Posing Couples for a Ball?

[Gilly B]

I am getting nervous of a shoot on the 10th May. There are 120 guests at a summer ball. Assuming a maximum of 60 couples is going to take ages to shoot. I have been told the time window is one and a half hours! yeah, right!! I will get this clarified next week when I meet with the organisers.

Has anyone got any ideas or point me in the direction of a site or link that will show how to pose couples in Ball gowns and Black tie? The event is in a village hall, and they have asked me to take them upstairs in the snooker room as it is quite atmospheric and has an original snooker table with long shade thingy over it. The organiser said they want the table in the shots somewhere.

The reason I have been asked, is in previous years the tog has taken the couples on the stairs, with breeze-blocks as the backdrop. They have been disappointed.

I was thinking of being a bit creative with the guy holding a cue whilst the lady leans against the table? or is that a bit cheesey?

I need some guidance on this one as I will be flapping like a budgie in a week's time.

 

[Steep]

I was thinking of being a bit creative with the guy holding a cue whilst the lady leans against the table? or is that a bit cheesey?

I need some guidance on this one as I will be flapping like a budgie in a week's time.

Depends how you pose them wink wink nudge nudge..

Seriously I realise time will be an issue but find out if they are game for a laugh, you could do all sorts of interesting shots on or around a snooker table, The michelle pfeiffer on a piano pose, the fag in the mouth leaning over to take a shot pose. Of course they might be a bit testy about you abusing the table...

Have you actually visited the venue and seen the upstairs?

 

[Gilly B]

Depends how you pose them wink wink nudge nudge..

Seriously I realise time will be an issue but find out if they are game for a laugh, you could do all sorts of interesting shots on or around a snooker table, The michelle pfeiffer on a piano pose, the fag in the mouth leaning over to take a shot pose. Of course they might be a bit testy about you abusing the table...

Have you actually visited the venue and seen the upstairs?

I am visiting the venue next Friday to see where I set up my lights etc.

My concern with posing them in funny situations (which sounds a great idea) is the time it would take to get each couple to feel comfortable.

I suppose I could have him standing behind her at a degree angle to the camera with his arms around her waist, whilst she is holding a cue or one hand touching the edge of the snooker table - with part of the table and balls and overhead lamp showing in one side of the image.

Ummmm, I am going to have to take a volunteer with me on Friday and have a play around.

Thanks Steep

 

[dfrear]

I don't know much about this but I would imagine some couples are going to be more comfortable doing the more inventive poses than others.

Maybe you could try to work out which are the more outgoing/tipsy and try to have them pose as you have described and the other, more nervous couples, stood holding each other against the end of the table in a more traditional full portrait style?

Daniel.

 

[mobilevirgin]

Flickr is often good for inspiration for things like this. A quick search for "snooker" and "portrait" brings this page. There are the makings of some ideas there, I think. Try using other search terms too.

 

[englandshottest2]

im gonna have a similar problem too lol, shooting over 250 guests at an annual ball for a sports society club...they originally wanted black and red as the background- yea right!

 

[Gilly B]

Flickr is often good for inspiration for things like this. A quick search for "snooker" and "portrait" brings this page. There are the makings of some ideas there, I think. Try using other search terms too.

Thanks guys. I had a look on flickr through your link and I could utilise some of those ideas. Never used that site before - looks a good reference point.

 

[Hacker]

I think if I was going to do this I'd try it in a widish landscape format with all the room lights switched off and just the snooker table lights on. Couple to one side of the table lit by softbox/umbrella with the light falling away to almost darkness behind with just the subjects and table lit although there might be some WB issues. I've no idea at the moment how the lighting would be set up but as a starting point I'd probably use a high shutter speed so there is less ambient light coming in.

Hope this helps and good luck with it.

 

[Gilly B]

I think if I was going to do this I'd try it in a widish landscape format with all the room lights switched off and just the snooker table lights on. Couple to one side of the table lit by softbox/umbrella with the light falling away to almost darkness behind with just the subjects and table lit although there might be some WB issues. I've no idea at the moment how the lighting would be set up but as a starting point I'd probably use a high shutter speed so there is less ambient light coming in.

Hope this helps and good luck with it.

Gees Colin, now that sounds like a plan I like that idea - thanks

 

[Janice]

That's the exact same scene I had in mind! And I really dont think it would be too difficult to create as Colin says.

To save some time.. you could perhaps have 2 crosses marked on the floor with tape to show each new couple where to stand.

 

[Gilly B]

That's the exact same scene I had in mind! And I really dont think it would be too difficult to create as Colin says.

To save some time.. you could perhaps have 2 crosses marked on the floor with tape to show each new couple where to stand.

.....hehe! a bit like Britain's Got Talent X's? Even better idea - thanks Janice I knew you peeps would get the old creative juices flowing given the challenge. I think I am looking forward to it now