Plan ahead for great Prom Pictures

Nikon D3S, 24-120mm, ISO 200, ƒ/9, 1/60

The key to a great photograph of any kind has a great deal to do with the location. This is the time to start checking with your friends to see about possible locations for the photos before all the kids go off to the prom.

Here one of the parents had a lovely backyard with steps that made for wonderful "natural" risers.

Nikon D3S, 14-24mm, ISO 200, ƒ/9, 1/60

At some point this is the photo that will be made–the crew is all together for one big photo. Now this will most likely be the last photo since some will be running late.

I recommend using lights to be sure that you can see everyone's face without racoon eyes. Racoon eyes are from the overhead sun or even worst a backlit photo.

Here is the setup I did for all the photos:

I had six Alienbees B1600 lights. Four are in front with 65" umbrellas and two in the back pointed up to be sure the trees didn't go black. So many trees in the backyard actually created a dark canopy and using the strobes in the back helped to open up the shadows.

Nikon D3S, 24-120mm, ISO 200, ƒ/9, 1/60

Plan for the lens choice as well. I needed to move quickly so for all the photos except the huge group photo I used the Nikkor 24-120mm. This let me do couple shots and then quickly have a small group photo.

You see the evening of the prom they are not wanting to do photos all night long. They want to go to the prom. Pick a great location, put up your lights and then have a lens like the 24-120mm or multiple cameras with different lenses ready to go.

Proms are just a couple months away, but the best photos are the ones where the photographer takes the next two months to plan. You can rent lights if you don't have them. If you have never done this before then do a test run before the date.

Nikon D3S, 24-120mm, ISO 200, ƒ/9, 1/60

Sometimes I can't give my work away. Guess what? That is a good thing.

Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 5000, ƒ/2.8, 1/100

Couple of my close friends have just gotten engaged. While I do not promote myself as a wedding photographer I will do them for close friends.

I offered to both of them to shoot their weddings as a gift to them.

Anytime I have done this in the past most people think about it and get back to me. One of the first decisions the couple makes together are wedding plans.

Great News!

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 200, ƒ/8, 1/200

My first friend wrote back and said:

Stanley,  

This is beyond kind and generous of you to offer your services to us!! We have already been so blessed through this process by so much outpouring of peoples love and generosity.  

We want to find the perfect fit with the perfect style to capture the most important day of our lives. Currently we are looking at all our planning options and haven't gotten that far in the process. We will get back to you in a few weeks once we decide. 

Thank you again for this wonderful and generous offer of your talent and time!

I was pleased that they just didn't say yes right away. This means that they are not trusting their biggest event in their lives to just anyone.

Now how can I get all my clients to be more concerned about photography for their business as this couple is about their wedding?

Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 2500, ƒ/5.6, 1/60

My second friend wrote and communicated a little more about their concerns:

Stanley, 

We are very grateful with the offer. We have just a question.  Have you ever shot a wedding?   My fiance has only seen you as a sports photographer, but I thought I’d ask. 

Maybe you can send us examples for her. 

Many photographers might get upset thinking they cannot even give away their services, but what I was pleased about is my friends as the ones that do know the difference between just having anyone document their big day. They are willing to pay verses free if they think there is someone better fit.

Nikon D3, 24-120mm, ISO 200, ƒ/14, 1/80

The key is being sure you talk with your clients projects like they are as important as a wedding. In some ways they are more important because business photos need to help give a Return On Investment [ROI]. You don't need wedding photos to get married. They are nice to have.

When people do not jump at free then you know they do care and you are not just a commodity. They will appreciate your talent more when they do say yes than those friends who even ask you to do it for free.

Favorite 4th of July Photos

Nikon D100, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8, ISO 200, ƒ/8, 19 seconds [Emerald Isle, NC 2004]

I just wanted to share a few of my 4th of July photos through the years. I hope you enjoy them and also go out and make some photos for you to cherish through the years.

Settings and gear are below the images.

Nikon D2X, Sigma 15-30mm, ISO 100, ƒ/8, 19 seconds [The Fourth of July Fireworks over Lake Mohawk on July 3, 2005 in Sparta, New Jersey.]

Nikon D2X, Sigma 15-30mm, ISO 100, ƒ/8, 40 seconds [The Fourth of July Fireworks over Lake Mohawk on July 3, 2005 in Sparta, New Jersey.]

Nikon D3, 24-120mm VR, ISO 100, ƒ/16, 14 seconds [The Fourth of July Fireworks over Panama City, Florida, July 4, 2008]

Nikon D3, 24-120mm VR, ISO 100, ƒ/16, 11 seconds [The Fourth of July Fireworks over Panama City, Florida, July 4, 2008]

Tripod and Cable Release

I recommend using a tripod and a cable release.  This will keep the camera as still as possible during a long exposure.

This is the Nikon MC-30 that I have used for years on different Nikon Cameras.

Camera Settings

• Manual
• White Balance - Daylight
• ISO 100
• ƒ/8
• Bulb Shutter-speed and keep open for two bursts of fireworks using cable release

My exposures were from 6 seconds to about 12 seconds on average. I typically might shoot 75 to 100 photos and only really like about 10 of those shots.