First band promo shoot - advice welcome

Mangelwurzel

Mangelwurzel

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A friend of mine has asked me to do a promo shoot for his band (5 piece punk tribute).
Just looking for general advice please as this is my first time attempting this.

I have a few locations scouted; a rusty stairwell; a graffiti'd wall; a traffic tunnel (not busy after hours so should be usable).

The main thing i'm worried about is lighting 5 people with 1 flash.
I've watched Zack Arius' Onelight DVD over and over and i think my best chance is with a large badass reflective umbrella and watching for shadows.

I'm also quite worried my 430EXII might not be powerful enough. The 580EXII is on my future shopping list but do you think i'll need it on this shoot?

Any tips really welcome. I'm quite comfortable with off camera flash and shooting on manual flash and manual camera settings, the thing is i've only shot 1 person - not 5!

I'll be using CTR-301 triggers for the faster shutter speeds, but when i need to draw in ambient i've got a 5m cord that will give me rear curtain sync on the slower shutter speeds.

Lens wise i'll be using the Sigma 10-20mm and the Tamron 17-50/2.8.

Any compositional tips also welcome. Does getting them to look into the lens or out of the frame work best?

Just to add i'm doing this for free as a favour so their expectations are not high but, for me and for them, i want to do the best possible job i can :)
 
Not sure why you said yes! Just giving yourself a load of grief.
 
awp said:
Not sure why you said yes! Just giving yourself a load of grief.
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I said yes because:

- I like the bloke :thumbs:
- I want a challenge and to try something new :clap:
- I love strobism (even if thats the wrong term) :woot:
- If it works it would look great in my portfolio :D
 
Goodness, you can get away with just about anything with a punk band.

Wing it and don't think about it until 30 minutes before you go.

You have to let the 'force be with you'.

Graham
 
There was an entry on the strobist blog a while ago, about lighting 20 or 30 people with one strobe...it'll be on there if you want to hunt for it...

Otherwise, I'll briefly explain it! Camera on tripod, everyone sat in their spot, light one person, snap them, light the next, snap them...and so on...then merge in post! Worth a shot, and should give you a lot more creative freedom :)
 
awp is being gay :D

you can get rear sync on flash triggers as they are just quench pin - work fine on my pt-04's

lurve the 17-50 espesh for this, erm remember DoF on group shots

if you're gonna be outside remember sandbags or an assistant as big brollies up high have a shocking tendency to make stands go down and that can bend ribs on the brolly - killed mine :(

considered a reflector to bring in more ambient as fill?

what'd be lush would be 6 lights 5 with grids :D but thats a bit outside what almost everyone I know has
 
awp said:
Not sure why you said yes! Just giving yourself a load of grief.
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And that's helpful how??? :bang:
C'mon awp, everyone has to learn somewhere, and this is a mate taking shots for a mate. He's not charging them, and they don't expect amazing shots so as far as I can see, it's a win win...

Mangle, I suggest you shoot this early evening so you have a little ambient light to compensate for your lack of flash power? Then use the flash (diffused however you can) with a reflector to create some gritty portraits. You don't need tons of light for a shoot like this, you just need to control it effectively.

Good luck with the shoot, and enjoy it :thumbs:
 
blue max said:
Wing it and don't think about it until 30 minutes before you go.
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Haha Graham i wish i had your confidence! :lol:

purpleclouds said:
There was an entry on the strobist blog a while ago, about lighting 20 or 30 people with one strobe...it'll be on there if you want to hunt for it...

Otherwise, I'll briefly explain it! Camera on tripod, everyone sat in their spot, light one person, snap them, light the next, snap them...and so on...then merge in post! Worth a shot, and should give you a lot more creative freedom :)
Click to expand...

Ah yeah i remember that. I think it was that same Mr Arias again.
I'll keep that idea for a backup plan :thumbs:


david1701 said:
if you're gonna be outside remember sandbags or an assistant as big brollies up high have a shocking tendency to make stands go down and that can bend ribs on the brolly - killed mine :(
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Aye, i use a sandbag even on a little shoot through. I might have an assistant sorted all being well :)
 
neo2810 said:
Mangle, I suggest you shoot this early evening so you have a little ambient light to compensate for your lack of flash power? Then use the flash (diffused however you can) with a reflector to create some gritty portraits. You don't need tons of light for a shoot like this, you just need to control it effectively.

