Shooting RC event

[kevyan]

Hi all,

I'm helping my MIL to shoot a RC event. Any tips from you guys what to look out for and what to focus on? Thanks in advance.

 

[SolBadGuy]

i think ur question is kinda vague. u can probably add some details such as nature of event, demographics of participants, etc...

 

[kevyan]

Oh... sorry. It's an RC event for Hari Raya. Demographics of participants? All level lor, basically people staying in that area will be there. There is food, games/competition, guest of honor, prize giving etc. ;p

i think ur question is kinda vague. u can probably add some details such as nature of event, demographics of participants, etc...

 

[contacted]

Oh... sorry. It's an RC event for Hari Raya. Demographics of participants? All level lor, basically people staying in that area will be there. There is food, games/competition, guest of honor, prize giving etc. ;p

some newbie advice is to get a timetable of the events so you know whats happening next and be there before it happens.

 

[geraldkhoo]

Shooting an event is a fun thing to do... so firstly... go in view of enjoying yourself shooting. Also, strive to achieve shots you have not done before. The following are some guidelines I give myself before I go and shoot.

1. I make sure I have the equipment I need. If the even is indoors with bad lighting or at night, I'll need my flash and also enough batteries. So check your equipment.

2. Review through a programme (if there is one... if not, ask for one) so that you are prepared to be in the right place to take key shots.

3. Take shots that capture the feel and festivity of the event. When people look at the photos, they can feel what is going on. Important to capture smiley faces, etc.

4. Capture pictures with key people, e.g. RC chairman, etc. These are key shots and must not be missed out. If theer is a minister there, make sure you take the minister in the midst of the celebrations. Likewise if there are celebrities.

5. Review the kind of shots you have taken before and look at shots others have taken. Try out new perspectives of shots that you may not naturally do. Prepare mentally what kind of shots you want to achieve.

6. Take pictures that cover a wide variety of view, perspectives, feels, etc. Take both close up and wide shots.

Hope this helps.

 

[SolBadGuy]

Shooting an event is a fun thing to do... so firstly... go in view of enjoying yourself shooting. Also, strive to achieve shots you have not done before. The following are some guidelines I give myself before I go and shoot.

1. I make sure I have the equipment I need. If the even is indoors with bad lighting or at night, I'll need my flash and also enough batteries. So check your equipment.

2. Review through a programme (if there is one... if not, ask for one) so that you are prepared to be in the right place to take key shots.

3. Take shots that capture the feel and festivity of the event. When people look at the photos, they can feel what is going on. Important to capture smiley faces, etc.

4. Capture pictures with key people, e.g. RC chairman, etc. These are key shots and must not be missed out. If theer is a minister there, make sure you take the minister in the midst of the celebrations. Likewise if there are celebrities.

5. Review the kind of shots you have taken before and look at shots others have taken. Try out new perspectives of shots that you may not naturally do. Prepare mentally what kind of shots you want to achieve.

6. Take pictures that cover a wide variety of view, perspectives, feels, etc. Take both close up and wide shots.

Hope this helps.

very excellent piece of advice here! :thumbsup:

OT: hope to see u soon bro! ;p

 

[kevyan]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the excellent advices.

Just one question. How many pictures should I give them? I mean, they are paying me $50 for a 2 hours job lah... (I'm new). If I shoot with a 2GB card, I don't think I should give them 2GB worth of pictures right? There should be some standard quantity to give.

 

[LittleWolf]

I mean, they are paying me $50 for a 2 hours job lah... (I'm new). If I shoot with a 2GB card, I don't think I should give them 2GB worth of pictures right? There should be some standard quantity to give.

What does your contract say? If they're not paying you on a per photo basis, but for the two hours of work, the output during these two hours should be theirs, irrespective of the number of photos. If you want to provide good service, you can pre-sort them into "good" and "not-so-good" batches.

 

[kevyan]

Well, I'm new to this. I don't have a contract with them. My MIL is the chairman of the RC, she's providing me a platform to start making some extra bucks... so she asked me to shoot the event for her for $50. That was the only agreement.

Hmm... maybe I should start drafting a contract on my own. ;p

What does your contract say? If they're not paying you on a per photo basis, but for the two hours of work, the output during these two hours should be theirs, irrespective of the number of photos. If you want to provide good service, you can pre-sort them into "good" and "not-so-good" batches.

