Catch a Shining Star: Shooting for Theatre

Whether you are new to photography or an old pro, the one thing that every photographer enjoys is something unique to photograph. If you find yourself in this position, then let me give you a good place to start: Your local theatre troupes. Why? Because these groups have the items that many photographers crave to make a photo come to life: models, makeup, lighting, sets and story.

Shooting for theatre affords an opportunity for both amateur and professional photogs that is unlike anything else in the industry. Most theatre troupes are more than welcome to invite you in to document their work for free. If it turns out you happen to be good at what you do, you can easily get your name around and begin a niche service. In the field of theatre photography, there is good money to be had.

Getting Your Foot in the Door…or On the Stage

While in most cases it can be easy, getting your foot in the door can be tricky if you’re not careful. I stumbled into my post as photographer for Blackfriars Theatre, because the company was left in the lurch by their previous photographer who went AWOL. With no experience under my belt, I grabbed their digital camera and began snapping away. Five years later, after many shows and pictures, theatre photography has developed me into the photographer I am today. I was lucky to fall into my position, and you may find that there might be photographers in place; the local mom or dad, the hobbyist, or a photographer just like you. Don’t fret, as most photographers are happy to share their space with you as long as they don’t feel threatened that you are trying to steal some of their bread and butter.

Most cities and towns have several theatre groups that put on many shows a year. There’s a lot of work to be had for those that are willing to put in the effort, of getting your foot in the door. A good quick way to find out what is going on in your area that might afford you the opportunity for theatre is to get your finger on the pulse of your local entertainment scene. Pop open the local paper, hop on the internet and Google, pursue Facebook groups. Become friends with actors and directors, and before you know it you will find yourself with a plate load of potential photog food du jour. Once you have chosen what areas you want to look at (Theatre photography can also extend into shooting film, dance, and bands but mostly you just want to focus on the former) you begin the courting process. This starts with getting introduced to who runs the troupe or production. Get to know them well.. Learn what they’re about, what their goals are, and what type of material they are producing (past, present and future). Most importantly during this process is to find out about their photo needs are, if they have any. Whether they do or not, this is when you pop the question to see if they will let you in as a photographer. If you are new to this, let them know the reality of the situation; that you are growing your portfolio. If you are a pro, you may do the same or offer them your services. Most will jump at the chance for their masterpiece to be caught on film, whether or not they want to pay you. This is where getting your name out there helps out.

Every Photo Has a Story

There is a reason I believe theatre photography to be a prime place to get your footing as a photographer, and that is, resources. As mentioned previously, there are no shortage of benefits to shooting on location, on set, or on stage. But above all these physical resources is the intangible, priceless resource of story. I am a firm believer that in order for a photo to really stand out, it must always tell a story for it to stand on its own. The greatest thing about shooting in this arena is that the story is already there waiting for you to capture it on film. The important thing to remember is to capture the moments. Don’t just shoot to shoot. You have real, live models performing in front of you, breathing life into their characters. Get it on film.

The side benefits of shooting on stage or set is that most actors wear makeup, because they are under lights. So you can have wonderful, dramatically lit sets and actors, and all that is needed is for you to step in do your stuff. You don’t have to bother with creating characters, and giving them something to do. No need to worry about lighting, makeup, hair, and set pieces. Simply get in there and shoot. Learn to take photos in a different, albeit ”theatrical”, setting. Learn to setup your camera and shoot from the hip,  capturing photos  that only you can get. What I have found is that the best photos just happen. It becomes the collision of so many forces working together as one unit.

Every Story Has Two Sides …or more

Mostly everything I’ve discussed deals with the meaty part of theatre photography, meaning production shots. There is however more than just popping in and taking shots during their production runs. Most theatre groups rehearse nonstop for a month (meanwhile building the sets, costumes, et al.) then open their show till it ends. In the world of theatre you can be involved at any point, but most theatre companies like it if you are not taking shots when they have a live audience. They also provide the opportunity for behind the scenes shots, and promotional or publicity shots. I spend most of my time in this industry dealing with publicity and production shots. Behind the scenes shots are icing on the cake, and stuff that let’s the outsiders in on the life behind the lens or off the stage.

