DayCare Graduation

[Rosy]

Taking pics at a Day-Care graduation it’ll be an informal event but give me lots of practice. Mainly taking pictures of individual kids with their cap-and gown and several group shots

QUESTION – Suggestion
85mm for the individual shot – maybe at 2.8
17-50mm for the group shots

ADVICE PLEASE

 

[KmH]

Just use the default font and text color. They are the default because they work well as far as good contrast and readability.

What will you be using for lighting?

 

[Rosy]

sorry - i copied and pasted from my outlook at work...
i have an SB900 - but i think it will either be outside - or in a classroom - the room well be well-lit (not doing the auditorium type graduation)

 

[CCericola]

When I shoot Day care graduations I use a plain canvas background (usually blue), I have 2 strobes, a main light and a fill light. The kids stand 3 feet from the background with their body facing the main light ( I have a mat with little footprints on it so the kids know where to stand). I have "diplomas" for them to hold which consists of a piece of paper rolled up and tied with a ribbons. I also have a silk rose on hand. Some parents prefer the rose and diploma for girls (it might be a Jersey thing). The main light is set so it meters f8 at 1/60. The fill light is 1/2 the main light. I do not use a back light because little ones can trip. For the groups I use a Metz or my flash mounted on a bracket. The background is either a bulletin board in the classroom, or I set up a large muslin. I have also taken them outside. When I take them outside I meter the background and use the flash as a fill. The photos are posted in a few days on a password protected website that is given to the parents and day care director. The school gets a complimentary set of group photos. The director and teachers receive a 50% discount for pictures of their own children. The school also gets a percentage of each sale so picture day doubles as a school fundraiser. You should also have disposable combs ( each kid needs their own to prevent the spread of germs). I also have them throw the combs away in a trash can because if they keep them they tend to stay in their cubbies or backpacks, get full of dirt, then they go outside and play dress up and comb each other's hair with dirty combs and presto, everyone has lice or something else. If you are providing the robes I usually bring 2 or 4 depending on the size if the school so I can be shooting one kid while the teacher gets another kid dressed. Hope this helps. And refrain from making jokes that for some kids this might be their only graduation. Yes, I have had someone say this in front of parents.

 

[KmH]

And there you have it.

Notice the technical information like, "The main light is set so it meters f8 at 1/60. The fill light is 1/2 the main light.".

That level of technical knowledge and expertise is worth striving for if you want to be able to make images in an efficient, consistant manner.

 

[Rosy]

you are GREAT Christina thank you SOOOO very much

 

[Stradawhovious]

Based on the title of the op, I thought that one of the regulars here was going to post in a forum other than the beginners area.

My bad.

Good luck on the shoot!

 

[lyonsroar]

Based on the title of the op, I thought that one of the regulars here was going to post in a forum other than the beginners area.

My bad.

Good luck on the shoot!