I need your help [photographing people in clubs / bars]

[hildebrantm]

I need some help with suggestions and techniques on how to photograph people in bars/clubs. I'm a new photographer for a website that promotes local bars/clubs, but I am unsure how to get clear photos in a building that normally has lower lighting, but am not able to have a tripod so the shutter speed needs to stay short. Any suggestions? Please?

I'm using a Nikon D60 if that is needed.


Thank you in advance!

[Digidave]

Without the use of a tripod, you're going to have troubles but good techniques will go a long way.

Can you use a flash? How about a monopod? Sometimes shots with motion blur can be very interesting. Do you have a lens with Vibration Reduction? That would come in very handy. Kind of looks like I'm rambling here doesn't it.

If you are taking shots to highlight the bar/club, does it really matter that the people in the photo have motion blur? I ask all these questions because these are questions you should be asking yourself. What are the ultimate goals of these shots I'm taking?

Now, for technical stuff. With the D60, I would probably raise my ISO to 400 or 800 in a pinch. Raising your ISO from 200 to 400 is one full stop, so you'll be able to increase your shutter speed by one full stop(1/60 to 1/120). I wouldn't use "Auto ISO", this is just asking for trouble. Set your camera to "Aperture Priority". This will let you set the desired Depth-of-Field(DoF). Remember, the smaller the f/number, the smaller the DoF & the faster the shutter speed.

This obviously is just a starting point for you. You could go out and take a test shot using what you have learned here so far, come back here & post it & we could help you improve you next shot. Remember to post your EXIF !!!

[hildebrantm]

My main priority in shooting is to make the people at the bar look like they are having fun, so people aren't huge fans of their pictures being blurry (don't like their pictures, less likely to return to the site).
I do have a vibration reduction on my lens, and I usually have it turned on. I can use a flash, but in a packed bar/club anything besides a camera is a little too much to carry around. I will definitely try raising my ISO. I'm going out tonight so I will play around with the ISO and other settings. Thank you so much for your techniques, I really was at a complete loss of how to overcome a dark place with no tripod.

[LeviathanFafner]

These videos should give you a good suggestion on how to approach shooting nightclubs and bars.

Bar/Nightclub photography tips PART 1
Bar/Nightclub photography tips PART 2

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by hildebrantm

but in a packed bar/club anything besides a camera is a little too much to carry around. .

No it isnt. I do club photography all the time: D80+grip, 18-70, SB-800. Its perfectly fine. Flash is your best bet for clubs and bars.

I did a grand opening a few weeks ago: the trick is knowing how to get around

[Alan Willis]

You mentioned the camera you're using, but not the lense. If you have, or can get your hands on, the 35mm f1.8 lense, or the pricerier (but not yet "expensive") 50mm f1.4 lense (though double check to make sure it's autofocus will work with the D60, I'm not sure if it will... the 35mm should, it's a "DX" lens) this will certainly make your life easier than using a slower (at best f3.5) zoom lens -- assuming (as I am) that the final images will not be so large that you can't do some cropping.

[Mr Guy]

I've done quite a bit of shooting in clubs, which really came in helpful when the first wedding I shot had their reception at a tango club in the middle of the night. All clubs are going to be different and require different things, depending on what you're trying to accomplish. For individuals, you just need a good flash with a zoom option, and possibly a small softbox or snoot to control the light:



Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
Focal Length: 35.0 mm
ISO Speed: 800

For action shots, the flash is also critical, but it helps to get practice prefocusing, so a fast lens is STILL helpful to give you the most light when prefocusing.



Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100

For group shots, what works the best is going to vary. Sometimes it's more helpful to have a faster lens and work with available light, and other times you're stuck with a flash. Often, clubs have dark ceilings and bouncing doesn't work particularly well, but that's often going to get the best result when it's available.



Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/3.2
Focal Length: 60 mm
Focal Length: 60.0 mm
ISO Speed: 200


Not that I'm trying to claim these are the best possible results, they just happen to be some examples I have handy of doing different things with different methods.

[constructivecriticism]

I'd say a flash is nearly necessary in a club setting, no matter what the lense.

Also, start of with crappier, less popular clubs, where you get leeway from the owners and the customers. Get the technique down, figure out the right combination of equipment, establish the right settings, and then move on up to the more happening social spots.

Best of luck and keep us posted with your work.

[OeterB]

Yah, although as a patron I have to say there is nothing more annoying than a flash (so, limit your shots, get them right the first time), you really need a flash. While flash photography is a big "no-no" with shooting bands/musos on stage, you don't have stage lights on the pub patrons. Also, a 50mm f/1.8 may not be appropriate, as you may not always have the distance between you and your subjects to take the photos you want. So you'd definitely want a 18-?? lens, with a flash. Dial the flash down so you don't a) blind your subject, b) annoy other patrons, c) drain out all the colour/atmosphere, and try to get your shots right first time.



Most important thing I can recommend is ensuring your safety, especially if you're a newbie. I will say, walking through a pub/club/bar with a camera is one of the most daunting and self-conscious things you'll do. Take a friend if possible (incase you've gotta go to the loo, or whatever). Make sure the publican and security know you're there and why you're there. Especially security --- doesn't hurt to have someone keeping an eye on you while carrying your equipment. Oh, it doesn't hurt to have some $5 notes on ya --- I've done a lot of observations and interviews for my postgrad research, and you'd be surprised how often a fight has broken out over a spilt drink. Always good if you can just go "Oh, damn, sorry man --- here's $5 for ya to get a new one, or I can go get it for you?"

And, have fun!

[lasallecrew2]

A comment and a question:

I would suggest looking into a good flash diffuser especially if you're in smaller bars or find yourself taking pictures of people from only a few feet away. I find the Gary Fong Lightsphere is an amazing asset for giving you the maximum amount of light with the least washout or over exposure in close quarters or even in a medium size room. It also minimizes the nasty background shadow that direct flash produces.

As for the question, I am curious how you got involved with taking photos for local bars/clubs. I am from the Washington, DC area and am trying to figure out how to get involved in that to increase my portfolio, experience, and most importantly, to allow me to keep doing what I love to do in my spare time - photograph. Any tips on where to start looking?