Confirmation photography... HELP!?

FueledByAisling

I've been asked by a friends mother if I could take photographs on Sunday for her sons confirmation. I've never done anything of the likes before and I feel like I can't say no as they have been family friends for over 13 years. I think the mother intends for me to go to the church and their house.

I'm not great at photography and this was completely out of the blue from her so I'm in a panic mode at the moment. I do have a flashgun that I can use with my Canon 500d but I know that won't really work in a church. But they do have a lovely modern house, think the Cullens' in twilights house so there would be some lovely photo opportunities there!

Effects

Just say you wouldn't feel comfortable doing it. Or tell them confirmation is a load of BS, which it is.

CabanSail

Just let them know that you will heavily discount your service for them, as they are almost family and as such it will only be €2k5 (cash of course) ;-)

kelly1

Effects wrote: »

Just say you wouldn't feel comfortable doing it. Or tell them confirmation is a load of BS, which it is.

Effect, this is a photography forum, not a religion bashing forum. I find your post offensive.

Effects

kelly1 wrote: »

Effect, this is a photography forum, not a religion bashing forum. I find your post offensive.

Forgive me.

kelly1

Effects wrote: »

Forgive me.

Of course, it's the Christian thing to do!

What lens have you got? Depending on the church, flashgun on TTL fired directly is probably the safest way to get by.

If they're doing it at the church, ask them if they want to hang around for a little while after the church (if you go into the church to take photos straight away after the confirmation you'll have lots of crap shots, because everyone will be doing the same thing. Your photos will be swamped with people.

Give it 20 minutes though, and the church will probably be empty and you'll be able to set up shots properly and have a nice clean background (void of all the other families falling over each other to take their photographs).

At the house, assuming the roof is standard (10-12 foot tall and white?) then you can slap the flash into manual and bounce off the roof.

Find out if there's anything unique or special containing to the confirmation (I believe that the kids have a candle for communion? Not sure if there's any specific prop for you could use for confirmation, though).

Have they/does the church have a green area at all? Few small trees, bit of a garden, etc. can always look nice (assuming they're somewhat healthy looking).

Baltrux

I've been asked to do my brother-in-laws sons confo as well really nervous and exited as well, the only thing is I only have the camera's flash (D3100) any advice would be great as well!!!

Baltrux

Baltrux wrote: »

I've been asked to do my brother-in-laws sons confo as well really nervous and exited as well, the only thing is I only have the camera's flash (D3100) any advice would be great as well!!!

What lens?

mdebets

If you can't get out of the shoot, try and talk to the priest beforehand (a few days) and see if he even allows it (in our church it's one dedicated photographer during the service and no one else is allowed).
If he is ok with it ask him, which restrictions he has (places you can't go to, no flash, etc.). Also try and see if he can tell you the course of the service and where the kids will be at what time.
Also try and get into the church beforehand and make some testshots to try out which settings to use.

mdebets

mdebets wrote: »

If you can't get out of the shoot, try and talk to the priest beforehand (a few days) and see if he even allows it (in our church it's one dedicated photographer during the service and no one else is allowed).
If he is ok with it ask him, which restrictions he has (places you can't go to, no flash, etc.). Also try and see if he can tell you the course of the service and where the kids will be at what time.
Also try and get into the church beforehand and make some testshots to try out which settings to use.

Yeah, I don't think photographers (except family members) are allowed into the church at all, to be honest (during the communion ceremony). As there would be too many of them.

That said, at the same time, there should be no 'official' photographer either, as far as I know. My local priest told me they're not allowed have a photographer in the church or favour one over the other, etc. as they, being a church/religious body, are not allowed to endorse a particular photographer.

mdebets

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah, I don't think photographers (except family members) are allowed into the church at all, to be honest (during the communion ceremony). As there would be too many of them.

That said, at the same time, there should be no 'official' photographer either, as far as I know. My local priest told me they're not allowed have a photographer in the church or favour one over the other, etc. as they, being a church/religious body, are not allowed to endorse a particular photographer.

The 'official' photographer (me) doesn't actually do it for money (other than a donation by the parents to the church). It's just done that way, so that the parents and kids have a photo of the service and it's not disturbing the service too much.

Baltrux

Deleted User wrote: »

What lens?

A 35mm wide and a 70-300 zoom as well as the kit lense

I wasn't trying to say it was an effort to get into people's pockets, I was just saying that's what I was told (no official photographer allowed as the church isn't allowed endorse a particular service provider above others).

Maybe it's something decided on by individual churches.

Baltrux

Baltrux wrote: »

A 35mm wide and a 70-300 zoom as well as the kit lense

What's the max f/stop on the 35?

You don't want to use pop-up flash with the zoom anyway (i assume that leaves a shadow on the bottom of the image because of the size of the lens? Not sure about that particular lens/body combo but it's something to keep in mind).

You could use direct flash with the shorter lens (or bump the ISO up, depending on the church and the amount of light let in, you might get by okay. Some churches are just too dark for no flash and a slow lens though).

Make it up as you go along is my advice. The best way to learn is on your feet. If the church is nearby definitely give it a test run though (i don't preduct you'll use the zoom, unless they let you stand at the side of the church and shoot over towards the child making his confirmation? But i reckon every second person will want to do that so...).

LeoB

Id go for it. Just tell them you are not professional so dont expect miricles.

Go to the church before hand and try a few shots. A nice shot with child, parents and or sponsors will do it for you. On the day most churchs limit how people can come in with a child so it might be just child and 3 adults at the church. Most other shots could be back at the house happen which takes a bit of pressure of everyone.

Make a list of the shots you want

• Child
• Child with parents/sponsor and grandparents
• Child with teacher and priest/bishop
• Child with some friends
• And a load of the child in different areas of the church and church grounds.

This is what I done last year for a friend and I stuck to what I wanted and it worked out fine. I told parents before hand what I had in mind and then I took plenty of shots. They were happy enough to ask me to do their other childs this year.

Best of luck.

FueledByAisling

LeoB wrote: »

Id go for it. Just tell them you are not professional so dont expect miricles.

Go to the church before hand and try a few shots. A nice shot with child, parents and or sponsors will do it for you. On the day most churchs limit how people can come in with a child so it might be just child and 3 adults at the church. Most other shots could be back at the house happen which takes a bit of pressure of everyone.

Make a list of the shots you want

• Child
• Child with parents/sponsor and grandparents
• Child with teacher and priest/bishop
• Child with some friends
• And a load of the child in different areas of the church and church grounds.

This is what I done last year for a friend and I stuck to what I wanted and it worked out fine. I told parents before hand what I had in mind and then I took plenty of shots. They were happy enough to ask me to do their other childs this year.

Best of luck.

Thanks for your input, never would have thought of the list idea myself! I think they mainly want the shots back at their house, just a few portraits and relax photos so that takes a good bit of pressure off my shoulders!

Baltrux

Baltrux wrote: »

A 35mm wide and a 70-300 zoom as well as the kit lense

Apologies the wide is a 10-20, 4-5.6