Quote Originally Posted by alexniedra


I'll be shooting mainly people - The speakers, donators (to the organization), executivesand performers. I'm looking to capture the mood of the event and the guests' reactions. I'm thinking of a photojournalistic approach, with some environmentaland candidportraits of the guests.


The images will be used mainly to promote the organization, a non-profit nursing home.This will be done through their websiteand in print.


I know the venue to be typically light challenged, and I don't like using flash during speeches or special ceremonies.I plan to use bounce flash for some of the shots and ambient for the others.


I've had some real trouble getting tightly framed captures of speakers at poorly-lit venues in the past with f/5.6 at the long end of the 55-250 IS, even with flash. At CAN $40, I can rent a 70-200 2.8 IS for the weekend and also use it at a shoot the morning following the event. Opinions?


I shoot a lot of events for non-profits. I'm weak at "engaging" people and getting the couples/groups posed shots at dinners. Trying to shoot candids without engaging them leads to odd facial expressions; without context I often find those shots useless. That context comes from shooting wide, and capturing a candid of the group, not the individual. All that leads me to say: don't focus on your long end.


I recently "also-shot" a wedding (I wasn't the paid photographer, but I was also shooting and not playing the role of guest). I was very happy with my 24-105 and 70-200, but noticed that the paid photog and his assistant spent at least 90% of the night shooting with 24-70s (on that other brand of camera...brand N). For website work, you'd be fine without a telephoto zoom; shoot with a walk-around and crop if you've got one good face you want to show.


At a recent non-profit dinner, my 70-200 got a good workout shooting the speakers, but mostly because there was no podium, and I couldn't get good shots seated at my table. I'd stand towards the rear, and that's when the white lens came in handy.