Tips for low light "surprise" shoot...

CThomas817 · Jan 30, 2019

I was hired to do a marriage proposal shoot. Location is non-negotiable due to sentiment reasons. Shoot is after dark in a flourescent lit salon. Client does not want the salon lights on full power as he is using candles for ambiance.

He wants me to pop out when he gets down on his knee and does not want evidence of my presence prior - so I will not have time for light setup. I have an on-camera but there are no white walls nearby and ceilings are high.

Any ideas or tips for light? This is the first time I am doing a shoot where I cannot control setup and direct the client. I am trying to avoid having to pay an assistant to hold a light or reflector.

Even close to wide open, ISO is too high for quality I need. TIA.

tirediron · Jan 30, 2019

Why can't you go in ahead of time, rig up a couple of speedlights out of sight to cover the area? You won't want a lot of light, just enough to see what's going on. Fluorescents can be problematic as their light output cycles with the alternating current, so you could actually press the shutter at a time when there's no light, or nearly none at all. I would be VERY clear with the client that if you can't rig up light ahead of time, the results will likely not be stellar.

dennybeall · Jan 30, 2019

Two people and you can get in position. Sounds like a decent hot shoe mounted flash with a diffuser would do fine. Fresh batteries in the flash would let you shoot quickly.

CThomas817 · Jan 31, 2019

tirediron said:
Why can't you go in ahead of time, rig up a couple of speedlights out of sight to cover the area? You won't want a lot of light, just enough to see what's going on. Fluorescents can be problematic as their light output cycles with the alternating current, so you could actually press the shutter at a time when there's no light, or nearly none at all. I would be VERY clear with the client that if you can't rig up light ahead of time, the results will likely not be stellar.

It's a small hair salon and the girlfriend is the owner. I think she would notice the speedlights when she walks in. He doesn't want her to notice anything that would clue her in before he gets down on his knee. I'm going there tonight to scope out the area so I may just have to get creative!

Thanks!

Braineack · Jan 31, 2019

post a few pics of the place so we can help provide better solutions.

Designer · Jan 31, 2019

It would be cool if all the "customers" were players. A couple of them would stand up and hold a flash or a reflector, and they would all break out into song.

CThomas817 · Jan 31, 2019

Q

Sorry my mistake - lights are tungsten but all overhead.

Designer said:
It would be cool if all the "customers" were players. A couple of them would stand up and hold a flash or a reflector, and they would all break out into song.

Lol... too bad it's after closing!

JBPhotog · Jan 31, 2019

It looks to me like you could plant some speed lights in the drop ceiling above the counter, bouncing off the ceiling. If she is sitting on the purple bench there are two cabinets next to it where speed lights could be placed as bounce units. Best to get an idea of where the proposal will take place and set up for that and drag the shutter to pick up some of the ambient candle lights. As already pointed out, use some of the staff as VAL's. If colour contamination is a concern, gel your speed lights with a full CTO and of course shoot in Raw.

Parker219 · Jan 31, 2019

Whew...I thought for a second this forum was going to try and over do things for a simple photoshoot...

Designer · Jan 31, 2019

I think there is enough light in that shop, and with all those different light sources, you won't need to worry about shadows, and with all those shiny reflective surfaces, I would not advocate any flash at all.

Be creative in your camera angle, set your camera to high definition, and try to get the best expression of surprise. Basically, you get one good shot. Practice steady holding techniques, get some idea of how close you want to be before the day, and consider the light as the moment approaches.

Good luck!

vintagesnaps · Jan 31, 2019

Will this be after dark? If so it will be much lower light than in the photos. Look how much darker it looks back by that purple wall compared to the center of the salon near the windows.

I've done events & sports and I usually try to notice where the light looks the best, although it may not be as much light as it seems for the camera (because we can see and focus a camera in lower light which seems bright enough for us to see but may not be adequate for a camera using existing light).

I suppose with the lights turned down I'd try to have them be somwhat under a chandelier, maybe using the purple bench & silver tables (which might be pretty for the candles and reflective). The issue there is the mirror - you'd need to figure out vantage points and what reflection you'd be getting in the mirror because that will be part of the composition. Have more than one vantage point in mind and be ready to take a step or two and adjust because he might be standing differently than planned and you'll have to adjust on the spot. Have him bring candles or you take a couple along to see how/if those will be reflected. (I've done occasional photos by candle light with the subject close by, in window UV and room incandescent light, and the light falls off fast; not sure how it'd be with tungsten.)

When you pop out, take a second or two to make sure you're set and standing still so you don't get movement or shutter blur. You can do more in 2-3 seconds that it may seem (try counting seconds to notice how long that is), get set and take a breath - don't forget to breathe (to help with being steady).

I think really it's a disservice to a client to take on a job like this that you've never done and don't what to do, but you've already made the commitment so after this find ways to get to public events where cameras are allowed and get in some practice so you'll know what to do in a pressure situation.

I know what it's like when you get one shot and you have to get the picture, and it takes knowing how to get it done under less than ideal conditions. And after the 'one' shot, keep shooting because there may be other moments worth capturing.

dennybeall · Jan 31, 2019

That place is lit up like a Christmas tree, no worry. Overthinking will distract from getting good photos. Shoot in raw so you can fix any problems from the florescents.

Parker219 · Jan 31, 2019

Shutter speed priority set to 1/250. F/2.8 and let the camera pick the ISO.

Shoot in RAW.

Focus on her eyes for the most part .

Post the final pics in this thread.

TCampbell · Feb 3, 2019

You're in luck... those are NOT high-ceilings (high ceilings are things like cathedral ceilings. A bounced flash off the ceiling will do great with that.

Don't shoot f/2.8 ... otherwise probably just one of them will be in good focus. You need depth of field to get them both. Figure out where you'll shoot from, measure the distance, calculate the DoF for that distance & focal length lens.

I'm not familiar with the nuances of Nikon flashes ... but I expect Nikon "brand" flashes probably have auto-focus assist. (With my Canon flashes I can focus in completely darkness... it fires a red pattern that is easily recognized by the camera's AF sensors... which lock on and quickly focus even if the room has inadequate light).

When shooting with ambient light ... keep the shutter speed low (e.g. 1/60th sec). A flash exposure gets light two ways... one way is the burst from the flash but that's incredibly fast (the flash is at peak brightness for maybe 1/1000 sec ... enough to "freeze" action and avoid motion blur). The problem is that light falls off based on the distance squared from the source (something twice as far away gets 1/4 as much light). This is why you'd see the "bright" subject in a near-black room (when you know the room actually had nice ambient lighting). If you shoot with a longer shutter speed ... say 1/60th ... then your flash will have enough time to collect ambient light (it'll look dim, but it won't look black). It's a much more pleasing result (test this before the proposal day so you are comfortable with all the settings.)

If your flash does not have AF-assist capability ... you might want to rent one that has it.

timchuma · Feb 5, 2019

Just do it!

Wang the ISO up as high as you can go and then put on a prime lens and adjust the exposure compensation.

I could not even see in the room for some of these
Square Sounds Melbourne 2017

I had only gotten the camera recently so was trying things out
Glove dancing at Square Sounds Melbourne 2017

Sometimes you still need flash as the prime can't focus and the normal lens doesn't open wide enough
http://photos.timchuma.com/gallery3/index.php/Twoks-Rainbow-17-11-18/TwoksRainbowHotel171118-009