First Communion - Any suggestions?

Hello, for a job for my company i need to shoot a first communion at a church and i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I am not very familiar with communions and it's a bit short notice. I will be doing photography while my boss is shooting video. I am not sure if i can use flash or not, i am going to try to find out tomorrow (the shoot is saturday). I will try to go to the church tomorrow also, or possibly friday or early before the shoot.

I am guessing there are a few key shots, like the kid giving the communion, eating the waiver but i am not sure. Can anyone give suggestions on key shots?

Also i have to shoot the reception by myself which i have never done before so i am wondering what i should expect and what kind of shots i should get. I am pretty nervous about the shoot.

I can shoot with 2 cameras at once, i'll have my 5D II and 1D II, along with 16-35mm and 24-105mm. If it's low light i have my 85mm 1.8 and i am going to be buying either the 135mm f2.0 or 200mm f2.8, if anyone has any suggestions on what lenses i should use i would appreciate it. I am guessing for the reception i will use flash on both cameras.

inernets wrote in post #14407554
I am guessing there are a few key shots, like the kid giving the communion, eating the waiver but i am not sure. Can anyone give suggestions on key shots?

First communion usually runs a bit different...
1. The kid RECEIVES communion (not gives)
2. Waiver? Wafer?

Here's a youtube video: http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=4Q3DjgZWWq8
The photography is not great...but you can see the sacrament in progress at about 1:30.

The wafer is often handed to the receiver with outstretched hands. The receiver then puts it in his/her mouth with the right hand. It dissolves in the mouth...not much "eating" action going on there. Next, they are offered the communion cup where they will take a small sip (and make a face because of the strange taste) of wine. After that, they return to their seats.

You need to know:
1. If you can use (or need flash)
2. Where you can set up
3. How they will proceed to receive the sacrament
4. How the reverend will be positioned
5. How the entrance/recessional will happen

Check out a few other youtube videos and you'll get some ideas for the reception and group shots. Of course, get a shot of the kid/parents/family/pri​est.

Whatever you're shooting, learn the customs well in advance so you're prepared, no matter how arcane or bizarre the customs are.

thanks for the suggestions, and especially for the video. I checked out a few and i'm now more comfortable with what i will be facing, i even found some with reception shots so i really appreciate that.

I see some people shooting from the back and some shooting from the side. i will try to talk to my boss about it tomorrow. Should i try to call the church, or just go there tomorrow? The communion is this saturday. I apologize for my lack of knowledge on the subject and using the wrong term, btw.

You will be expected to shoot a LARGE group shot of everyone receiving communion. Usually the church steps work out well.

I would ask them what their expectations are? What key shot do they want. You would really be better off with two photographers. One shooting the kids while they are walking down the isle to recive communion and one as they are receiving communion from the priest.

Never heard of a communion reception.. A bit odd.

Good luck

are you shooting this for ONE of the families, or for the church and have to get everyone?
I've never heard of the later. but there is a big difference between the two to me.

if it's for one of the families, then that explains the 'reception'.

Thanks for the replies, i am shooting for a family member so it's for one child and my boss said she is doing it with her friends so i will be photographing them as a group i believe, but i think i'll be focusing on the one girl.

Yes it's for the reception for the family, sorry i did not make this clear. This is one of my first photography jobs through my new photography job and i'm not used to doing events and i just don't have much personal experience with communions

I'm just trying to figure out what lens i can get away with. I will probably use my 16-35mm and 24-105mm while outside and for the reception (with flash if needed) and inside i'll be using the 16-35mm (or 50mm f1.8 if i don't need the wide angle) and my 85 f1.8

I am considering buying or renting the 70-200mm f2.8 IS. I think it's about time to get that bad boy since i'll be doing a lot more work that i will need mid-tele with low light capabilities, i am also looking at the 135mm f2.0

the first communions I've been to in the last week didn't allow ANY photography during the actual ceremony. so that would be good to know in advance!
but if you are allowed to shoot the actual event, you might be able to get away with the 85/1.8, but a 70-200L 2.8 IS would be better
Afterwards, I like to get a photo or two with the child praying at the altar if at all possible too. In addition to family photos, etc..

this is one i got last weekend:

wow really great, thanks for sharing! Yeah i am considering buying the 70-200 IS and having it shipped overnight

We will be allowed to shoot photography during the communion, i am part of a 2 man video camera crew. I will be doing a few group shots, during the communion and the reception is actually going to be held in the basement of the church, or somewhere near. No video for the reception, just me. Luckily i will be with someone who is experienced in shooting video for these things and at that venue. He said that they seemed conservative and i probably would not be able to use flash inside.

Well shooting for a family is TOTALLY different. You know you may not be allowed to even shoot the communion. The last communion I attended the priest said " please stay in your seats, we have hired a professional photographer"

I was actually wrong, i am shooting it for the church, not a family member. Luckily my company found a DVD and a disc of photos from the last one they shot at the exact church so i know exactly what to expect and i'm looking forward to shooting it.

I just have to decide which lenses to pair with my bodies. I just ordered a 135mm f2.0 so that is going to be my main lens. I have to decided if i want to put it on my 5D II or my 1D II.

bigarchi wrote in post #14410340
the first communions I've been to in the last week didn't allow ANY photography during the actual ceremony. so that would be good to know in advance!
but if you are allowed to shoot the actual event, you might be able to get away with the 85/1.8, but a 70-200L 2.8 IS would be better
Afterwards, I like to get a photo or two with the child praying at the altar if at all possible too. In addition to family photos, etc..

this is one i got last weekend:

not my best, but took all of 30 seconds to get

Very nice picture! I also shot 2 First Communions this month and they did not allow any photography during the mass. That did not really stop the parents from pulling out their cell phones and point and shoot cameras and firing away. Most of the shots that I got were before and after the actual ceremomy. The priest posed for pictures with each child after it was over.

hello all i finished the communion and it was a success! I ended up mainly using my 85mm 1.8 on my 1.3 crop 1D II and used my 5D II with the 24-105mm with a flash. Since i was shooting the whole communion and not just a family, i set up a tripod with my 40D to the left of where the received communion, put on the 50mm f1.8 but thought it was too tight of a shot so i put on my Tokina-12-24 ( 19-38mm) and fired it with a wireless remote. This allowed me to get photos of each child taking and eating the body of christ.

This was the first time i used a wireless remote for a job so i was nervous, i think it fired almost every single time so i am very pleased. I wish the shot was a little tighter, BUT it got the kids waiting and that is an interesting shot. The shot also got kids as they were done with the communion walking past the camera so there were some neat shots there too.

It was a lot of fun shooting and i hope to do more!

Here i am shooting! My tripod got this. The woman who was in charge of the photographers/videogra​phers loved that i used the tripod to get the other side.

Click on the photo for additional photo information on the shoot and this setup.

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Thanks for sharing. The writeup / product review you wrote about remotes on Flickr is also good.

Will you be able to share more of the pictures here or Flickr? I'm looking forward to seeing your final products.