posed outdoor shots

[ThomasOwenM]

So far I've only photographed bands at live shows. I've never done any posed shots. Do you go for the best light in the same way you do nature shots -- with just after sunrise or just before sunset being the best light?

[René Damkot]

Most of the time (after a show) you have no time for that: It's "arrive at the location, pose the band, begone in 5 minutes" ;)

Even for posed band shots, most of the time it's either studio, or location, at a time when everybody is available...

If you have the choice (rarely), you might want to choose the best time of day light wise... Also depends on the location off course.

[ThomasOwenM]

So if you're forced to shoot in harsh light, such as at noon, would you try to shoot in the shade and use a reflector perhaps? Or use fill flash?

They're a local band, not a busy nationally touring one, so there is some chance I can get them to agree to meet at sunrise or before sunset. In terms of the quality, would that be a good strategy?

[narlus]

getting a band you don't really know to show up for a photoshoot at sunrise....hmm...let me know how this goes... :lol:

[ThomasOwenM]

getting a band you don't really know to show up for a photoshoot at sunrise....hmm...let me know how this goes... :lol:

The thing is I do know them quite well and have photographed two of their live shows. It's really a solo act with the band named after the woman who sings lead for them. She's what makes the band special and I have a lot of rapport with her. For the live shows, she did everything I asked. She got the tech crew to crank up the lights and not use smoke. She's driven to get the best quality she can get, and she trusts me. I think if I ask her to have her band show up at sunrise, she'll do it.

If I can get them to do this, it's the ideal lighting, right?

[johnstoy]

The thing is I do know them quite well and have photographed two of their live shows. It's really a solo act with the band named after the woman who sings lead for them. She's what makes the band special and I have a lot of rapport with her. For the live shows, she did everything I asked. She got the tech crew to crank up the lights and not use smoke. She's driven to get the best quality she can get, and she trusts me. I think if I ask her to have her band show up at sunrise, she'll do it.

If I can get them to do this, it's the ideal lighting, right?

While I haven't photographed a band that early in the morning... I have taken some wildlife pics at sunrise, and without posing advantages, the impromptu shots had long shadows and were more on the dark side... though the sunny golden gleam of the morning rays was interesting, the rest of the image was dark... Fill flash would have helped.

I'd shoot in RAW, with fill flash and take a lot of captures at slightly different setings... Later, just work with the captures in post processing.