daughters preschool photos.

[cdplayer]

Hi all

The teachers at my daughters preschool have asked me to take some pics of the children for their website and publications. Im no pro by a long way but want to help and hopefully get some nice photos of the children doing painting etc etc. I said I will just give them the memory card at the end of the day rather than doing any post processing at home (to save any issues with ownership etc etc that all stats getting complicated)

Anyway I really want to get the best out of my setup. Its:

Nikon D300
SB600
nikon 70 300 1:4-5.6 ED
nikon 18-70 (the old kit lens) although the zoom has become stuck between 35 and 70

I dont have any other lights etc and think the tripod will just get in the way of the kids.

Its going to be inside sat around tables doing sticking and painting, then having lunch, maybe a bit of running around playing and if its nice they will be let loose in the garden to go on the swings and slide.

Oh yes my daughter and her friends at preschool are between 2 and 3

The location is very nice set in farmland the hall was opened just last year and is very well lite with natural light.

I like taking shots with the 70 to 300 so I can zoom in and reduce depth of field without getting in the way of the kids.

Ive taken a million shots of my daughter over the last two years so am not fazed about taking pics of children. should be fun ??

any help will be very useful

Chris

 

[lawrie29]

I would plan on spending a day with them, if you can.
I would work out what natural light you have, and try to work with it, as the flash may make the little uns feel unnatural.
I would be using the 300 end of the zoom, and getting them from across the room to really catch them naturally playing.
Maybe have a few minutes doing some group shots at the startto get them used to you.
Shoot at there level,may be self explanatory, but getting down to their height will give a much more pleasing perspective.
Eating shot - I would avoid, noone looks good with a face full of food, and dribbles on the chin. Get them before they eat, as it is being served maybe.
I would be taking loads of shots on continuous, cos it will take more than one to get the best shot.

I would edit them yourself. Otherwise, someone is going to sift through everything you ahve shot, and not see what you had seen in each shot. It is reflecting your work, and whilst you are not a pro, you will want your work to be represented in the best possible way.

Are you getting a free session or two from this??

 

[donut]

if its indoors , you might not get a shutter speed to be able to use the long end of the 70 - 300 ,,without getting camera shake , i would also consider making a small bounce card for the flash ,, and as lawrie says , get down low to their level. and spend some time just being there before you start rattling off the shutter ,let them get used to you then forget that you're there