Party Shooting / Club Lighting ...any tips?

[SandeeWig]

Well, I'm going to a party tonite to take some photos of the guests and birthday girl. It's not a paid gig or anything, but I'm taking the opportunity to rent a lens (20-35mm L f2.8). I'm anticipating shooting in very dim/club lighting, mostly darker skin tones, and, unfortunately, with a pop-up flash only.

I've made a flash diffuser out of a clear film canister; and have been practicing holding very still shooting at slower shutter speeds (1/40, 1/30, 1/20 and slower) to allow the ambient light in as much as possible. I'm hoping to not have to go over ISO400, but we'll see. Also, I have my flash sync set to 2nd curtain.

So, all that being said...any other tips?

Shooting w/ Canon XSi. The glass is a fixed 2.8, so that shouldhelp a little.

Thanks!

[Liz Caldwell]

Backlighting!!

I'm guessing since you said club lighting that's the birthday girl is not a baby. Most clubs make use of colored lighting, so take advantage of that by placing subjects in front (not too close though) of those lights... much like this one:


Flash Used: off camera

Focal Length: 24.0mm (35mm equivalent: 39mm...

CCD Width: 22.20mm

Exposure Time: 0.100 s (1/10)

Aperture: f/4.5

ISO Equiv.: 1600

[SandeeWig]

Originally Posted by Liz Caldwell

Backlighting!!

I'm guessing since you said club lighting that's the birthday girl is not a baby. Most clubs make use of colored lighting, so take advantage of that by placing subjects in front (not too close though) of those lights... much like this one:

Thanks, Liz! No, not a baby, it's her 30th birthday and she's goin all out! It would help if I'd been to this particular club before, so I'm not sure what kind of lighting it'll have. But, I bet it will be something similar to what you have posted. Thanks so much for your tip.

Do you think I should increase the flash output (currently set in the middle) at all?

[nelsonclassic]

Hi,
Great you are going to take photos of a party....
Hope you enjoy being there......and click some beautiful photos....

Nelson