So, today, I was photographing the current local beauty queen and her lady in waiting.
I turned up to dress the office we were using as a studio. The plan was to project various slogans and graphics onto them against a white background, to create promo materials for an upcoming fashion show.
I was pretty set up and ready to shoot by 12.30, under the impression they were arriving at 1pm.
1.30pm turns up, with our press officer and the events organiser from the zoo.
Still no beauty queens.
Turns out they've been called for 2pm, and I need to be out of that office as it's hosting a meeting at 3pm.
So, given a 15 minute rush to strike the background, projector, tripod, lights etc. I'm optimistically looking at 45 minutes to get the various shots they want.
I've been briefed about one shot that they definitely wanted, but when the Events Organiser and Press Officer arrive with a box and bag full of stuffed toys, I'm a little surprised. But it's no biggy. I'm sure we'll have time.
The girls arrive at 2pm, and instead of the white dresses we thought we were getting, they've got scarlet ones.
So, by 2.15pm, they're changed and ready to shoot on.
Now they're here, it's clear some of the graphics we're using aren't going to work.
Back to Photoshop, onto the USB stick and back to the set.
Better.
Now as to the poses, we're now busking it, as nobody really knows what they want.
So, to save time, I've cranked the camera up to about 1600 (even 3200, stupidly) with an f22 aperture - I want that depth of field.
I don't have the time to get the girls to smile and hold it for a lower speed.
But it's noisy. I'm not happy, but what can you do.

So, we get the setup I knew about and move onto the next one with the toys. The projector setup we had rigged now isn't going to work, of course, so we have to move that and adjust as necessary. The realisation comes that where I need to be to minimise the shadow on the paper isn't actually going to work, so I find a compromise.

And then the clock runs out.
What have we learnt today? That before you go into any job, try and get a good idea of what you're wanting to get. Plan your shots if you can - if you know there's things your client wants, get them out of the way and then start playing.

As it turns out, some judicious photoshoppery and I'm more or less happy with what I got today. It's not as sharp as it could be, but it'll serve our purposes (local press, A3 posters, some projection on the evening).
But I'd have given my eye teeth to get another hour of shooting this afternoon.

Beauty Queen??

Pics or it didn't happen.



Well you may not have got entirely what you had planned for and wanted, but it certainly sounds like you can improvise ad-hoc. Well done.

...and people wonder why I don't shoot people

Couple of samples from today for you.

I know it's an eye of the beholder thing, but please tell me the Queen is the one with the small tiara? Especially from the first photo.

Queen on the left. Lady in Waiting on the right.

I know, right?

++;

I'm going to have to do some sometime, though.

Being bad at shooting people sounds like a good excuse to get a fast prime. Well for me anyway.

I like shooting people, we had a great time today despite the rush.
And yes, I need a fast prime in my life ASAP. I'm thinking about the Macro 60mm EF-S that Canon do.

Macro 60mm will be a good investment, but the ƒ/1.8 nifty fifty is more affordable, and comes in around 80mm effective on the small sensor.

I'm pushing for a reshoot.
(Un)Surprisingly, the Press Officer thought we had some good ideas waiting to come out, but didn't quite achieve what he felt we could have.
The marketing director pointed out that we were rushed, with little briefing on what was wanted.
So I'm pushing for a reshoot.