Strobist/Event advice please! : )

[MCA8690]

Umbrellas: I'm looking for an umbrella for my light stand (Manfrotto Nano 001B) and flash (SB-900). I really don't know shit about lighting, but I'm trying to learn. I shoot: 90% outdoors, usually 1-3 people (no big groups), usually in really harsh (Arizona) sunlight.
Strobist said that the biggest umbrella I should get (with my stand) is 43''...?
I think I might lean towards a shoot-through umbrella, which I understand to (typically) be white/transparent.
I was going to buy the (Strobist) Westcott 43'' shoot-though, till I saw online reviews complaining about the spokes being sharp (not capped) and it being really flimsy/prone to bending.
Any advice?

Card Reader: Any recommendations for an external (USB/Firewire) card reader? CF/UDMA is really all I plan on using it for.
I know there are a bunch of brands out there, I'd just like some advice as to which have the best reputation. I figure there must be some differences between the $4 and $45 ones?

My Flash: I am now discovering why the Sb-900 "overheating" issues is....well...an issue.
Just wondering if anyone could summarize, or give anecdotal evidence, as to whether or not it's OK to shoot with the thermal cut-off "Off." Threads? Board discussions? I'd sure hate to break/melt something, but dammit I need to shoot more than a couple dozen flashes inside of an hour.

Event advice: I'm going to be shooting ASU's Relay For Life, which will be from 7pm-9am (eeek!!). I was hired to shoot this, so no backup/other photogs to assist : (
I figured, even though I have fast glass (all 2.8's and a 1.4), I'll need some Strobist action going on for good photos (which I'm expected to sell).
So my thinking was, buy the light stand (done), flash (done), and umbrella (?), and set it up by the start-finish line for some cool off-camera flash pics.
Does this sound like the right *amateur* set-up, or would I be better with a soft box, or...?
I CAN rent equip. from the local camera store (paid by ASU ), so shout out with semi-ametuer-friendly recommendations for any/all gear I should rent for such an event.

Processing/Delivering photos (from Relay): I've been fervently scanning other SmugMug accounts (I've got a Pro one..) for examples of large event photography, and how they organize/edit the photos to prep for easy viewing/selling. This will be my first time selling them online, and I expect the majority of sales will be digital-only.
There will be more than 4,000 people participating in this event, and I figure I'll shoot at least 10,000 photos. Can anyone point me in the right direction for the "best" way to quickly edit/organize them, so people can find/buy photos of themselves easily?
I was maybe thinking dividing galleries into "Single Person" vs. "Group photos."...What else can I do to speed the process of presenting these in a manner that's easy to search through?

Thanks everyone, I know I'm asking a lot of Q's but I'd really appreciate any advice or tips. I'd really like to make my best impression at this event.

-michael

[JayT]

wow, that's a mouth full. Hmm, 4000 attendees? Be ready to work, alot, even after the the event is over. It's tough to give accurate advice without truly understanding your shooting situation. YMMV...

Umbrellas works well depending on how you are using them. If your subject is too far, an umbrellas isn't going to do much except suck up the flash power and kill your batteries fast. The umbrella will also take off with the slightest breeze. Umbrellas are best indoors with a relatively close subject.

Card reader: I have no preference, but is speed really that big of an issue? Up to you if you want to spend the extra $$$

sb-900: I don't shoot nikon, so dunno.

Event: Lighting really depends on what you're trying to shoot. Are you shooting stationary or mobile subjects? How much available/ambient light is available? If you're just going to setup a portrait station indoors, studio strobes + large softboxes is best. This is what I have when we shoot large events.


The result of the above setup, coincidently of Turk holding his setup with flash bracket.


If you're indoors and mobile, bounce the light as much as possible.
If you're mobile or can't bounce your flash, a flash bracket may be best.
When using your flash, try to drag the shutter as much as possible. You may want a monopod for added stability with slower shutter speeds.

Processing/organization: I normally sort based on where a shot was taken and by the hour. As an example, you can see JayT Photos : Bonza Bash : 2009 New Year's Eve
It's also good to have biz cards. Folks will ask where and how to get their photos and it's easiest to just hand them a card.
Not sure if you're a RAW shooter, but be sure to have enough CF memory. You don't want to have to download your card in the middle of the event.