Good luck with the shoot, and enjoy it :thumbs:
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Thanks Neo. I was planning on shooting sort of 7pm-10pm. Don't want to try and compete with the sun too much and i have a few ideas to try just after the sun goes down :)
 
If its dark and you ca lose ambient what about evolving that strobist idea of shooting each member on a black bg (any bg if its dark enough) with a gridded key up above pointing down then putting the pics together in post
 
david1701 said:
If its dark and you ca lose ambient what about evolving that strobist idea of shooting each member on a black bg (any bg if its dark enough) with a gridded key up above pointing down then putting the pics together in post
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Guess it would be easy to retrospectively insert another member if one left (or was chucked out!).

Keep the masters.

Graham

To be honest confidence is all I have. I am confident that if I don't get any pics worth keeping I will have done no worse than someone with no camera. According to confusus anyroads.
 
ok - on a more positive note - I'd forget the flash and use available light only - go for a grungy look - overcast day would be good but you can't control that - take LOTS of shots in each setting - keep changing the poses between shots - in fact ask them to move every click - direct when you have to but let it happen - keep your favoured location till last - by that time you'll all be more relaxed. Don't get bogged down with the tech side - chech you have a good exposure then just keep shooting! Look forward to seeing the results.
 
I've been asked to do the same for my nephew, so this post has helped me already.

Mangelwurzel, I have the same flash as you, & have also decided to shoot in the last hour of light, with similar locations. ie subway, "graffiti'd wall" , stairway.

Look forward to seeing you're results.:thumbs:

Spence
 
spencer said:
Mangelwurzel, I have the same flash as you, & have also decided to shoot in the last hour of light, with similar locations. ie subway, "graffiti'd wall" , stairway.

Look forward to seeing you're results.:thumbs:
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Likewise. I'd be interested in seeing yours too :)
Cheers for the help everyone. I'll post the images in a couple of weeks if they turn out ok :help:
 
keeping my eyes open for any interesting techniques or ideas and bring them back to you. Defo wanna see the pics


as an aside whats the band and where are your locations scouted ? I know odds and sods of the devon music scene :D not as much as I'd like though
 
You've done the right thing by accepting - you don't grow if you don't stretch yourself :)

First off - who said you need to use a flash? Keep your eyes open for natural light, i.e. coming through a window into a suitable location etc. Use the sun to backlight and add cool effetc (lens flare can be your friend).

And also, who said you need a 'purchased' lighting modifier?

Keep your eyes open for a suitable location which has a nearby light wall, or ceiling. Bounce your flash into that and you can light 20 people. You can have the wall behind you, or beside the group - loads of options.

Keep your mind open to LIGHT, not the strobe or your equipment. Do not think you need purchased modifiers to make a shot.

Buy yourself the biggest 5-in-1 reflector you can. Take it form me, they are *invaluable* (you can use the white side as a huge flash bounce source, for one example).
 
rdh said:
You've done the right thing by accepting - you don't grow if you don't stretch yourself :)
..............................

Keep your mind open to LIGHT, not the strobe or your equipment. Do not think you need purchased modifiers to make a shot.

Buy yourself the biggest 5-in-1 reflector you can. Take it form me, they are *invaluable* (you can use the white side as a huge flash bounce source, for one example).
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that man knows his stuff and he speaketh the truth:clap:

great advice! *reads and takes notes*
any more pointers?
 
Very helpful post RDH. im in a similar position as the OP but i have a few hours to work out a shot of a band ive never met lol.

Bouncing flash off a reflector! Why didnt i think of that lol
 
Thanks all. All useful advice so keep it coming :thumbs:
I met up with the band last night to see what they need so have a much clearer idea now. It seems they will be happy with 1 shot for their posters and flyers with their new lineup, but they are willing to try several looks and to quote "pose for some arty farty stuff" :lol:
I'm really looking forward to it now.
The shoot is arranged for July 23rd so i'll post the results if they're any good.

david1701 said:
as an aside whats the band and where are your locations scouted ? I know odds and sods of the devon music scene :D not as much as I'd like though
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The band are The Reoffenders and most of the locations we've come up with will be in and around Newton Abbot :)
 
No worries :)

Couple more tips:

Find inspiration

Sounds obvious, and it should be. Scour the net for shots you like, and reverse engineer them in your head. WHY do I like them? Take note of location, subject positions, subject expression, poses, lighting, location, lens (close, wide, fisheye), perspective, layers, DoF (including DoF effects on band members) etc.

