Photojournalist advice needed please

[treeman]

I've been asked by a friend to take some pics at a conference she's running, at The Queen Elizabeth Centre in London. Apparently they're going to have some big wigs speaking including government ministers etc.

She wants me to take pictures of the speakers on the podium. I've never done this before (she's well aware of this, but insists on me doing it).

What is the etiquette at these dos? do you just snap away throughout the speaking or just grab a few shots at one point in the speech and disappear till the next one?

Any pointers would be gratefully received

 

[Arkady]

Keep shooting til you've got the shot you need...
If there's a resonable amount of light you might not even need on-camera flash...but I'd take one just in case...

If there are 'proper' politicians there, there'll also be 'real' press as well - take your lead from them.

 

[chivers67]

I'd try to get some kind of order of talks that are going to take place and their length that way you'll have some idea of how long you're going to have to get a shot of each individual.

If they are big wigs no doubt that be used to having their picture taking however many people turn up.

Try to get there early and do some test shots with your friend if possible

 

[EdMoss]

Depending on how long each speaker is on for I usually do around the first 5-10mins of each one, without flash if I can help it.
Just get there early and bag a seat on the front row with the best view of the speakers, and most important is the background, don't be afraid to get the organisers to move a banner or pop up stand into the background.

 

[Arkady]

... don't be afraid to get the organisers to move a banner or pop up stand into the background.

Those banners will be positioned to maximise their impact for TV news cameras - good luck as a professional stills phot getting them moved, never mind as a friend of the organiser...

The PR people whose job it is to do all that will kow-tow to TV news and it's the stills-guys who get short-shrift in my experience...
Plus we can move around far more easily than a TV camera...

Like I said, watch what the pro's are doing and take your cue from them...

 

[treeman]

Thanks folks, some good advice there. It had crossed my mind to watch the pro togs, but I was kinda hoping not to look like a complete noob Photo Journo from the start. Be good if I can get away without using flash too.

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Like I said, watch what the pro's are doing and take your cue from them...

Then do something different. The pro's [sic] may have been corralled into the worst area for photography by the mostly useless press officers - who always know best.

If you have a friend who is organising a conference then you will be able to sort a AAA pass.

 

[Tirpitz]

Definitely do some test shots & check the exposure/white balance etc

be a shame to have a whole lot of duff images :shrug:

 

[EdMoss]

Those banners will be positioned to maximise their impact for TV news cameras - good luck as a professional stills phot getting them moved, never mind as a friend of the organiser...

The PR people whose job it is to do all that will kow-tow to TV news and it's the stills-guys who get short-shrift in my experience...
Plus we can move around far more easily than a TV camera...

Like I said, watch what the pro's are doing and take your cue from them...

Well it's always worked for me. Just explain what they would like to see, the cleaner walking past the bamboo tree or a nice clean background with branding in.
If it's part of the election campaign then it should all have been taken care of by the election team.

 

[Arkady]

Then do something different. The pro's [sic] may have been corralled into the worst area for photography by the mostly useless press officers - who always know best...

Not always...I always found we'd gravitate towards the ideal viewpoint almost by accident...
If it's a podium-shot, then you're almost guaranteed to find that due to the lighting, there's one good spot and that's it, unless you're after a wide shot of the whole auditorium...

 

[awp]

The pro's [sic] may have been corralled into the worst area for photography by the mostly useless press officers - who always know best.

Press officers don't normally differeniate - if you have a camera and are working you're a photographer and all treated the same. You are normally allowed a good viewpoint without too many restrictions - only exception is when royalty are present.

 

[treeman]

s - only exception is when royalty are present.

Funny you should say that, apparently Helen Mirren is a speaker.

I'm hoping for a good spot as it's my best mate who's the director of the company hosting the event. I wouldn't be totally surprised if she turned round and said I was the only tog allowed (Jeez, I hope not!)

If I have to shoot with flash, do you think there would be anything to be gained by taking it off camera and holding at arms length, not sure if it would be more hassle than it's worth :shrug: No point in bouncing as the ceilings will be to high.

 

[awp]

More hassle than it's worth - especially if it's a press scrum! Again, they only usually cut it down to one photographer if it's (real) royalty - although the main shots are usually available to everyone. Just noticed you have a D3s so just up the ISO!! I've often used high ISO and bounced the flash - amazing the range you can get with bounce flash at higher ISOs!