Tips on Corporate Event photography ?

[thatwillis]

Hiya guys.
 
So tomorrow afternoon/evening I'm covering a business event at lords cricket ground in an amateur capacity. I'm not being paid so i see it as a good opportunity to get the best shots i can without any real pressure. It was only a last minute idea to get a photographer in for the event and as my girlfriend is organizing the whole event I said I would do it.
 
Heres my setup
Nikon D3000
Nissin Di622 mkII Flash
Black rapid strap.
 

 
I was wondering if anyone has any tips on getting some really nice shots of people. I was planning on using my camera in the setup as pictured, with the flash at 45^o with bounce card and diffuser. I know the ceilings fairly high and pitch so can't really use it to bounce my flash. The space should be should be fairly well lit I just wanted to use the flash for a bit more warmth. Does anyone have any settings that would be good to start with. I'm guessing faster shutter speeds would be better. Done a little bit of portrait stuff before but nothing quite like this.
 
Thanks
Willis
 
 

[shepgti]

which lens is that?

[thatwillis]

which lens is that?

Standard AF-S 18-55 Vr just got a lense hood on it.

[DubFan]

Yeah, I would want at least 2 lenses, something for close work (like the kit lens, I'm guessing 18-55mm) and a zoom around 70-200 or similar.
The longer zoom will be particularly useful to capture people without getting in their faces.
If you don't have another lens, you could hire one for the day/weekend.
I would also suggest a Stofen diffuser on that flash to so you can soften the flash if you need to aim it directly at the subject.

I did a corporate event a while ago and you need to know what the organiser wants from the photos (do they want group shots, people at tables, posed in groups or casual, any portraits of individuals, will there be awards/speeches/etc from a stage).
Take some time looking at photos from event photographers to see what sort of shots they take.

Make sure you take at least 2 memory cards and 2 sets of batteries for camera and flash.

Take lots and lots of photos, you can always sort them later, but if you miss something you can't capture it once it's gone.

[shepgti]

if it were me i would take a 50mm prime and a zoom lense

[thatwillis]

Yeah, I would want at least 2 lenses, something for close work (like the kit lens, I'm guessing 18-55mm) and a zoom around 70-200 or similar.
The longer zoom will be particularly useful to capture people without getting in their faces.
If you don't have another lens, you could hire one for the day/weekend.
I would also suggest a Stofen diffuser on that flash to so you can soften the flash if you need to aim it directly at the subject.

I did a corporate event a while ago and you need to know what the organiser wants from the photos (do they want group shots, people at tables, posed in groups or casual, any portraits of individuals, will there be awards/speeches/etc from a stage).
Take some time looking at photos from event photographers to see what sort of shots they take.

Make sure you take at least 2 memory cards and 2 sets of batteries for camera and flash.

Take lots and lots of photos, you can always sort them later, but if you miss something you can't capture it once it's gone.

Good idea on the Stofen diffuser. I think ill go and get one now i was thinking about one.

I was considering taking a 70-210, down side is that its not got auto focus. But as you surgested it, ill take it along.

There will be a few speakers so i was going to try and get a few photos of them. I belive its more casual shots they're after rather than posed/group shots. But i shall check.

Got spares of batteries and memory cards 

if it were me i would take a 50mm prime and a zoom lense

50mm prime is on my list to get but i cant get the sub 100quid one as its gonna be the more expensive version as the D3000 doesnt have a motor in the body. 

[Diamond Hell]

if it were me i would take a 50mm prime and a zoom lense

This.

You will really be able to get some good results with the prime, especially because it would be such a fast lens for shooting inside.

[DubFan]

These days I would also take a 50mm prime, but I take that everywhere anyway 

Here's a few photos I took at a Christmas meal that was in a very dark venue:
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjxpJpW8
Either I used the 50mm prime with just available light at ISO 1600 or I used my flash with the kit lens (18-70mm f3.5).
I didn't need a longer zoom as it was a small venue.

[Ridg]

ideally you'll want a longer lens to get more candid photos, the 18-55 is only going to be good for group shots.

Regarding the flash, the angle is dictated by how far away the subject is, if the subject is close then the flash could be straight up, if the subject is bit further away then you would bring the angle down.

It's a common misconception that you have to bounce off the ceiling, also keep in mind the colour of the surface you bounce off will be reflected in the bounced light.

Any light modifier is going to help, if you're using the stofen then you'll want the flash straight up at which point keep in mind it's going to affect the range of the flash dramatically.

Personally I also shoot manual with flash, nikon has a very very good TTL system so you can set you camera in say 1/160 & f/2.8 and let the flash do the work using the flash compensation to adjust the image.

read through this;

http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/17-why-use-camera-manual-when-using.html

Finally depending on how much time you've got (and what time the event is), get some gels; the flash light is balanced for daylight, shoot with this under halogen, florescent or any light not daytime balanced and you've got massive colour cast issues, basically the ambient light will be orange and the area lit by flash white or ambient white and flash area blue depending on which area you use for the white balance.

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-color-balance-your-flash-with-gels

[T_J_G]

An awesome reply, somewhat late though.

Still very useful info