16 or 1/4 power. I like the bracket so my flash is above my lense. I generally go with ISO400 - the largest picture I offer is an 8x10.
You will have to be there early to get your exposure correct. I use the flash on low power so it can recycle in time. I just did 100 nurses, 2 pictures of each- held my camera in the air for an hour (about killed me) and my flash never missed a beat.
Best of luck- practice- have back up equipment and pray

[gotbob]

Get the nifty fifty for under $100 on Amazon. The 1.8 will definitely help with the poor lighting. Custom adjust your white balance for the poor auditorium lighting and shoot away. Just remember your feet are your zoom. But you should be able to crop some tight shots in to close ups.

Good luck.

[Jeff81]

let us know how it goes. :)