[Tony S]

You need to make sure that the SB-900 is going to give you enough light to use an umbrella. It takes a pretty powerful light to fill in or even overpower the harsh sunshine you are talking about, especially when shooting more than one subject where you have to light a larger area. . You may have to resort to a different type of strobe than the one SB-900.

There's not a whole lot to card readers, get one with any of the known names in electronics and you will be ok. Even the slowest readers are 2-3 times faster than transfering direct from the camera. Memory cards are inexpensive so it's probably a good idea to have enough CF cards so you don't have to download them, or at least be able to keep the images on the cards so you have them in two places after downloading. I've shot Relay for Life events before, around here they start at noon and go till noon the next day. Makes for a very long day. Make sure you have plenty of batteries or a power source to charge them. Setting up a station for portrait type shots is ok, but that will most likely be such a small part of your long day of shooting. Be ready for the "survivors lap" and then also set up for some interesting long exposure shots when the liminarias are lit. For the set up you are talking I would look at renting/borrowing a strobe (maybe even with a powerpack) for the daytime portrait shots and then have the ability to use the SB-900 wirelessly for the other shots.
Organize your photos as to the events of the day, for example your pre-set photo station, sponsors, survivors lap,teams,luminaria photos, midnite disco photos, and such (they come up with some interesting themes during some of these walks, go with the flow).

[Tofu Anonymous]

rule of thumb is to not use umbrellas outdoors.

[xqsme]

Do not forget about the small stuff. Batteries, back up flash/camera. With this kind of crowd expect the worst. If you're shooting outside with off camera flash, get some sand weights too to hold down your stand. I agree with JayT here. A SLIGHT Breeze will will take out your stand. It would be better if you have an assistant to hold them down for you. The new firmware in sb900 took care of the thermal issue but recycle time is slower.
One more thing, if you are doing off camera flash on daytime, I would not recomend using IR remote on your camera. Get radio triggers but TTL will not work and you will need to manually adjust you flash.

[jezterr]

don't rely on your flash for the relay for life, especially when it's dark. the power doesn't recycle fast enough to shoot continuously, which you'll do, for as many people as there will be. best option is to find the most brightly lit area and sacrifice iso quality to be able to get as many people at a fast enough shutter speed.

i shot the firecracker 5000 in '08, which starts at midnight. IT SUCKED.

[MCA8690]

Thanks so much for the help guys, you all are really giving me some good pointers.
Some questions that arise, from reading your comments (and realizing that others here have shot similar Relays):

Originally Posted by JayT

Not sure if you're a RAW shooter, but be sure to have enough CF memory. You don't want to have to download your card in the middle of the event.

I'm guessing that it might be a better idea to shoot JPEG's (as opposed to RAW, my standard), due to the sheer number of shots I'll be taking and how long it'll take to upload 1x,xxx photos inside of a few days. When y'all have shot similar events, where you're expected to deliver HUGE numbers of files in a narrow time window, is it kind of understood that you're not going to be going through and post-proccessing each image, but rather just batch processing (say, auto WB or something) and cropping+uploading?

Originally Posted by Tony S

I've shot Relay for Life events before, around here they start at noon and go till noon the next day. Makes for a very long day. Be ready for the "survivors lap" and then also set up for some interesting long exposure shots when the liminarias are lit.
Organize your photos as to the events of the day...

Thanks for the great advice. Is there a chance you have a gallery or something online from this shoot I could scan?

Finally (I know this is REALLY subjective), but how much should I charge?
This wil be my first time selling event photos, and I'm not familiar with the going rates these days. I was thinking that like 90% of people would just want to download the digital files themselves, as opposed to buying prints, so I was thinking (per photo)....$5 or $10? At events like these, is there a sizable % of people who still buy (SmugMug) prints?
The majority of the proceeds are being donated back to Relay, so I'm trying to strike a balance between raising as much as I can, but doing so at a price that'll be fair.
I'm really in the dark on this one, thanks guys : )