Photographing Santa

[Dexter247]

Ok I have been roped into helping at our village schools Christmas fete, they want me to take individual photos of the kids and Santa, I have never done anything like this before so if anyone has any tips that might help please let me know.
I have a f1.8 50mm lens and a 17-50mm f2.8 zoom, I also have a sigma flash unit with a diffuser box thingy so I won't have to use the inbuilt flash.

 

[coldpenguin]

I haven't done it either, but I think that your first job should be to determine exactly where the kids will be, and where Santa will be. With the 50mm prime, then you will nothave a zomm capability obviously, so you want to make sure that you are in a comfortable position and able to take photos without issue. What camera is it, crop or non-crop? Will 50mm be close enough? (I sometimes find my 17-50mm not close enough).
How are they intending on getting the photos to the kids?

 

[kentdiscos]

Bit late but I did this a few years back - I used a zoom lens (due to having 1-6 people in the frame + Santa at a time)

I opted for a bounce flash and they came out perfectly fine

 

[Dexter247]

I had the flash pointing backwards over my shoulder onto a white wall, the photos were not to bad and I have had some positive feedback from some of the parents. I can't post any of them however as due to rules and regulation I had to give the school the SD Card so they could print them and distribute them.
I did however learn a lot and it was a worthwhile experience.

 

[Deleted member 11790]

i did the santa pics at my school earlier in December and the only advice i can give you is that you do some test shots to make that the colouring and settings are right as the flash unit can be quite bright especially if your in an enclosed space (such s a grotto)