Any tips on photographing a baptism/christening for a beginner?

Question

I have a month to learn the best ways to make my pictures better. I have taken some nice pictures in the past and have read up alot on it lately, I will be taking practice shots until then and have read that when indoors that I should choose a high ISO...any other tips?

Id like to use a nice 35mm camera

the baby being baptized is 2 years old

Answer 1

I use a Canon Digital Rebel EOS 350XT. It is nice because the chip can honestly go to ISO 1600 without a lot of noise. Some suggestions:

I use a Canon Image Stablized 28-135 mm lens. The Image Stabilized is great because you can hand hold longer exposures in low light. It is my walking around lens. I can go from close up (135) to wide (28) fairly quickly. I shoot at Av (that is, I keep control of the aperture and let the speed take care of itself.) I do not like flash.

I also use a 50mm f/1.4 prime. Now that lens is bright! I can open it to f/1.4 and shoot in very low light. You have to be very careful and focus on the eyes there. Everything not right on the plane of focus will be out of focus. Still, it is a beautiful lens.

If you are going to use a flash, buy a good one and get a Gary Fong Omni diffuser. Flashes are still bad but the Fong diffuser makes them gentler.

Write me if you wish to chat more.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Visit the church where you're going to be taking the photos of the baptism/Christening BEFORE the scheduled date at about the same time as the actual event and do a walk-about, see what angles you can use or avoid. Make sure you have a spare camera, spare batteries, and spare strobe. Plan for the unexpected. Make sure you have enough film and/or memory. Check out the site for the photos, as suggested, BEFORE the date, and take a look through your camera and see what speeds and ISO you'll need. Ask if you can use a strobe first. If not, use the appropriate lens and ISO (or film). Don't be afraid to fill the the viewfinder. Those close, tight images are usually the ones that people enjoy the most since they capture emotions and feelings. Don't forget the other family members that will surely want a copy of the images, so include them, too.

Be familiar with the camera. A "shoot" is no time to experiment; be sure to know your camera's limitations and use of its features.

Good luck and best wishes. Enjoy the occasion, even if their beliefs differ from yours.

Answer 4

I used to work for a photographer and among the many things he taught me, two are so simple, they seem like "DUH" items, but they make for very interesting pictures.

1. I presume you're using a Single Lens Reflex 35mm (ie - when you look through the viewer, you see exactly what will be recorded, and you don't have the frame etching to show you where heads will be cut off). If it's an SLR, imagine the view through the viewfinder divided up into 9 squares like a tic-tac-toe board. Then, do not CENTER your subject.. instead, frame the picture so that the main subject is in one of the locations where the lines intersect. The slight off-center composition makes for a more interesting picture.

2. Don't be afraid to get close, and I mean CLOSE! Fill the frame with your subject. You don't need 36 pictures of everyone head to toe. Especially with the baby, pull in so that his/her head is cut off in places. Then slowly move back and decide just what you like in the composition. A full face shot or the baby's tiny hand holding a grown-up's finger are really precious.

A few other tricks:

If you're able to change the film-speed setting on the camera, try setting it down. If you're using ASA 200 (probably the best overall film even for low light situations), set the camera at about 180. You get better color saturation and your pix will seem a bit richer.

Look for opportunities for leading lines. Studies show that when we look at a photograph, our eye enters the picture in the lower left corner, then cuts a diagonal to the upper right, then down and around. So if someone is holding the baby, try to situate yourself so that the arm is your leading line, guiding you into the picture. It could be an arm, the edge of a table, a folded blanket, just about anything.

You may not be permitted to use a flash in the church, so pay close attention to your meter settings. Give priority to the aperature setting, not the shutter speed. In low light you want to have the aperature open just a little bit larger, but not so much that you get blur. If your meter reading gives you two options, go with the one that will give you a lower aperature (the lower the number, the larger the opening). F5/ F6 should be good for most.

Since you have some time to experiment, try close ups that throw the backdrop out of focus... some stunning possibilities, esp. if you have candleglow.

