Noob in need of advice. Nightclub photography.

Hey people,
So i am very new to the photography world. Ive always liked it but its always been just a hobby of mine. Ive been doing it for a few months only but now theres a paid situation at hand.

A relative of a friend who co-founded a promotions company in nyc in interested in having me shoot the parties they promote in different venues in the city since theyll be going live in 2009. These pictures will be going up on their promotional site after the event. You know the usual...someone takes pictures of people at a club...those pictures then appear publicly on the clubs/promotional company site the next day.

Do i need a release waiver for this type of job. I always see people shooting at clubs and I never have seen anyone sign a waiver. Like i said, i am a total amateur and the last thing I want is problems.

Also, he is offered to pay me $100.00 per night. I have no idea if this is good or not because i am total noob. what do you all think?

help

Astheros,

Asuming that you are in the US, releases are required for commercial advertising but nor editorial/newsworthy publication. Releases are not comonly used in people pictures that appear on club websites, but I do encourage my club clients to post signs at the door that club patrons allow use of their image in advertsing by being at the venue.

If you are going to use people/model pictures for direct print advertising, you need model releases for identifiable individuals.

$100 a night is not bad pay for 2 hours work. It is less desireable for 4 hours of work.

Have fun-
Scott

does a website that will only be use to promote the company be considered editorial? any flyers they make or hand out have graphics on them not pictures of any real people. and ill prob be shooting 3 hours from 11pm to 2am. i mean i am pretty new so until i get better i think 33.00 bucks an hour is good.

It's a decent price, but can your equipment handle nightclubs? You need fast, wide primes and a good flash for optimum results. If you have to rent lenses, make sure they cover the cost of that.

Astheros wrote in post #6945202
does a website that will only be use to promote the company be considered editorial? any flyers they make or hand out have graphics on them not pictures of any real people. and ill prob be shooting 3 hours from 11pm to 2am. i mean i am pretty new so until i get better i think 33.00 bucks an hour is good.

As long as your not printing and your fine with 33 bucks an hour, go for it. Some people would charge out the ass for that kinda thing though, some won't take a special thing like that for less than 50 an hour. That said since you are "a total noob" then I'd just settle with the 100 bucks a night, thats a decent price.

right now i really dont want to use the f2.8 sigma...bought it from a member here and i dont know if its me or the lens but it sucks ass. it barely works.

as far as the other equipment imma buy a 430exII and use the kit lens. hopefully that will allow me to shoot decently till some nicer lens. i have a 50mm f1.8 but 50mm is too narrow for tight spaces so i dont plan on using that at all.

Club and nightlife websites are very common in the US-there are atleast 100+ where releases are not signed. Avoiding trouble is smart by offering to remove photos on request and not posting any pictures that may be embarrassing.

Since all your pictures will be with flash, the kit lens will work fine. You may want a wider angle just for large crowd shots.

Astheros wrote in post #6945202
does a website that will only be use to promote the company be considered editorial? any flyers they make or hand out have graphics on them not pictures of any real people. and ill prob be shooting 3 hours from 11pm to 2am. i mean i am pretty new so until i get better i think 33.00 bucks an hour is good.

thanks everyone for the advice. imma take my camera with me to nye to see how well i can shoot in club like settings.

sspellman: may i ask why you have a quote of me as your sig? is it the hourly rate thing? lol