Nightclub/Bar Photography

[SharkBait]

Hi!

Ok, looking for tips advice etc about shooting in a night club. The one I will be at (if i remember correctly) isn't horribly dark, in fact it was light better than most night clubs I've been to.

The gear I am bringing: Canon XSi, EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS, Sigma EX530 Super Flash. I have a 70-200mm f2.8 IS but with a cropped sensor I don't think it would be good at taking photos of people crowded together etc.

There will also be a band performing (The Stills) for which I will be also assigned to photograph. Though I don't think I would use the flash with him, f2.8 at ISO 1600 (hoping) should work.

I'm volunteering for this and this is also my first nightclub assignment. If it turns out well I also have a buddy who's a DJ who wants action shots of himself doing his thing at the club he works at. So looking to get as much info as I can for this first gig to get the best outcome to help boost my confidence to take on other gigs!

I tried doing a search here at DPS and I came up with nothing really gear for nightclubs/bars. Unless my chosen keywords were a miss...

[Wombat]

The only thing you need in dark night club environment (no flash gun) would be 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 lens.
It is very good in taking shots in those conditions (unless you are standing very far from the musicians).
If you have a formal shots, by all means take all your lenses and flash gun.

[OsmosisStudios]

Wombat covered it: a fast prime is gonna be nearly essential.

And ALWAYS have the flash mounted and ready to fire. Taking pictures of people is going to require flash.

[SharkBait]

So I went with my Flash and EF-S 17-55mm 2.8 and didn't get horrible shots. I guess I could have brought the 50mm 1.8.

With the flash


Without the flash


Not a horrible first attempt. The other photos can be seen in this particular Flickr Set.