Need some advice please!

[YodaBalboa]

Ok, so I will try to get right to the point here. My "day-job" is as a server at a members only fine dinning club. One of the members knows I do photography on the side and asked to hire me. His company is having a 90th anniversary party and that's what he has hired me for. I'm a little nervous as I haven't really done anything like this before. I've done newborns, maternity,pets, landscape. even started doing a lot of sports for our local baseball team. I am comfortable with my abilities, just nervous doing something new.
I'm just looking for some tips/pointers for an event like this.

[Tzetsin]

Be prepared. When working professionally, you must be professional. Dress appropriate. Have all the gear you need. Charge your batts the day BEFORE and empty your memory the day BEFORE. If your batts die, or you run out of memory before the end of the event, you have failed. Arrive early to scout locations. Make sure you understand PERFECTLY what the customer expects from you. If your getting paid for a gig there can be absolutely no excuses. You must get it right, or "seem" to get it right because there are no do overs.

Thats about all the common sense advice I can offer ;D

Good luck!

[YodaBalboa]

Thank you!

I think, judging by your response, I might have made it sound a little more serious then it is. Don't get me wrong, 90 years in business is quite the milestone. It's for a local car dealership. I asked if there was anything specific he wanted me to get (i.e specific people, group shots anything like that). The gentleman that hired me said he would point out the important people to me. I just get nervous before I do something new like this and thought I would look for some advice here

I have already double checked batts, memory cards, and picked out my clothes and it's not for a couple days. (Oh and I will the night before too).

[oneronnalee]

Originally Posted by Tzetsin

Arrive early to scout locations.

Definitely agreed with the above, this will also allow you to run some test shots so when the event begins you know what settings will work the best for said location and lightning. Other than that I would personally do some visual research in this type of event photography to see what kind of thing works and what doesn't.

Best of luck.

[BigFuzzy]

Do you have and know how to use flash?

Sounds like a situation where you could be shooting in the middle of the day in a large open space (ie car lot) with no open shade which means, to get the best results, you need to use (and how how to use) flash. Do you?

Same applies if it's an indoor event at night with only available indoors light. Do you know how to use flash and get proper WB in those situations? If not, practice shooting in simlar conditions before hand.

Good luck!

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Do you have and know how to use flash?

Sounds like a situation where you could be shooting in the middle of the day in a large open space (ie car lot) with no open shade which means, to get the best results, you need to use (and how how to use) flash. Do you?

Same applies if it's an indoor event at night with only available indoors light. Do you know how to use flash and get proper WB in those situations? If not, practice shooting in simlar conditions before hand.

Good luck!

+100

Learn to use flash because it will save you.

I'd treat it like taking pictures at a wedding reception. It's an important event for the client. There are no "do overs". Take pictures of the personal interactions. Don't let someone bully you into doing something else if that's not what the client hired you to do. Don't let other people intimidate you into not getting that shot.

Think you might be standing in front of someone so you can get your shot? Too bad. You're the one hired to be the official photographer. You have right of way. In the end it's your reputation on the line. A client doesn't want to hear that you didn't get the shot of the important handshake/hug because someone else in the audience wanted to take that picture or you weren't ready to get in there.

Have fun with it. The crowd will sense you're having fun and give you some amazing pictures if they see you're having fun. Just don't have too much fun that it seems you're unprofessional.

[Tzetsin]

Originally Posted by YodaBalboa

Thank you!

I think, judging by your response, I might have made it sound a little more serious then it is.

I have some even better advice for you then. Everytime you pick up your camera, treat it like getting the shot right the first time is the most important and serious thing your going to do that day. It'll help you create good habits, help you learn your equipment inside and out and when that all important moment comes and it is serious, you will be absolutely confident that your ready. You'll know because it will be no different than any other day.

Important or not. your friend recommended you to his/her boss, their rep is on the line if nothing else. If you turn out some kick ass shots, they'll look like a superstar for bringing you in. But if you deliver nothing... best case scenario is it really wasn't important and they'll suffer no loss of face.

[YodaBalboa]

Thanks everyone for your comments/advice! I must clarify just slightly. When I said "I was making it sound more serious then it was" I just ment it wasn't a fortune 500 company with CEO's that make a billion dollars a year. And I only ment that in response to "professional" advice (even though I will be on my best professional behaviour no matter what the shoot is for!)

As to Flash, YES!! I own a Canon speedlite 430X II and am very comfortable using it indoor or out.

Oh and the man that hired me is the owner of the business so it is only my rep on the line so-to-speak.

I guess I was just a little nervous as I haven't really done "event" photography before. I'm more versed in posed/creativity with portraits and such as well as sports photography.

Any advice on the event side of things? and I know he did say he would pay me but anyone have a ball park figure you in mind?

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by YodaBalboa

When I said "I was making it sound more serious then it was" I just ment it wasn't a fortune 500 company with CEO's that make a billion dollars a year.

IMO the above is the wrong attitude to have in any business. That's like ignoring the guy that looks like a bum that comes onto your car lot and finding out later he's a rock star and just bought 5 cars that night. (true story but not my story).

Clients should be treated like they are the most important client no matter how big their company is or how much they are paying you. What matters is that you took the job and are being paid by them. If it wasn't enough money then you shouldn't have agreeded to it.

That client might know the CEO of a larger company and your behavior towards the little guy will dictate how many more recommendations you get.

There have been lots of people that I do not recommend based on how well they treated the little guys and they'll never know it but they've lost a lot of revenue because of their attitude towards the little guy.

Just my two cents.

[YodaBalboa]

I agree 100%. I used to work in a used good store and it was always, always the people you didn't think "had" money that spent the most. I was the only one to treat all the same. I don't mean this to sound rude, but if you read the following sentence I said "even though I will be on my best professional behaviour no matter what the shoot is for."

Guess I shouldn't have made that comment at all .

Thanks for your input though, it really bothers me when ppl judge others based on how they look or are dressed.