What a wonderful event... you're giving the family a treasured gift by doing this, and I hope you have fun with it!

Answer 5

The most important thing I can think of is to use a camera you are familiar with. Know how it reacts, the timing between your press and the shot capture (especially if you're working digital).
Second, get the permission of the minister/priest well in advance of the actual ceremony. This will help determine what kind of shots you can actually take. Some churches strongly discourage photography during ceremonies - if this is the case, you'll have to settle for posed shots. If not, ask the minister to go through the motions so you can be out of the way and not be a distraction. Remember, during the actual ceremony, the attention should be on the child, not the photographer.
Third, do practice photos (and light readings, if possible) where you are going to be shooting, from where you are going to be shooting, and timed as if it were the actual ceremony. If you're given the chance to shoot the actual baptism, you'll need to know what on the fly adjustments to make before hand, so their not waiting on you. Remember, you're not what people have came to see.

Answer 6

Go to the church before the baptism/christening to see the environment. Find out what time the baptism would be at so you would know if you need flash or not. If you do, make sure you bring two of them. Bring a good tripod, a camera you're familiar with [so you won't mess up any pictures], and two of everything [batteries, bulbs, etc.]. It would be a good idea to bring someone with you because you would get a different angle from a different mind. The most important thing--keep the baby in shot!

Hope this helps! =D

Answer 7

Baptism Photography Tips

Answer 8

Make sure your camera works, that you have fresh spare batteries, that you have spare memory / rolls of film. If at all possible have a backup-camera.

If possible do a test-shoot in the space where you will be working--bring a couple of friends, have one dress in light-colored clothing and the other in dark clothing. Have them stand where the focus of the shooting is going to take place, with you where you would like to be.

Bring a step-ladder so you can get above the heads in front of you, and so you can get a good perspective from further away. In that theme, you might want to wear platforms so you can be higher while you move around. Although, I wouldn't try both together--your asking for trouble climbing a ladder in platforms.

Good lighting is key. If you don't have an external flash, you might want to look at getting one. Then I would suggest you get a diffuser for it. Lumiquest is pretty inexpensive.

Speak with the pastor or whomever will be conducting the even ahead of time to get a intinerary. You may want to see if you can coordinate meeting the pastor on site on day of your test-shoot.

More over, the test-shoot is very important. Try to rip off as many pictures as you think you might take. This will test your equipment.

Write up a plan including possible issues that you see during the test-shoot, including how you should respond.

Do NOT make any unneccessary changes in your setup or plan the day of the shoot.

Answer 9

In addition to all the good technical advice, please remember you're in a worship service. Whether you agree or not with those who are worshipping, please be sensitive to the fact that this is a worship service. Be as unobtrusive as possible. Try not to block anyone's view. If you sit at the end of a pew as close to the baptismal or baptistry (different denominations call them different things) as possible, you can probably get good shots without being in the way. Participate as much as you can in the rest of the service -- if nothing else, as a courtesy to those who really are there to worship. When we all pray, join us (or at least look like it, so as not to offend others.) Sing along, if you know -- or can pick up -- the song. Smile; that goes a long way in helping others accept your presence.

If you're taking "portraits" of the baby before or after the baptism, let me say the best ones I've ever seen were taken from behind the mom's shoulder. Throw a pretty blanket in a neutral color over the mom's head and shoulders. Have her pick up the baby and hold him to her shoulder. You stand BEHIND Mom, and take the baby's picture. He's comfy and contented because Mom has him, he's supported, and you can see him. It makes for a really fine photo.

Answer 10

I have a tip. Don't do it. Especially for friends and family.
And, especially if you're getting paid for it (even for the film)

Several things could go wrong - the processor could screw up your film, your camera can malfunction - and depite what it is, you will be (silently) blamed for it the rest of your life.

You can sue a professional, get mad at them, rant and rave about them, and call them anything but nice.

With family - well, all you can do is fume.

A once is a lifetime event is too important to risk.

Tell them you'll take some, but have other people also taking photos, preferrably with a digital camera so that you know that there's something there.

Even pros screw up...