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For the past five years we have photographed one of the local high school’s semi-formal and prom events with great success. We have streamlined the shooting, viewing and post processing to really maximize our profit margin. This system can be incorporated into any event you might be commisioned to photograph and we have used it not only in the high school proms and semi-formals but also at Christmas parties, conventions, and annual trade seminars (where they wish to have the attendees photographed).

Lighting Setup
Using a 3 light setup with a large softbox for our mainlight, stripdome softbox for the hairlight and monolight with an 18 degree honeycomb grid to light our background (which is usually a colored molted
muslin background) allows us change the poses of the couple without having to manipulate the output and positions of the lights. We use a very large reflector as fill to lighten the shadows on the opposite side of the mainlight.

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Effective and Efficient Posing
With a working aperature of f/8 we try to minimize poses and frames captured of the couples so the choosing process will be easier and quicker. Posing is relatively simple using some of the poses shown in my Engagement Sessions Smarticle preferably where the couples are facing each other, bringing them in very close for a tight crop and where the woman turns her back to the man. These three poses flow very well and we manage to create stunning images in a matter of seconds.

Image Selection
Once I am finished photographing the couple I then hand off the flash card to my wife who loads it into another camera body that is plugged into a monitor using the provided chord. She then scrolls through
the images letting the couples choose their favorite pose. While she is busy showing the couple the images, I load another flashcard into my camera and photograph the next couple (We keep exchanging the flashcards).
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Ordering is fairly simple, the couples choose their images and we record the image# and which flashcard it was photographed on. Note: When using this process, do not delete any images off the card as this will change the file name increment for every image after that and you could end up with orders not matching the appropriate file number (learned this the hard way).

Post-Processing
When our event is over and it’s time to process the images I quickly record an action that tweaks the color and contrast, adds a vignette to the photo, custom softens the skin and sharpens. I simply
remove any blemishes, lighten up the eyes, remove any unwanted objects, run the action, and save it in a specified folder. Each image takes approximately 40 seconds to process as I really do not have to do much to “fix” anything that could have gone wrong like my exposures or white balance (I created a custom white balance for this shoot).
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I-Files and Marketing
We package the prints in one of our studio envelopes and include a custom Thank-You card which notifies the student that if he or she wishes us email them a low rez “I-File” of their image to be
posted on facebook, all they have to do is simply add us to their facebook and notify us which image number they wish to have. We encourage this, as we want them to post these images on facebook to show all their family and friends, and hopefully entice other high school students to suggest our studio for their next prom.

It doesn’t matter if you are photographing high school seniors or corporate employees at their staff parties, this system is effective, cost efficient, and gives you more time to enjoy the great things of life.
That is why we do what we do, right?

Click HERE to view a video from one of our graduation events we covered 2 years ago using the same setup (although we have now upgraded to an LCD monitor for the viewing).

Check out many more tutorials at NoBs PhotoSuccess Inner Circle Members Forum: The ShootSmarter readers NoBs Discount Link HERE.
James Hodgins
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Successful-Prom/Event-Photography-Photo
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www.hodginsphotography.com
Co-Founder NoBs PhotoSuccess

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