Prime or zoom or both for a kids party?

[Gumboots]

Hi all,

I hope I have posted this in the right section.

A good friend has asked me to take photos of her son's birthday party tomorrow. To be honest, I have never been happy with the shots I get at birthday parties, and I have warned her that she might like the pics I take of my daughter, but I have more control over her and where we are! So even though she knows not to expect awesome 'professional' looking pics, I feel pressure now because she has asked!

My question is regarding the lens I should use. I have 3 lenses, well 4 if I pinch hubbies.

18-105mm 1:3.5 - 5.6 Nikon VR
55 - 200mm 1:4 - 5.6 Nikon VR
18 - 55mm 1:3.5 - 5.6 Nikon VR
Prime 24mm 1:2.8 Nikon

The party is planned to be outdoors, although it is pouring with rain here right now, and its not looking good for tomorrow. I have no extra flash's, only the built in on my Nikon D90, which to be honest I really never use, because I don't like the look it gives, but then I also dont know how to use flash properly either.

Can anyone give me a tip on which lens I should use. I can take them all, but then changing lenses all day might get a bit tricky.

I have read a couple of the 'how-to's' here which have been good.

I am thinking the prime would be better because it is faster, and probably better for indoors?

Thanks in advance!
Fiona

[oldwolf]

18-105mm gets my vote. shoot in a higher iso, say 800 or 1600 if you have to. shoot with a fairly low f/stop so you can blur out the background unless they're interesting enough that you'd want to see a little bit of it.

[dbevisjr]

I agree with oldwolf, 18-105mm if the party is outside. But since your weather is not looking very promising I would have that 24mm f/2.8 on standby in case you end up indoors.

[inkista]

Ummm... maybe rent/borrow a 35/1.8?

[Gumboots]

Thanks guys.

Don't know anyone to borrow a lens off, or where to rent one. But the party is tomorrow and I wouldn't have time anyway.

I'll take them all with me. I've never really used the prime lens, but I just had a play with it inside here taking a few pics of my daughter and it does work heaps better in the low light! It's a rainy miserable day here and even with the blinds open there isn't a huge amount of light, but the shots came out quite well. I'll make sure I get around there early tomorrow to give me some time to work out the best settings for inside with the prime.

It'll be a good learning experience anyway, and something different for me. I tend to take most of my photos of close up flowers and even when I take family pics I tend to take them close up as oppossed to groups of people.

[carlyfan]

Yes, a fast lens is definitely the way to go.
Also, remember to get down to their level. That can really impact a photo! That is one thing I often forget about until I'm back home viewing the shots on the computer. By then it's too late.
Good luck!

Lisa

[Gumboots]

I am still learning, especially about lenses. I have read about fast lenses etc, but never really experimented to be able to really 'see' what difference it makes. I am getting there though.

I shall try my hardest to get down to their level. I am 37 and a half weeks pregnant at the moment so it could be interesting!

I'll take my laptop too so I can have a 'Rest and review' and every now and then. He he

[Henry Wilt]

Get a skateboard (or similar), a cushion and a helper.
Sit nice and comfortably on the cushion on the skateboard and get the helper to push you around, saves all that getting up and down!

Thank me later.

[Gumboots]

I might just give that a try!

[Gumboots]

Thanks for all your advice..

Especially about getting down to their level! Made the world of difference. Mind you, once I got down there I was pretty much stuck in that position for a bit so I didn't get as many different angles as I would have liked (no skateboard to be pushed around on! lol)

Party ended up indoors, but the pics came out ok. I do need to do a bit of exposure adjusting on a few of them, which I don't like to do, but that's ok. This project wasn't so much about me and my photos, but getting some good ones for a friend.

I am loading them onto the computer as I type, but once I sort out the good from the bad and the ugly I shall post a link.

So thankyou again for your help, in this thread and the articles on the site!

Cheers
Fiona