How to shoot a reunion?

<p>I've been asked to shoot a class reunion. I have shot about 30 weddings but don't have any experience with reunions per se. I was hoping someone could give me the low down on how to photograph these events. From what I've already read on the forums it includes candids and small group / table shots, a large full group shot, coverage of speakers and a formal portrait background for couples and small groups. I am planning on setting up 2 umbrellas for the portrait area.<br>

Questions:<br>

What style of background would you use?<br>

Does what I've said above seem complete? Any tips?<br>

Also, I'm not sure how to handle the printing. Do you provide an album of the night that they can order later? Do you provide prints of the formals at the event?<br>

Lastly, what is an average price for this type of event.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p >Personally never made much profit on reunions with the couple candid’s and formal photos. Get a background that will accommodate at least 8 people for small groups of friends. Something that includes the school colors would be good. A good prop to put in the photo is a sweater or jacket with the graduation year. (I’m assuming it’s a high school reunion and someone on the reunion committee should have one). Put up a few samples photos of your style formals. Early on with any luck the class clown may be there. Make friends with him. He could be your best friend to get people to have their photo taken. Any photos you take and are not available same night would be best posted online for purchasing. Be sure everybody gets printed information on how to view the photos online. Put a card with info on every table plus hand out extras to any couples/groups you shoot. It would be great if the info could be printed right on the tickets (may be to late now but keep in mind for future). Not sure how many people are expected to attend but if you can get a group shot with everybody and have 8x10 copies available before the event ends you cold probably get $20 to $25 each for them especially if you are able to add the event info and date on the photo. Have some of the guest help you get the whole group together. The earlier the better! If you do not have enough printed have any others interested in buying put their name and address on a simple 9x12 mailing envelope with their payment enclosed with a guaranteed delivery within 5 days. A plus is offer free mailing with prepaid orders. Some people will tell you they plan to mail you a check or order onlne. Be sure to tell them there will be additional mailing cost if not prepaid or ordered within 3 days or what ever works for you to get them motivated to do it ASAP. Unless the graduation committee is paying you to be there be sure to explain to them how you market your product and get written permission to do it. Good luck.</p>

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<p>I used to do some of these and I always turned a decent profit. Keep it simple. Basically what I used to do was offer three types of photo ops and various pre set packages. The big group, which I always set up at a specific time early in the night, before too much drinking, with the chairperson. No exceptions, if it was 8pm, that was it. Next I kept myself setup for a specified amount of time for portraits against a backround or small groups off to the side. I had a pre set order form and accepted CASH only and mailed out the packages in about a week. I always got paid, the clients always got their pics and there were no problems. You must announce to the chairpeople well ahead of time to notify all that you only will accept cash, if you choose to do that. Of course I accepted orders by check, but they wouldn't be processed until 10 days. Also remember, EVERYONE has a digital camera and is a photographer, you need to provide something better and different.</p>

<p>Lots of good advice already. Let me add that not only will you have people snapping away with their own cameras, you will have them using your background and trying to snap the group shot (or have their wife or husband do it in the background), so if you want to protect your images and profits from same, I'd suggest you have lots of additional help with you. One of these people can shoo people away from your background--believe me, the minute you turn your back, they will be there, or the minute you drop your camera from shooting position.</p>

<p>If it were me, I'd invest in or rent a Sony Snap Lab or something of that nature and (with your many additional people helping) have someone printing as the evening goes on. You can have an online ordering system in place, but once the event passes, desire diminishes.</p>

<p>The average price is whatever you can work out with the committee. They, of course, will not want to take care of your entire profit--you will have to accept speculation as part of the deal.</p>

<p>As for the group shot, which is your money shot--be sure you work things out re the space needed and have appropriate and professional lighting. You might possibly need risers since you don't mention the size of the class. As Mel mentioned above--you need to nail this one, and have a specific, early time for the shot, and stick to it. Once people hit the bars, you will have a lot of trouble lining this up. Work with your contact from the committee on this. This has got to be extra clear in your communications. And count on lateness--factor it in. It might be smart to set the time before the evening event even starts, if possible.</p>

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<p >One way to secure your backdrop from others using it efficiently is to place another light facing camera position just above or to one side that is light triggered and set at full power. It should blow out any photos taken by someone using a camera with flash. Make it easy for you to turn it on and off but not obvious. Usually when I do the group shot I do a primary set up of the group that is far from the final one I would like to take. At that point I ask if any of the quests would like to take a shot and give them about 2 minutes. While they play paparazzi I figure out exactly what needs to be done to make it right. I then tell them it is very important for them to put their cameras away and out of sight because their friends will be looking at them and not the official camera and they could be responsible for someone looking stupid or dorkey in the official photo. Have your camera ready on a tripod. Move it to your planned shooting spot after the paparazzi is done. Get the subjects into final position and shot. Depending on the size group and possible language barrier have someone hold up a large smiley face (2-3 foot circle) just behind the camera to get everyone looking at the same time. Avoid the 1, 2, 3 countdown unless you want to post process a lot of closed eyes. Soon as your done be sure to say something like “It’s Miller Time” or “I can use a drink” just to get everybody moving and out of position.</p>

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<p>Wow, Mel. That is great advice I'm noting the next time I do this kind of thing. Don't know if I'll do the blow out thing, but the group shot idea is great.</p>

<p>Thanks to everyone for their advice and ideas. I feel much more prepared for this sort of event now.<br>

One last question... as far as printing on location goes, are ink jet prints acceptable as a final product. If so, does anyone have a recommended printer model and ink comnination.</p>

<p>thanks again</p>

<p>Inkjets are too slow and fiddly for events, unless you are only talking 4x6 or something. I can't imagine printing out 8x10s on inkjets. But maybe I'm wrong. Plus, since inkjets are what everybody and his brother has at home, I'd be less inclined to go that way.</p>

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<p>One picture is worth a thousand words and possibly even dollars in this case. I never attempted to print any of the candids or formals the night of. But if you are able to pull off a really great group shot and have a 14x11 sample early in the evening it would incress your sales. I use the Epson 1800. Never done it onsite but have been able to get file to either my own printer at home or to someone I know closer to the job site and have someone bring prints back. Having a 7x5, 10x8 and 14x11 sample and price them something like $18, $25 and $35 and most usually will buy the $25 10x8. Also include a cardboard folder for a <em >cheap professional</em> presentation. The current economy and your local market will pretty much dictate what you charge so impulse buying is the key here. Keep in mind when shooting the group that you will need to pretty much square it up to keep a good 10x8 format. In other words you don’t want a panoramic of 200 people only 4 or 5 deep in the 10x8 format. Be sure the aperture you use will provide enough DOF to pull this off. The new Canon 5DII seems like the idea camera for shots like this (full frame, decent at higher ISO’s and 21mp). If there's anybody who has treid it on a large group please let us know how well it performed for you. Personelly I'm not ready to upgrade to it for wedding work.</p>

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