Evolve your shoot

Start with a basic set-up, and grab a few shots which you could consider 'safety' - they do the job. Then tweak bits and bobs, add or remove elements to the photo; move locations, use different formations and expressions, change the shooting perspective etc. When you're done, compare the first and last set. You'll be amazed :)

Even if you feel like you need to use flash - start without it, get some shots using natural light first, then move onto flash later.

Just flow with it - do NOT think too technically, take a shot and check the screen. What can add to it (that may mean removing something)? How could I tweak it? Do that a few times and you'll start to find things that work. Since you learnt them, you'll also remember them :)

Try something different!

The best shots are ones that make you go 'woah, thats cool'. That usually comes from experimentation (the other being experience - which of course comes through experimentation). Get them to jump, get them to face away from you, get them to kick a tin can about, get them to run into a wall and leap off it - get them to do anything. You may get a keeper, or an album cover', and you may get nothing. What you always get is the subjects used to the camera and having fun. They'll loosen up, start to enjoy it and the following sets will really show that.

Different doesn't mean just the people, try different techniques. Whack the camera into manual and take a purposely blurred shot. That can REALLY work! Try different apertures on the same setup. You get the idea.

Stay calm, and be direct

Don't umm, and ahhh. Mess the exposure up? "nearly there, this will make it pop!...", be confident. A great quote is "Act like a swan, graceful above the water, but with feet paddling like crazy!". Even when experimenting, direct them exactly how you see it in your head. They'll oblige and respect you for it. Speak to them throughout, make them laugh, get them involved.

Remember, this is not just a shoot - it's a potential sales opportunity. Would you rather have them say to a prospective client "bit nervous, but turned out well", or "yeah, had a right laugh! got some great shots too". People prefer to work with nice people :)

Practice Post Processing

PP can make a 'normal' shot (normal being well executed, but not wow) really pop, and generate the wow factor. Nearly all, if not all, of your favourite images will have had some PP. In the music industry - quite a significant amount. If you want to achieve the level of your inspiration - you have to spend the time following tutorials and practicing. Yes you can out source it, but why not learn yourself? :) It's cheaper in the long run, much cheaper. That doesn't mean becoming a Photoshop expert by the way, get yourself Lightroom (it really is fantastic) and it will be more than enough. I only use PS for beauty retouching and specific effects, Lightroom does the rest (90%).

Like I said, do not get caught up in the technical side of your equipment. Relax, go with it and you'll get the shot :D
 
Thanks for taking the time to type that out - it really is appreciated.
I'm taking notes and buzzing with ideas to try :)
 
some great ideas and tips.

I think taking different perspectives of one setup is a great idea and tbh I tihnk this applies not only to band promo shoots but location shoots in general

thread subscribed!:thumbs:
 
Really good job on those mate, and the last one is by far the corker. Back lighting can make a shot, as in this case. :thumbs:
 
Get some gels for that flash! Add another flash if you can (you're gonna want more flashes down the road anyways). Pick one from the old EZ series of speedlites, much more affordable than the EX series but great for manual flashwork.

I went gel crazy on this shoot: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=1702847#post1702847

Shoot in a dark alley, yank up the ISO to get ambient and some grain (add more in post) and then throw in some colored flash.

www.flashgels.co.uk for all your gel needs. I think I have 50 or so gels from there :lol:

Or as suggested above, you could do 5 of these and mix in post:

3706901610_7f516104ec.jpg

Naked speedlite from directly above :)

No matter what you end up doing, be sure to share your results!
 
You can get a free gel sample pack from lee filters works well on speedlites :)
 
Firstly, well done on the shoot, the images are great!
They look at ease with it, which tells me you were too.

Secondly, thanks to rdh...I learned a ton from your gems of wisdom :thumbs:

Thirdly, on the subject of gels, if you want gels that actually fit as opposed to the free Lee or Roscoe filters, (I ordered mine a month ago and they still haven't arrived) I preferred to buy a decent but cost effective set (just waiting for them to arrive) here at Photogel.com ...reasonably priced and I bought a set of corrective filters enough for 3 speedlites. Have a look around the rest of their site too, lots of great kits for varying amounts of flashes.

Fourthly, now you have completed your shoot, consider a PP trick that they will find useful. I picked this up right at the end od Zack Arias's One Light Workshop DVD's. It's a technique you might need to plan ahead for in future, but applying a dark vignette and ensuring there is pure black on every edge of the image, you can add an extra area of black background canvas in PS above and below the image where text can be added for posters etc.

They will love you for it!
 
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