Theater promo photography is a specialized field that requires a unique set of skills and equipment. Shooting in low light conditions can already be particularly challenging, but it is often necessary for capturing promotional material for plays and other productions for use in social media as well as in print. You want to show people the local actors involved but also demonstrate the production quality and the care that’s being put into the upcoming performances.
Low light photography is a challenge regardless of how fancy your camera may be, and it is especially difficult when shooting in a bar with only lamp lights. For this promo shoot with Theatre Baton Rouge, we shot at a bar in town called Hayride Scandal. They had a back room decorated with interested chairs, couches, and a little bar to the side.
One of the primary challenges of low light photography is achieving a proper exposure. When shooting in low light, the camera’s shutter speed needs to be slowed down in order to let in more light. However, this can lead to motion blur, which can make the image look soft or out of focus. The solution is to shoot with a wide open aperture but compensate with a shutter speed low enough to freeze motion that eliminates hand shake but not too slow to blur any motion. After all, the subjects are taking promos so they will be posing and remaining relatively still. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your shutter speed is either at or a little faster than the focal length of the lens. For example, if you’re focal length is at 50mm, then make sure your shutter speed is a little faster than 1/50th of a second.
For these shots, I had to use a lens with a bit of a wider angle. I knew they wanted these character traits, names, and possible taglines in the photos. So, I had to shoot in such a way to add space in the frame to add these neon light text panels.
For the shots in this promo shoot, I made sure I was exposing for the ambient light in the room, not the subjects. I exposed everything so that the lamps and table lights looked good. Then, I added in my strobe and dialed that down to properly expose just the subject.
So, expose for the ambient light first, then add the strobe.
Another challenge of shooting in low light is dealing with noise. When the camera’s ISO is increased to compensate for the low light conditions, it can introduce noise into the image. This can make the image look grainy and can reduce the overall quality of the photograph. Once I got my shutter speed to be a bit faster than the focal length, I upped the ISO until the ambient lights looked good. I knew that I could remove the noise in post using a progam like Topaz Denoise.
In addition to these technical challenges, there are also logistical challenges that come with shooting in a bar. For example, there was limited space to move around and position the camera, there were obstacles and other actors always in the way.
Despite these challenges, there are several techniques that can be used to overcome them and capture high-quality promotional material for theater productions. One of the most important things to consider when shooting in low light is the equipment. A camera with a high ISO range and a fast lens can make a big difference in capturing sharp and well-exposed images in low light conditions. A tripod can also be a useful tool for keeping the camera steady and reducing motion blur. I didn’t use a tripod for this shoot as I had to shoot at strange angles to create images with an off-kilter look.
When photographers say “fast lens” they are referring to a lens that can achieve a wider aperture. The lower the f/stop the wider the aperture will open. A lens with a max aperture of f/4.0 is okay but a “faster” lens that can reach an aperture of f/2.8 is better. When you’re shooting with a wider aperture it means you can shoot at a faster shutter speed. For example, a wide aperture (such as f/1.8 or f/2.8) can be used to let in more light, while a slower shutter speed (such as 1/60th of a second or slower) can be used to capture more light without introducing too much motion blur. The ISO can be adjusted as needed to achieve a proper exposure without introducing too much noise.
I typically shoot at a minimum of 1/60th of a second in situations like this. I find that speed is perfect for freezing motion for poses and events where people are in regular conversation and not moving about too much.
Of course, I typically always use a strobe and softbox in these situations. This can help to create a more even and consistent lighting environment and can help to reduce the amount of noise in the image.
Finally, it is important to be patient and take the time to experiment with different settings and techniques. Shooting in low light can be frustrating, but with practice and perseverance, it is possible to capture high-quality images that effectively promote theater productions
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Shooting low light photography for theater promotional material can be a challenging task, but with the right equipment, techniques, and mindset, it is possible to overcome these challenges and capture high-quality images that effectively promote theater productions. By adjusting the camera’s settings, using artificial lighting, and being patient and persistent, photographers can capture stunning images that effectively capture the drama and excitement of live theater
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