I've been asked by my wife's school to cover their graduation ceremony in a few weeks. They have never had a photographer for their ceremony, which is held in their auditorium. I have attended the ceremony before, and it's a bit hectic. Two of the main struggles are:
1) Graduates enter the stage simulaneously from both sides and exit via stairs center stage. Lighting is poor... flash recharge may be an issue. I am not positive I will be able to shoot from on the stage.
2) I can't figure out a way to organize proofs for web viewing. The grads pick their seats and cross the stage in random order. Names are called via them handing the admin a card as they come across the stage.
There is no way to advertise or take signups at this point. Even if I did, I would never be able to keep track of which child was crossing the stage. My only other option would be to set up a backdrop and shoot interested parties as they pick up their diplomas in the cafeteria after the ceremony. My guess is that only a small percentage would be willing or take the time to do this after a long and hot ceremony.
"via stairs center stage" ... are they receiving their diplomas center stage too?
is there an aisle down the middle?
set up at the bottom of the center stage (or a few feet back), have good flash or light, me, I'd use one AB800, small umbrella & vagabond, 2 - 3 shots, them taking their diploma and exiting down the stairs in front of you
put all proofs on an online gallery/page, put the link on your business card, or make it easy to find from your website
link to an order form, and cross your fingers
I have an event prints link on the navigation bar of my website, easy to find, then all events are listed there for people to find, works great
If pics need any editing, I put proofs on my website, if they are ready to print, I use a service with a shopping cart, really depends on the what factor
usually right after an event I get $300 - $2000 worth of orders, and they sometimes trickle in for up to a year after the event, so be prepared to host lots of pictures
They actually pick up the "diplomas" or certificates at the rear of the stage to the side as they come up and greet the administrators. At center stage, they shake the hand of the principal, and walk down the stairs front and center. My only worry will be shooting up the noses of the graduates if I shoot from center unless I get a pocketwizard and shoot from the rear (up higher) with the strobe up front.
I use a photoreflect account for event shooting, so the galleries should be easy to find. The only thing I was trying to get around was having each parent go through 500 images. I can't put them in alphabetical order when they come across the stage randomly, and the only other thing I could think of would be backdrop photos afterwards for those interested.
If you have not seen it done, it is very difficult. The kids come FAST. You need to have an assistant or two to handle changing cards. You will need at least two cameras so you have one ready to go at all times.
You will probably need two shooters if they come in from two directions. "The Shot" is the handshake of the principal. You will need a very fast recharging flash.
You don't have time for 2-3 shots. You get maybe time for 1, that's it. The kids don't care about you at all. By the time the diplomas are handed out they have suffered several speeches and want to go. They want to get their diploma and get partying!
I watched the photog who did my son's graduation a few years ago and he really struggled by himself. He missed several students when he had to change cards and they only came one at a time, single file.
I think he had a quantum flash/battery and that held up for all the shots. There were about 500 students.
I really don't see how this could be a very profitable venture at all. The on-line organization of the images and how to order is a whole 'nother can o' worms.
TJ, I definitely agree that the task ahead is a daunting one. Luckily, there are only 170 kids, but they will come from both sides. I shot at last years for fun (I do most of their sports and provide stuff to the yearbook) and it was definitely more than the 580ex could handle to keep up. With 4gb in camera, I can afford 1-2 shots of each student without worrying about changing cards, but I can see the potential for hazard if I don't keep my shots down.
Since they've never had it officially done or advertised, I don't know how profitable it will be. Hopefully the profit will come from volume. Even if I only made $5 per print and sold to 50% of the attendees (probably a high figure), it would be worthwhile for a few hours work. Not to mention, it might lead to more work when contracts are up with the studio that does their team photos.
At this point, I am going to try to get into the auditorium ahead of time and try placing a strobe in a few different places to see if it will provide enough light and recharge quick enough. I'll probably still end up shooting at ISO640 or 800 just to keep the speed going. Depending upon placement, I may end up having to get some wireless transmitters. I can have the organizer tape the floor for placement of the principal and grads to help with the situation. I may give up on organizing the photos in any fashion. I am also positive many kids and parents will rush out of there, so it is unlikely that I will set up a backdrop in the cafeteria unless the organizers request it or feel it will be worthwhile.
stand center on a ladder with a 70-200 f/2.8? you may be able to get both sides of the stage & the center
3 strobes, one for each side & one center, hopefully two plugged in, keeping your recycle time down. You can set the strobes 10' up, so the audience can see underneath them, and they aren't distrupting anyone's views. Sometimes I tape wax paper over my cone's when an umbrella isn't practical but I want to diffuse my flash a bit. Wireless receivers on all, two transmitters, one on each camera so you don't have to swap anything out ... sorry just thinking how I'd do it
I shoot tons of fashion shows, dance competitions, school plays etc where this is a will, there is a way at least you know approximately where they'll be & what they'll be doing, don't have to anticipate a lot once you get the rythum of the ceremony going
I work for a company (for a couple more weeks at least) that among other things does graduation photos. there is generally two photogs at a time with an assistant to keep track of who is being called up. The photogs will switch off to get new batteries, drinks, whatever (it used to be to switch film) usually when we get to the end of a column of names in the program. The names are important because we send out proofs with order forms, we already have addresses since we do senior portraits for most of the schools we cover graduations of. having more then on shooter has come in handy when a camera goes down, a flash stops working, whatever happens the other guy is "on deck" ready to swap out and shoot. we get one or two shots of the grad and whoever is giving the diploma and wait for the next kid, rinse repeat. Without having actual figures I would say that 25% of them order pictures, and usually the smallest package, and we do most of our schools year after year so they are used to it. It's enough money to make it worth while but not enough to rely on as a good source of revenue. The orders don't come in all at once though, they'll come in dribs and drabs for over six months. Now, that might just be our market.
Nina, I am not sure how practical standing anywhere in the center will be. The auditorium has theatre style seating that gets higher as you go back. If my memory serves me right, no matter where I am other than the very back, if I am at stage level, I am in the viewers way. What may save me is if the lower level is where the grads are seated and they won't be as cranky if I block their view.
Nathan, I wish I did have some spare shooters or knew how things would turn out so that I would feel comfortable paying extra hands. For now, I'm going to be a one man show! Your order descriptions sound spot on, 25% and some within a week, some 6mo later.
At my daughters' schools, they have so many that they swap administrators/school board members several times just to keep up with the handshakes. However, if you "work" with the teachers, etc., running the graduation ceremony in advance if at all possible, you may well be able to get a "traffic cop" to slow the kids at the right spot to get the picture. We've had savvy administrators/board members hold the hand until they knew the photographer had the shot (politicians, right?). Being assisted by school staff makes it more obvious that you are the "official" shooter and may cut down the "friendly" competition.
Maybe you could set up the viewing/ordering by number instead of trying to track by name at this point. I doubt there is much sensitivity at this point and the school can tell you which to pull if needed.
With only 170, that should be possible on a single card these days. Flash/battery is different - can you get an external by then? Maybe two - if one slows/heats, swapping plugs is fast.
sorry just thinking how I'd do it
at least you know approximately where they'll be & what they'll be doing, don't have to anticipate a lot once you get the rythum of the ceremony going