Birthday party event: seeking some advice

[foxxy]

Hi Guys,

Would like to seek some expert advice, i'll be helping out my cousin to take photos for her Kid's birthday party this coming Saturday. It's indoors and i guess there are limited lightings.

Did some research on the web and in summary this is what i suppose to do;

1.) go early take pics of deco, etc
2.) know the main events
3.) taking from eye level of kid
4.) pay more attention to the kid's games and events

Would like to ask is there anything else that i should be aware off?

Btw, my gear would be a Canon 350D + 50mm 1.4 and a Tamron 17-55mm 2.8. Don't have flash unit yet...:(

Thanks in advance :)

[noordin]

Is it in the day? Late afternoon, maybe. Set your ISO to 400 or even 800 and shoot normally. But if it's at night then you have to have a flash if you're gonna get good pictures. Beg, borrow or rent. :)

[foxxy]

It's during the day, around late morning. Guess no choice, kena guna high ISO. Argh..i so want a flash....:rolleyes:

Thanks noordin! :)

[Ju-Lian]

Hm, where do ppl actually go to rent gear? :?

[noruazumi]

sorry foxxy for the late reply.
i didn't notice your post.
i'm no expert but i've covered 2 kids birthday party before and they are not paid event, only favors to my friends.
the list that u got are right and u should follow them coz that what i did.
u got nice lenses... 50/1.4 and 17-55/2.8 are more than enough.
u'll find that u'll not have enough time to change lenses.
i suggest u stick with 17-55/2.8.
using 50/1.4 in a room required spaces to move around.
flashgun is really important when shooting indoor with low light.
kids can't stay at the same place for a long time, so u need to use fast shutter speed.

last time, one birthday party was held inside the house and at the same time activities were done outside the house.
so i was struggling changing settings for both my body (Nikon D50) and my flashgun (SB600).
FLASHGUN is important. seriously.
boosting ISO wont give the same result as having a flashgun.

not to forget you yourself must be friendly to those kids.
kids can be very shy & at the same time can be very cheerful.
so be aware of each & every kids. kids are fun to shoot.

owh yeah, careful with your gears.
kids are curious! almost had an accident in my case. ehehhe...

that's basically it i think.
if i got something else that i can recall, i'll let u know.
have fun & good luck! :D

[kenntsc]

dont forget to bring some sweets ;)

[foxxy]

Thanks for the input noruazumi! Good advice :)
I see the importance in the Flash unit now, but i'm hoping it would be fine without one as the place should be quite well lighted. They are having the party at the multipurpose hall of their apartment.
As of now, looks like my only choice would be the built in flash if i need extra lights.....:rolleyes:
Really need to save up for a flash unit...


kenntsc,
need sweets meh?....:0 so many food around....:?

[Freaky]

350 has flash... should be ok with that... if too harsh, wrap a piece of tissue or tracing paper over the builtin flash... alternatively, you can adjust the flash output to lower, so not so bright...

I suggest you go a bit earlier and test which setting/configuration works best.

Most important is to enjoy yourself... :D

[noruazumi]

if at multi-purpose hall with enough lighting, then u'll be fine. :D
remember, using the built-in flash will drain your battery quicker.
having extra batteries would be good.

aaaaaaah... try to wear those cartoon or kids color shirt.
and u need to bring out your child-behavior on that day.
kids gonna love that. u must attract them to u.
if u chase them, they'll be shy. :D


oh yeah, about shooting them in eye-level, here's one tip.
sit on kids stool like in the photo! hehehe...
819

[mobbes]

A few comments foxxy ...
If you use hotshoe flash, better if you bounce off the ceiling (check out the place & take some test shots with diff flash head angles). If you use onboard flash, there are some diy thingies you can make to re-direct the flash up

To get to eye level, best is to sit on the floor or on your knees ready to move (eg during musical chairs or clown/magician performance). Don't be shy or self-conscious... get down. Shots from adult height very detached & uninvolved

If there's a magic show, tell the fella to give you some space behind him (wanna capture children's looks of amazement & happiness). Some just plonk themselves against the wall & you, the op, have no shooting position

Errr what else ... if you have a zoom pns, by all means use it to take candids from far away eg kids in less active moods & you can use wide open + low shutter speed, no flash. I use my Lumix FZ20 which gives me up to 432mm, at iso200, f2.8, I still can shoot around 1/20-30s

Have fun :)

aaaaaaah... try to wear those cartoon or kids color shirt.

This is a good suggestion :) Another thing you can do is to wear a mickey mouse cap (of anything wacky to catch their attention) on your head so they'll look in your direction ... if you shoot them with the window behind you, you'll also get nice catchlights in their eyes :)

[foxxy]

Thanks Guys! Really useful information, yeah i think i will wear some funny T-Shirts which doesn't scare the kids..:partyon:

Really appreciate all the advice and input from you all, thanks again!!

cheers!:drunk:

[JackJack]

flash gun is important, boost to higher ISO will only make ur pic....not so nice..

speak from last weeked experience....i need a flash gun :(

[Gojira]

If you are worried that the flash output from your onboard flash may be too harsh, you can always try this:

1) Get an empty plastic film container (you know, those clear ones)

2) Cut out a rectangle along the length of the container that's big enough to fit your onboard flash head into.

You know have a DIY flash diffuser!

Oh yeah, with the Tamron 17-50, you might not want to use the hood when shooting using the camera's onboard flash, you may end up with a black semicircle at the bottome of your pics.

[jetfynn]

If you are worried that the flash output from your onboard flash may be too harsh, you can always try this:

1) Get an empty plastic film container (you know, those clear ones)

2) Cut out a rectangle along the length of the container that's big enough to fit your onboard flash head into.

You know have a DIY flash diffuser!

Oh yeah, with the Tamron 17-50, you might not want to use the hood when shooting using the camera's onboard flash, you may end up with a black semicircle at the bottome of your pics.

MUST USE FLASH! MUST USE FLASH!

[Ju-Lian]

Good idea! Tried using A4 paper to diffuse but cellotape like not sticking properly to the Canon body surface...very hard to keep attached

Hmm...film container got so big meh...dunno can fit or not!

[Gojira]

Only for those tiny onboard flash....for a proper 580EX....hehehe...cannot lar!