 

[catchlights]

RC event normally have MP as GOH than have budget to hire photographers, and most of the time is hire professional, not newbie.

the std shots are those telling "when", "where", "what", "who" and "how", and best you can capture photos that show the residents enjoy the event, VIP interact with residents, multi racial harmony, different age group together etc. Some of the shots will be used in RC news letter, so they not interested on those weird angle photos, all photos must be sharp and clear, msg in photo must straight to the point.

pick best 80~100 pix to deliver.

 

[kevyan]

WOW.... thanks for the pointers.... after reading.. stress now...

Hmmm...:think: How do we define 'Professional'?

RC event normally have MP as GOH than have budget to hire photographers, and most of the time is hire professional, not newbie.

the std shots are those telling "when", "where", "what", "who" and "how", and best you can capture photos that show the residents enjoy the event, VIP interact with residents, multi racial harmony, different age group together etc. Some of the shots will be used in RC news letter, so they not interested on those weird angle photos, all photos must be sharp and clear, msg in photo must straight to the point.

pick best 80~100 pix to deliver.

 

[LittleWolf]

Well, I'm new to this. I don't have a contract with them.

An oral contract is also a contract. It's only a bit iffy if there's disagreement later on. For something on the scale you describe, I don't think this is likely.

My MIL is the chairman of the RC, she's providing me a platform to start making some extra bucks... so she asked me to shoot the event for her for $50.

Such events are a dime a dozen, and if top images were really important, they would not hire someone for $50. I doubt they even expect good pictures. What might the pictures of such an event be used for? The pinnacle the photos might reach is likely some RC newsletter or maybe a calendar mailed out by your MP to his/her constituency.

For this, they're probably entirely happy if they can show 1) "MP so-and-so, grassroots advisor to so-and-so, honorary member of the RC Karaoke club, and protector of the elderly and children, poses with some happy and grateful peasants", and 2) "local RC dignitaries talking to MP so-and-so, grassroots advisor to so-and-so, honorary member of the RC Karaoke club, and protector of the elderly and children". As long as one can recognize the MP surrounded by some smiling people, or the Very Important RC Persons chatting with the MP, can already.

Photos good enough that there's a risk of the photographer getting more attention than the MP and/or the RC people depicted are probably not useful to your clients. These events are so routine that it doesn't take much to reach that level ... so no need to stress out, just make sure you suppress any artistic ambitions on your side.

 

[ahbian]

Well, I'm new to this. I don't have a contract with them. My MIL is the chairman of the RC, she's providing me a platform to start making some extra bucks... so she asked me to shoot the event for her for $50. That was the only agreement.

Hmm... maybe I should start drafting a contract on my own. ;p

Most important pictures then is to take the chairman interacting with the guest of honour. :bsmilie:

There is no need to be trigger shy and over-delibrate, fire off a handful of shots for each situation descibed by the previous postings.

Easiest way to check for the types of pictures needed, look through those RC/town concil newletters again.

 

[kevyan]

Hi both, thanks for the advice. My wife ask me not to take 'artistic' pictures too. :bsmilie:

Will take all the points in mind. Thank you once again. :thumbsup:

An oral contract is also a contract. It's only a bit iffy if there's disagreement later on. For something on the scale you describe, I don't think this is likely.



Such events are a dime a dozen, and if top images were really important, they would not hire someone for $50. I doubt they even expect good pictures. What might the pictures of such an event be used for? The pinnacle the photos might reach is likely some RC newsletter or maybe a calendar mailed out by your MP to his/her constituency.

For this, they're probably entirely happy if they can show 1) "MP so-and-so, grassroots advisor to so-and-so, honorary member of the RC Karaoke club, and protector of the elderly and children, poses with some happy and grateful peasants", and 2) "local RC dignitaries talking to MP so-and-so, grassroots advisor to so-and-so, honorary member of the RC Karaoke club, and protector of the elderly and children". As long as one can recognize the MP surrounded by some smiling people, or the Very Important RC Persons chatting with the MP, can already.

Photos good enough that there's a risk of the photographer getting more attention than the MP and/or the RC people depicted are probably not useful to your clients. These events are so routine that it doesn't take much to reach that level ... so no need to stress out, just make sure you suppress any artistic ambitions on your side.

Most important pictures then is to take the chairman interacting with the guest of honour. :bsmilie:

There is no need to be trigger shy and over-delibrate, fire off a handful of shots for each situation descibed by the previous postings.

Easiest way to check for the types of pictures needed, look through those RC/town concil newletters again.

 

[Squid]

If there is any prize giving for lucky draw or any competition, focus on getting the shots of person receiving the prizes from the guest of honour or the RC chairman.