Prom photography question

I figure this would fall under the Wedding section...

I am lucky (or unlucky..) enough to be a chaperone to a Prom in May, and I was asked (not paid) to take casual shots during the night. I usually bow to wedding photographers, you guys make shots I wouldn't dream of making... so wanted to ask for any tips. I figure it's early enough to try out what I hear.

My gear:
1D Mark IV (I should have one in a few weeks)
7D
70-200 f/2.8 Mark II
24-70 f/2.8
50 1.4
85 1.8
580EX II with basic stofen-type diffuser

So I guess what I want to accomplish is stuff that would be shot at a wedding reception, which I haven't done before... well, short of a P&S years ago. And hopefully take as less gear as possible.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

What are you trying to achieve? I'd probably go with either the 50 F1.4 or 24-70 and do high ISO, maybe with a little bounced flash or fill flash, maybe not. You might use the 70-200 like a sniper too.

I'd go 7D, 24-70, 580EX and bounce the flash. I'm not entirely sure who'd even care to see these pictures. Is this for the yearbook? Students to purchase? Honestly, I wouldn't stress about it and bring multiple gear. You're not getting paid and as a chaperone there are other things you need to be paying attention to so keeping your eye on a bunch of gear isn't what you want to be doing. Take only what you can carry on your self.

I should have been a bit clearer, even though I read my post a few times before posting.

I am more of a tag-along chaperone. My wife, and others, will be the real ones. They all want me to go to take pictures. What I want to achieve are pictures that don't look like they came from a point-and-shoot. And being that I'm not too experienced in flash photography yet, I wanted to post here to see what I could learn before the event. I am sure they will have a photographer doing the standard prom picture, but from what they tell me there will be no one walking around to do candids and dance floor stuff, kinda like what you would see at a wedding reception.

And yes, I don't want to be carrying all sorts of gear, so was thinking one body, one lens and the flash.

And who knows, if I like it, and do fairly well, maybe I'll pursue this part of photography in the future...

Sorry if I'm not making too much sense...

The 1d4 with 70-200 will provide for some nice candids shot at high ISO with no flash. You can get touching moments between couples from a distance. Posed shots with the 24-70 and flash would also be good. I'm thinking of this as a second shooter at a wedding reception might think of it. I also think some shots with the 85 1.8 with shallow DOF could work out well too, especially B&W conversions.

To me, even though this may be a similar venue as a wedding reception, the mood is completely different. People at weddings expect to get their photos taken dancing, high school kids dont. Plus, even though I have seen some scandalous dancing at weddings, I have seen more than worse at high school dances. Seeing that the kids often dont have the cash to buy the photos, I doubt mom and dad would want photos of their little girl grinding on some guy.

I would take a few wide photos, no flash of the entire event. Get a few photos of the DJ/band, and lots of the details. Taking individual shots of kids dancing doesnt make sense to me.

Do you think I'd actually shoot kids grinding on the dance floor? Besides, I've been to TONS of weddings where drunk guests and wedding party members did moves on the dance floor that would make school kids blush. They asked me to shoot, so being that I've never done this before, I don't want it coming out like crap, that's all. I'm pretty sure I'll be choosy as to what I shoot.

Another party I apparently missed by being born at the wrong time. However, a lot of kids that age DO like their pictures taken so they can post them on social media sites, and they often post "partying" pictures as long as there's nothing incriminating to get them into trouble. So if you're applying common sense to what you're shooting, I think it'll be fine.

Don't drive yourself crazy.
I do shoot prom formals, and these days, every kid has a camera-phone which they put to rigorous use during these events.
And while we still sell the formal pics and do well, the kids do their own candid stuff, and are much more willing to give each other the expressions they want, instead of someone they don't know.
I hate to put a damper on your enthusiasm...just giving you the straight scoop.
In any case, it would still be a good opportunity for you to play with your equipment. Just don't expect much.

Good luck.

No worries. The kids are the ones asking for me to shoot, so wanted to do the best I could for them. I shoot their sports, that's why they wanted me to shoot there. My kit isn't too huge, so I can bring it and see what happens.

I've shot a few high school dances, and basically it ends up similar to shooting in a nightclub. There is essentially no light in the room so you will have to shoot with flash. You can drag the shutter to get some light in the background, but that depends on if there's anything in the background you want to show up in the photos and for the most part the subject exposure is gonna be all flash. The light fall off is generally useful for subject isolation. You can shoot direct, but then you have to watch out for redeye, so it's ideal to bounce if possible. If you bounce, you will still need a bounce card or a white foam modifier or something probably.

Candid photos are not very interesting generally, but if you walk up to the kids and offer to take their pictures they will pose for you. I presume the reason they want you to shoot is because you have a nice camera, and they figure you could get some nice photos of them dressed up. I would take the 1DIV, 24-70 and the 580 with the stofen.

How do you plan to deliver the photos? Also, make sure you get permission from the school to shoot, even if you have permission to be there, you should still make sure you're ok to shoot, in case they have a professional shooting, which I've seen at some of these dances.

jkim05 wrote in post #13849424
I presume the reason they want you to shoot is because you have a nice camera, and they figure you could get some nice photos of them dressed up. I would take the 1DIV, 24-70 and the 580 with the stofen.

Yea, I'm sure that's the reason. I just want them to come out half-decent...

jkim05 wrote in post #13849424
How do you plan to deliver the photos? Also, make sure you get permission from the school to shoot, even if you have permission to be there, you should still make sure you're ok to shoot, in case they have a professional shooting, which I've seen at some of these dances.

Good point. I will make sure to clear that up. From what I've been told so far they will only have a photog there doing the traditional formal posed shot, but that's it.