Help! My first gig

[photofinish]

This will be my first photo gig! :-) Although it is only volunteer work, a local, early American museum needed someone to take outdoor pictures on their grounds of mostly families building sun dials. There should be a lot of kids there. They only need a few pictures for their web site, so it will be a nice, low pressure start for me. The biggest pressure will come from myself.

I figured that I would use my kit lens 18-55mm with lens hood. I was thinking I should also have my polarizer attached. I would also use my 580ex with Lightshere II as fill flash when needed. Would I leave the flash assembly attached all the time and just turn the flash off when I don’t need it, or should I keep taking it off? I’ll bring my 50mm in case there are any indoor shots needed, but I’ll leave my 100-400mm L in the car.

What about composition? The emphasis should be on the making of the sun dials, the instruction process, expressions, and capturing a mix of both portraits and including as much of the historic house and grounds as possible.

I have to remember to frame my shots properly. I often get caught up in the moment and forget about that. I would think aperture priority would work best and keep it around f8? But most of all, I have to remember to have fun! After all, this is the main reason I’m doing this, and also, with all my fancy equipment, it is a chance for me to give back some of my talents for the good of the community.

Anybody have any other suggestions?

[GSHodg]

Sounds like you've been thinking it through well. Just make sure you don't second guess the client - ASK them what they want. Is to show: the beauty of the grounds?; the family nature of the work?; the fun of volunteering?; the intricacy of the sundials? With a steer from them the choices on the day will be easier.

[photofinish]

Thanks, Gordon, for the help. I'm looking forward to it.

[woffles]

As a beginner myself, all I could add is pay attention all around you. Don't get so focused on one shot that you miss 6 great shots right behind you. Do you want any pictures from up high (ladder). Get some low shots for a different perspective, silhouettes etc. Oh, make sure all your equipment is working and charged and maybe have a backup camera with you if you have one. Have fun!

[Hellashot]

A polarizer will help on your kit lens, but because the outer element rotates on focusing, it'll be very hard to get the polarizer rotated properly and have the shot in focus. One of the downfalls of the kit lens, but it's a great value.

[photofinish]

Thanks everybody for the encouragement! :-) That's a good suggestion, woffles, about different perspectives. I'll have to try that. I know that polarizer could be a problem, Hellashot. It's particularly awkward with the lens hood, as small as it is.

[mkh]

Once you find out what the client wants make sure you get some of those shots early on then just shoot away. That way you won't come to the end of the gig with lots of shots but missing what the client wanted. This also allows you the opportunity to reshoot some of the required shots if they don't look right. You would hate to have only one shot late in the day of something the client required and then have it go wrong.