I want to do school-related event pictures and need equipment and lens recommendations!

[HiFiGuy1]

I haven't done proms/homecomings, but I am able to say that the 12 sittings of senior portraits this year paid more than my part time job. (Those are my credentials haha). BTW, I suggest getting into senior portraits too. People pay out the wazoo for them.

My wife says so, too. She thinks I need to do Sr. portraits, since that kind of work is easier to break into than the contracted and pre-planned (by the school admins, usually) event photography. When you say "out the wazoo", what are we talking about here? Keep in mind I am trying to get my feet wet and am trying to build a client base, and would need to charge accordingly for now.

I agree with the safety net of cards and batteries. (I need to get more cards now that I think about it).


Backup body would be nice, but I suggest borrowing from a friend for now.

Don't know anybody with a Canon body. All my friends shoot Nikon. Peety3, would you be my friend, so I could borrow your 40D? [] Just kidding as far as borrowing the body, I honestly wouldn't feel comfortable with that, even though my insurance would probably pay for the replacement if I broke it. I feel like, with used/refurb pricing what it is for the 40D and/or 50D, I'll just buy a backup.

I'm going out on a limb and not suggesting continuous lighting as did Dallas and Peety3 (I think they did. Don't crucify me if they didn't). I think a couple of vivitar 285HV's will suffice for off camera lighting. Obviously buy one or two Canon 430EXII's for ETTL. (I use one vivitar and one 430EXII and I love them. For event photography, I will be getting more lights though).


You can get the reliable CyberSync wireless system for a few hundred (Trigger is 60. Receivers are 70).

Why do you not recommend continuous lighting? I am not aware of why you would or would not want to have this. My only awareness of lighting is a flash like a 430 or 580EX, and I have borrowed a Gary Fong LightSphere modifier, which gave me some good results while I had it.

As for lenses, maybe a 50 1.8 (for cost) and high quality zoom lenses.

If I got a 50, it would be the f/1.4 version, I think. Actually, since the 24-70 zooms, I think I would be better off with that to start. I know it isn't as fast, but I am guessing I'd be shooting stopped down some anyway for a little more DOF, since it isn't an artsy close-up portrait gig.

Hope I helped some.


-Rodger

Absolutely! I welcome any experienced input on my venture. I only asked for Dallasphotog and Peety3 by name because I know for a fact they do this kind of thing for pay. Anyone else who is in the same boat can certainly chime in, too. Respectfully, I don't want a bunch of speculation by people who haven't been there and done that, though. I can certainly pull stuff out of my own ... , well, you know, without any input from anyone. []