Which gear to use for a 15 year birthday party?

[hjalmarg1]

I just want to get some help from you guys on what lenses and accessories may I need for the celebration of a 15 years birthday party. Photography is a hobbie but a friend that is budget restrained needs my help. I already explained to him I am not a pro.

 

I will be using my camera Fujifilm X-T2 with 14mm f2.8, 23mm f1.4, 35mm f2 and 90mm f2 lenses.

I know it is kinda special event and don't want to miss any important moment so, I also use a 5D Mark 3 with 3 zooms (24-70mm f4L IS, 16-35mm f4L IS, 70-200mm f2.8L IS II) and 3 primes (15mm f2.8, 50mm f/1.8 STM, 100mm f2.8L IS). 
I will have a set of 3 Canon 600EX-RT and transmitter (and umbrellas/softboxes) for the Canon and a hotshoe speedlite for my Fuji camera in case I needed.

In this event, there is no such a church ceremony like weedings but a ceremony/party at a medium-lit hall.

 

After all this story, which gear and set up would you suggest? Thanks in advaces for your suggestions.

[Tom H.]

So much gear...

 

Don't know what is expected of you, but for an event, I'd take just the mk3, 24-70 and a flash on top with something like a MagBounce. Add to that the fuji with the 23 1.4 for low light and I'd be all set.

 

Keep moving, find good angles. Shoot all the people. Interact. Watch areas of activity and be ready to catch the moment.

 

And take a grey card to calibrate your white balance.

[hjalmarg1]

So much gear...

 

Don't know what is expected of you, but for an event, I'd take just the mk3, 24-70 and a flash on top with something like a MagBounce. Add to that the fuji with the 23 1.4 for low light and I'd be all set.

 

Keep moving, find good angles. Shoot all the people. Interact. Watch areas of activity and be ready to catch the moment.

 

And take a grey card to calibrate your white balance.

Many thanks for the sugestion

[MirrorMirror]

If it's going to last 15 years perhaps a few extra batteries

 

 

Seriously though, I'd cut down on the gear, most 15 year olds will not want you being there never mind hanging around with all that tech. I'd take minimal kit; a camera and a lens.

[wmiller549]

Take the XT with the 35/ 90 or the 5D with the 50/ 100.  With any kind of decent light that should be all you need. Just slip around and shoot away,  photo-ninja style. Leave all that other stuff in the car. Sounds like you are trying to do a fashion shoot, not a birthday party.

 

Light stands? Softboxes? Jeez. I know you paid a bunch of money for this stuff and are itching to use it, but remember - it is a birthday party for a 15 year-old, it's not about you.   

[Aswald]

I'd bring these,

 

5D3 + 24-70 and Camera mount flash

T2 + 23, 90 and bring the 14 for wide group shots.

 

15 year olds are a dynamic bunch. Pictures should reflect that. 23mm great for that effect (the 16mm is even better). 90mm for the occasional snoop shot of intimate expressions & sometimes to get out of the way...

 

Ideally, if you have a 2nd photographer, it would be better.

[asathor]

If you bring 2 lenses you will have the wrong lens as much as 50% of the time - and so on, if you have one you will to take the best pictures you can get. My choice would be a relatively wide prime for the venue on the T2 - and then crop in post. No one expects posters from this kind of party.

 

As others have pointed out normal 15 yr old' are very lively and self conscious. So use the Canon when they already expect to be photographed if you bring it - they will surely notice it and promptly change behavior for better or worse - but for sports, games etc. the big rig and zoom will be handy because it is now "normal" and it may also be handy when you want to pose them for group - if others bring cameras it is nice for the kids to see that you have the biggest and that they should pose when you say so*.

 

Set the T2 to Silent (no sound no shutter no flash) and use the 90 (50, 35 depending on venue) to pick out personal moments by gracing outside the group at a distance - since they won't know when you are shooting they will eventually ignore you.

 

You will get the best shots from the "silent" approach but you may not get everyone so the group shots still have merit.

 

And bring your Instax printer or Instax Hello Kitty, that will show you what really matters.

 

* we just had a family reunion and my X-Pro2 outranked the other cameras but no one cared, the group shoot participants went from one "See Me" to another as the phones and cameras blazed - If we had continued for an hour we might still not have had a picture where everyone looked close to their best. I would have needed an old fashioned Gun Powder/Victor Flash Gun to get their attention or maybe a hat with a Press Card.

Edited December 24, 2016 by asathor

[Warwick]

I'd go for the 16mm f1.4, if you have it. If not, then the 18mm f2

 

 

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[David Thompson]

Camera + 18 to 55 zoom

 

or the 27mm

 

David