Daughter birthday help

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People, i need some advice.

My daughter has her 4th birthday party on sunday at a 'Play Area' with 15 of her school mates. They will have an hour on soft play and then an hour in a room where they will eat and she can blow out her candles!!

Now, i only have a Canon 450D with 18-55mm IS lens and built in flash.

What settings would i best use for the situation? Should i leave the camera on Auto? Help!!
 
Be careful that there are no rules laid down by the premises management about photography in that sort of enviroment.

Bloody awful, but that's one of the first things that spring to my mind these days
 
The light in those places tends to be abysmal at the best if times... I have no idea what the low light capabilities of a 450d are like but for starters, set the iso to 800 and put the camera in aperture priority mode and go for the widest that your lens will go. If you are getting blurry shots due to shutter speeds that are too slow, either crank up the iso 1 more stop or (if you don't have a flash) it will be time to pop up the on board (as a last resort!!)

Try to work with the available light wherever possible, that tiny on board flash will ruin your shots with harsh light (IMO)
 
tijuana taxi said:
Be careful that there are no rules laid down by the premises management about photography in that sort of enviroment.

Bloody awful, but that's one of the first things that spring to my mind these days
Click to expand...

Its fine. Last party we went to there last week and everyone was using their cameras!
 
jamesoliverstone said:
The light in those places tends to be abysmal at the best if times... I have no idea what the low light capabilities of a 450d are like but for starters, set the iso to 800 and put the camera in aperture priority mode and go for the widest that your lens will go. If you are getting blurry shots due to shutter speeds that are too slow, either crank up the iso 1 more stop or (if you don't have a flash) it will be time to pop up the on board (as a last resort!!)

Try to work with the available light wherever possible, that tiny on board flash will ruin your shots with harsh light (IMO)
Click to expand...

Thanks, so, if possible, stay away from using the onboard flash?

Use AP mode? Wish i had a 50mm 1.8 now!!
 
I did the same thing only a couple of months ago. And I can confirm the lighting in these places is awful. Flourescents, and dim! I used bounce flash mostly, but with great care as being a kids play centre, the walls are all brightly coloured! Red, yellow, green.... nightmare for bouncing flash! I would go for fast glass next time and high ISO. If your still getting slow shutter speeds at a high ISO then i'm afraid you may just have to go with on board flash, better to get the shots than not at all. After all its most likely fun birthday shots you'll be getting anyway, hope this helps.

Matt
 
mh photography said:
I did the same thing only a couple of months ago. And I can confirm the lighting in these places is awful. Flourescents, and dim! I used bounce flash mostly, but with great care as being a kids play centre, the walls are all brightly coloured! Red, yellow, green.... nightmare for bouncing flash! I would go for fast glass next time and high ISO. If your still getting slow shutter speeds at a high ISO then i'm afraid you may just have to go with on board flash, better to get the shots than not at all. After all its most likely fun birthday shots you'll be getting anyway, hope this helps.

Matt
Click to expand...

More concerned about the shots in the room with the kids eating etc as i don't think i will be taking any in the play area. (Anyone got a 2nd hand Nifty for sale?!!! lol)

Ooops, sorry mods, not trading!! :suspect:
 
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I got this and simular shots using just a D90 and a 35mm f1.8. Shot at F2.8, 1600 ISO and 1/60th. Bump your Iso to 3200 (if it goes that high) and you should get something similar. Similar situation, in a small room where they eat etc..


DSC_6481 by M H Photography, on Flickr

Ideally yes you need a fast lens here.
 
I have taken my camera onto the playgym in the past. Is it a private party or are there other kids? If other kids I made sure only to shoot the ones at the party.

I always find photos of kids eating aren't nice - crumbs, dribble open mouths, so I only tend to shoot before the food comes and when the cake arrives.

Getting down to their level is key to getting some good shots.

If you go on the play gym, then try and get them in action doing something - the slide, trampoline etc.
 
Just the room where they are eating is where i am aiming to take pics.
 
Easier or harder than you thought?
 
going to share one?
 
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