Beginner Event Phoptography

EvilMinion

EvilMinion

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Hello All,

Very new to this, approached some local venues to get some local free, low cost events to attend and practice. I think this is the right approach? im a paying customer, one venue ive asked what i do with the pics and asked if they can have them FOC (im guessing its fine to say as long as you allow me free entrance and with no expectations, this being a much more expensive event than usually i think as its £15)

I think i have the right sort of gear or at least lens wise initially and while appreciate there may be be some primes offering more benefit in lower light situations this is not where im at at the minute.
Body: is sexy and the camera is an EOS 50d - which i think is the weakness in this with the ISO performance
Lens: I have Sigma 27-70 2.8, Sigma 70-200 2.8 and a 50 1.8

I try to use manual mode with iso at approx 1600 but end up having to push it up. i use spot metering and auto WB with the widest appeture of the lens. can i get away with auto ISO? do these sound about right, i will once i can post some example pics of the first time shots i get, planning to go along to another tonight but any help or advice is greatly welcomed
 
EvilMinion said:
Hello All,

Very new to this, approached some local venues to get some local free, low cost events to attend and practice. I think this is the right approach? im a paying customer, one venue ive asked what i do with the pics and asked if they can have them FOC (im guessing its fine to say as long as you allow me free entrance and with no expectations, this being a much more expensive event than usually i think as its £15)

I think i have the right sort of gear or at least lens wise initially and while appreciate there may be be some primes offering more benefit in lower light situations this is not where im at at the minute.
Body: is sexy and the camera is an EOS 50d - which i think is the weakness in this with the ISO performance
Lens: I have Sigma 27-70 2.8, Sigma 70-200 2.8 and a 50 1.8

I try to use manual mode with iso at approx 1600 but end up having to push it up. i use spot metering and auto WB with the widest appeture of the lens. can i get away with auto ISO? do these sound about right, i will once i can post some example pics of the first time shots i get, planning to go along to another tonight but any help or advice is greatly welcomed
Click to expand...

Get your tin hat ready.
 
i do not understand Adam? is my post likely to cause offence?
if you mean regarding doing free work, we have to start somewhere and from the advice i sought need to not be free at the earliest possible time to prevent advantage taken
 
Should i delete this post then, Im not understanding what i have done wrong? maybe some constructive help instead of suggesting im going to need a tin hat?

If it was due to the statement if they could have them FOC was a question, i was questioning i guess this is OK initially, this is a very small low key venue with little or no presence for anything other than smaller low key bands that has no photographic interest to anyone the room is probably no bigger than an average living room with a balcony with a bit more space.

I as seeking advice, not saying i will/should give them for free.

As im playing guess the problem with my post, if its in regards to asking the question full stop, then just to advise i had done a search of forums including tutorials etc and cannot find the same thing asked any time recently
 
I was typing a new message as you replied, i guess its that statement and Broric i thank you for your reply. as above though really, it was a question really, as i stated im new, i have covered 2 events and definitely learning but some great results i think for a first attempt. For the record id love to charge them if its something i am capable of i mean my gear is not free as is my time.
 
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EvilMinion said:
i do not understand Adam? is my post likely to cause offence?
if you mean regarding doing free work, we have to start somewhere and from the advice i sought need to not be free at the earliest possible time to prevent advantage taken
Click to expand...

I'm not sure it will offend people, but you will come in for some stick. You have to understand that by doing something for free you're potentially taking money from a working professional who relies on it to feed his family. It's as simple as that.

Practice all you want. Absolutely. But what do you gain from giving images away for free?
 
UaeExile said:
I'm not sure it will offend people, but you will come in for some stick. You have to understand that by doing something for free you're potentially taking money from a working professional who relies on it to feed his family. It's as simple as that.

Practice all you want. Absolutely. But what do you gain from giving images away for free?
Click to expand...

I fully support and understand your point and partly thats part of why im asking, if everyones instinct thinks "i should give them for free" there is a reason i think that way and clearly a lot of others do and it is where i am seeking help from you experienced people as you will have been at this point at some time. If that is to ever change it will be due to constructive help and feedback and a change in peoples perception of whats value and what is not., as for what i gain other than experience, practice and the fact i can take my camera along which to me sounds fair enough to me for at least the first handful of times. After that i get the feel for it i dont feel i should offer anything over to anyone without something in return.

I felt it was unfair to fixate on that one points as i stated it was on a no expectation basis though i had some advice at a show i went to yesterday that i need to charge as soon as humanly possible as you get taken for granted.
 
What does he have to gain by not giving them away when he feels that he should?

Basically if you want to do it and give the photos away then that's what you should do, when/if you feel that you are confident enough to charge then don't give any away free anymore.

Don't worry about anyone telling you how much you should/shouldn't charge for your own time, that's a decision only you can make (and will no doubt be massively impacted by how confident you feel doing the 'free' shoots)
 
Is this nightclub photography?
 
UaeExile said:
You have to understand that by doing something for free you're potentially taking money from a working professional who relies on it to feed his family
Click to expand...

Can of worms time but if something can be done by an amateur for free, then maybe it doesn't have the value that the professional is attaching to it? Can you imagine the same argument holding much weight in other industries? (Obligatory stupid car-related analogy) You shouldn't get your neighbour who's into cars to help you change your spark plugs as a real mechanic has a family to feed...

My opinion is that you're often paying the professional for their experience and professionalism which are the important things for when things go wrong and you NEED the shots. If it's a shoot where if it all goes wrong and you end up with no good shots but it also doesn't matter too much then I don't see a problem getting an "amateur" in to see how they do.
 
You know the old saying when someone just got out of college and is looking for a job, and the only decent jobs available are looking for workers with experience. You do what you feel necessary to gain your experience and expertise. Just my 2 pence worth. Cheers.
 
EvilMimion, do you mind posting some of your pictures here for us to see. Cheers. :)
 
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