It's going to rain for my outdoor shoot!! What do I do?!?!?!?!

[NathanO]

I'd really hate to cancel, but it just started to pour here. I was planning a nice "golden-hour" senior portrait session in a small park but that's probably ruined. What would you do in a situation like this? Would you change locations? Just protect the camera and shoot away? Reschedule?

[Saralonde]

If your heart (or your client's) is set on an outdoor shoot and it's pouring, I might reschedule. You might be able to do some cute umbrella or edgy wet hair shots depending on your client.

If they can't reschedule, it's always wise to have a back up location.

[NathanO]

Originally Posted by Saralonde

If your heart (or your client's) is set on an outdoor shoot and it's pouring, I might reschedule. You might be able to do some cute umbrella or edgy wet hair shots depending on your client.

If they can't reschedule, it's always wise to have a back up location.

Thanks for the help. I got there early, scouted some alternate locations and found a nice indoor area. I found a nice umbrella just in case. Also, since my camera is no where near waterproof...I'm taking some of that dinner-leftover-clingwrap just in case.

[AtlantaTerry]

It's happend to me and the event could not be moved or rescheduled.

The event happened when I was shooting 35mm Tri-X in Nikon F cameras back in 1967. I went to the island of Iwo Jima to photograph very old Japanese civilians who in the 1930s had been displaced by the military prior to the start of World War 2. These elderly wanted to visit their ancestral graveyard before they themselves died.

Well being an island out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean wouldn't you know it? It rained like I was standing under a waterfall. My four Nikon F camera bodies got wet, The film got wet. And there is nothing worse than getting one little drop of water between your film and the camera's pressure plate. What happens is the film swells and sticks like glue! Oh misery!!! I had not thought it thru and purchased a waterproof camera like a Nikonos.

I'm lucky I was able to get anything at all! But I did and my images were published around the world.

When I got back to the Japanese mainland I went directly to the Nikon factory where I knew the technicians. The opened the cameras, poured out the water and cleaned up everything for me while I had lunch nearby. Those were great days...

BTW, I still have the negatives.

Terry Thomas...
the photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA

[Chip]

NathanO - Glad you were able to work out a Plan B. Good for you.

Terry - Cool story and great experience. Sounds like an assignment right out of Life Magazine.

[wulf]

If it is raining, there is unlikely to be a "golden hour". Even setting aside the potential damage to your gear, you'll have wet subjects and dull lighting. If possible, finding another location or time might be the best option.

Wulf

[JodyGall]

I have sort of a 'FAQ' section in the info for my clients. One of the questions is 'What if it rains?'. Long story short...I reschedule. Now, I dont' do event photography, so it is easy for me to reshedule. A senior session is definitely something that is easy to reschedule (not like a wedding or relatives in town for one day type thing). So that's what I would of done.