Dealing with publicity shots is entirely different than working on production shots. In taking production shots you may go in, setup your camera, prepare for the action and fire away;, In shooting for publicity it has its own mad world to contend with. If you are not a professional, this is the one area that takes all the elements and brings them together, and helps you to forge your path as a photographer. You may work with the director or producer who has their vision of what this project is going to be, but has laid it in your hands to make that vision come to life. You may at this point find yourself with no lighting, minimal sets, no costumes, and very little believable story from characters who have yet to be refined and brought to life. It is up to you to take these elements and create something special.

Here is the best advice I can offer: Breathe, and don’t forget to think outside of the box. If you are on the stage, you may be able to get the lighting designer to throw up some lights for dramatic purpose. Discuss beforehand what the director may want, to afford you time to gather things together. I have found it necessary to use what you have available; while working at theatres I will frequently steal set pieces and props from other shows, to get what I want. Sometimes I will take the actors and go walking, or meet somewhere that embodies the vision of the piece. That may mean you can find yourself in a park, or in the dungeon-like basement of a church. Use what’s available, and never be afraid to let things happen. Most of my best publicity shots occured because of the unexpected items that gave the photo character. The same can be said for film work. A couple gels, filters, and some portable lights, and you can shoot nearly anything, anywhere. Just make sure what ever you shoot, you shoot from several angles, and get adequate coverage, in a nice sharp focus. You will find that most newspapers and magazines will be more apt to publish your work if it is crisp and colorful.

Tools of the Trade

I have gone through several cameras before I settled on the image quality that is produced by my Canon 50D. For its price, it was hard to beat the quality that came from this camera. On a typical shoot I bring along two lenses; my trusty 17-85mm EF IS Canon lens and a 70-300mm EF IS Canon lens. Those, coupled with my 16gb CF card get me the coverage I need. Yes, there are other lenses and goodies I would like to use, but you will find that the fast-paced setting of shooting something live like theatre does not afford you switching lenses every couple minutes.

I find it helpful to try and catch some rehearsals prior to the shoot so that I can anticipate what shots I want to go for, where the breaks are, and where the best angles are. This way, I can plan my lens switches without needing to buy an extra body, or lose out on some great shots. In film you have the benefit of multiple takes which affords you more time. I try to stay away from wide shots when doing my theatre work. I occasionally take them only for the benefit of the theatre to showcase their sets and scenes, but the money shots are always in the action. I try to put myself in the best place to make the scene pop to life. This may mean running across the theatre, straddling seats, or balancing on ladders. Each theatre provides its own special nuances, and I find the smaller (and subsequently sometimes closer) theatres give you the better balance of shots as opposed to the 1000 seat, 60 ft wide stages.

When working indoors with sets and stages, find a setup on your camera that works best for you, I find Manual setup or Shutter (Tv) priority with a higher iso 800-1600, and tungsten balance work best. I always shoot in RAW so that I can play with balancing when I get back to the studio. You will find that having an indoor setting or starting point for this work allows you to get more consistent quality and a higher quantity of shots. I average 500-800 shots during a shoot for a 1.5 hour show, but of course this changes when you add or subtract actors or scenes.

Getting Your Name Out There

The biggest part of being a photographer is simply getting your name out there and getting work. You should already have an online portfolio, and you should already be using Facebook and Flickr to your advantage. I know I do. When getting your name out there, and when in the process of working with theatres it is important to remember to always get your photo credited. My photos have been used in a magazine, our city newspaper and local papers many times over. They also post most of their articles now on their websites as well, giving your photo that much more exposure. Having your name attached anywhere it is used will help other theatres and interested groups find you easier. Any promotional material used by the theatre should have this as well, especially if you are doing the work for free. I am huge advocate, and constantly hound newspapers to get the credit in there, and to spell the name correctly, because if you boil it down, it is advertising. Its your piece of art going on display, so don’t be afraid to take the credit. If you are afraid to take credit, then maybe you should think twice about being a photographer.

Displaying your work in an online portfolio, and Facebook is nice, but having a site like Flickr to post and get feedback is a great tool at advancing your self in this industry. Below are some links to portfolios (shameless plug of my own portfolio and Flickr page), and Flickr groups that should interest you if you are looking into this niche of photography.