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Hired To Shoot An Event - Photography - Help

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Ski.307
Posts: 271 - Karma: 82
Forewarning: This is a rough outline of the event. Any input would be great! I'm open to all ideas, tips, "Do Not's", and advice.

I have plenty of time behind my camera, but I've recently been hired to shoot a school event. This is my first time being hired to shoot anything for anyone, and I'm just trying pulling in as many resources as possible (hopefully to shake some nerves). Here's the info:

Event: 8/13/2012 University of Wyoming Homecoming Parade/Luncheon/TailgateParty
Parade: 9:30 -11:00am Outdoors
Luncheon: 12:00 - 2:00pm Indoors
Tailgate: 3:00-5:00pm Outdoors

Kit:
Canon 60D
Canon EF 18-135mm
Canon EF 50mm 1.8

Possibly borrowing one other glass from my buddy: 75-300mm & an On Board Flash

Things I plan on doing:
Check the weather - So I can be prepared for lighting and/or bad weather
Make a shot list, so I get the 'Key photos' of an event. Some other ideas would be helpful.
Shooting within the Luncheon room to get a feel on how to use the flash.
Using a longer lens during the luncheon - this way I can distance myself from the subjects and not make them feel smothered.

It's the luncheon that gets me worried. It's indoors and I have hardly any experience shoot flash photography. I'm pulling in a buddy to give me a run down on properly use of his flash. I might be able to get away without using one, but I haven't been in the room yet.

Things I worry about are:
The flash being obnoxious since this is a higher profile event. This is a suit and tie dinner, but I feel the flash may be a necessity.
Also, batter life! I don't have a battery grip on my camera. How bad will a flash kill my battery (Number of Shots)?
I am more than willing to buy an extra battery, and i might have time between events to charge the battery somewhat.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks you!
Oct 9 2012 4:39PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
threads, you'll need a couple batteries at least. if you're talking about external flash that doesn't use power from the camera, it uses aa batteries. If you're using your 18-135 indoors you'll be using your flash, and you won't be able to do anything zoomed far in(not sure how far, somebody else will know) because the flash won't go far enough and it's too slow at 135. Somebody else will correct me if I'm wrong on this hopefully.
Oct 9 2012 4:53PM
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Ski.307
Posts: 271 - Karma: 82
Thanks man. Yes I was aware of that I wouldn't be able to zoom using my 135. I found out that the flash I'm using has it's own batteries.
Oct 10 2012 5:30PM
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jeremy.g
Posts: 4931 - Karma: 459
if its not too dim, boost your iso inside and disregard the flash. that would be ideal if you can get enough light for your exposure. if not (and im not sure how big/tall this room is, might be too big) work with bouncing the flash off walls and the ceiling, its a good way to get even light coverage and avoid the flattened look you often get when shoot flash straight at subjects.
Oct 10 2012 6:19PM
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tBatt
Posts: 9632 - Karma: 580
Pretty much this.

Try to get some fast zoom lenses. Someone posted a link to a company that rents lenses for a good price. your 18-135 won't be nearly fast enough without a flash, and your 50 f/1.8 probably won't be tight enough. I would try to avoid using the flash as much as possible, but if you do, learn to bounce it. Look into a Gary Fong Lightsphere.
Oct 11 2012 8:03AM
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ESB
Posts: 9274 - Karma: 10,648
I'm just repeating the two other guys, but yeah, if it's a well-lit interior you can crank up the ISO a bit and still get great shots. If that doesn't work, employ the flash, but try to bounce it: pointing it straight up at the ceiling is a good approach, and not nearly as obnoxious as blasting it into people's faces.

During the luncheon, beware of taking photos of people eating. They don't always like that.
Oct 11 2012 8:22AM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
typo?
Oct 11 2012 8:44AM
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tBatt
Posts: 9632 - Karma: 580
Make sure the walls/ceilings you're bouncing off are white. Don't bounce off yellow walls or you'll get a color cast.

x2 on the eating shots.

Have you scouted the location yet? Definitely do that if possible. Bring a person and take pics of them, get an idea of what exposures you're going to use before you go into the location.
Oct 11 2012 11:46AM
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