Event Photography

Brian,

Is this a paying job? How large a race is this, hundreds or thousands? What is your responsibility? Runners running or shots at the end of the race, finish line shots? Is the friends camera the same make as your's? Will you have any help, support? Do you have enough batteries, memory cards, lenses? Will they provide you with a "must have list" of shots?

Rich

It's a small town race.... a 5K... yes they are paying me, I wouldn't do it for free. basically they asked for opening ceremonies, start.. winners finishing, and candids...and awards ceremony, easy enough... I have plenty of batteries and memory cards. My friends camera is a 1DX and he has 2 of them and and some awesome big white lenses and is great about letting me borrow them as long as he isn't working. I haven't had one issue with my main body I was more asking if I should risk it with something that I was actually getting hired for to only have one with me

I will take two body. one with 70.200mm and the other with 24.70mm with flashgun. good luck you may be shooting more than 4 hours. eat and drink. do not carry bag.

Brian you can rent a body / lenses from BorrowLenses.com They are very reliable, send you perfect equipment and reasonably priced. I have rented lenses/body from them over the past 6 months and couldn't be happier with their products and service. Am definitely in love with the Zeiss 16mm-35mm f/2.8 lens, but not its price to buy one for myself.

Just a thought... As I wouldn't shoot an event myself w/o a backup body with a different lens; especially a road race. ;)

~ Charly

I wouldn't borrow camera equipment from a friend especially if he uses it to make his living ... if something happens to it no more camera and maybe no more friend.

I have shot many 5k and had with me two camera's, and only used one at a time. If you plan it right you can use one lens at the starting line and the other lens at the finish line, short of the long. Plan out what water stations you will visit and what landmarks you want to use as your background to tell the story better. Then picture in your mind what ' money shots ' you want to come home with.


EDIT: I meant to say the main reason you want two bodies is in the event your main body malfunctions, but you can shoot the job with one body.

Brian,

As Frank and others mentioned, I think you're fine with one body. What lenses do you have, a wide zoom and then a 70-200 maybe? If you have a friend, maybe bring a small 6 foot step ladder and get above the crowd for some shots, which would provide a different angle than most other images taken!

Rich

Yes Rich I have those lenses, wide zoom and 70-200 was exactly what I was thinking of using. That's also why I was thinking two bodies

Sounds like you've got it covered. IDEALLY they should be the same body, so the controls are where you are used to them. The other thing, is the cameras hanging on straps and banging around, as you walk through the crowds. A friend, holding the extra lens would help, other than a second body. Also, at events like this, a good photo vest can be your camera bag and not worry about putting it down and then it walks away!

Like a wedding, just have a list, ahead of time of the "must have " shots and you or your assistant, can cross them off, as you get them. So in this case, shots of people signing in, warming up, jogging,etc. is good and then the "must have" shot of the beginning of the race,starting line and hopefully the eventual winner in the front, which I would use the longer lens, so when the gun goes off, you can get out of the way,

Rich