Terry Fox Theatre

Taking photographs of a theatre performance can be a challenge. The lighting is dark and meant to create a mood for a live audience, not your camera -- and flash photography is disruptive to performers, whether they be community theatre up-and-comers, or seasoned professionals of stage and song. There is also a lot of area to cover, and the subjects of your photographs are often in motion. Like I said... a challenge. The good news is that the techniques that professionals use to catch that perfect, clear shot -- the kind that defines a performance and graces portfolios -- can be boiled down to a some best practice tips.

Image by yellowcloud

According to professional photographer and photography trainer Gavin Hoey, there are seven theatre photography tips that stand out to him above all, garnered through years of trial and error while photographing dramatic and dance performances. Each of these tips have several more detailed points within. Check out the highlights, below:

• Plan ahead, bring backup gear, and wear dark clothes. Plan for a long day -- bring snacks and drinks. 
• Talk to the director and find out what is acceptable -- for example can you move about the theatre, or do cameras need to be stationary? 
• Photograph the dress rehearsal if at all possible. 
• Never, ever, EVER, use the flash. 
• Use a wide aperture lens for speed. Gavin suggests f4 or f2.8. Learn to predict the movements of the performers to lessen motion blur. 
• Set your camera to Aperture Priority mode, and open it up as wide as possible. 
• Record in RAW to correct the lighting later, at your computer. 
• Use two or three cameras, one for close-ups, one for small group shots, and a wide-angle to shoot the whole stage. Set the last up with a time-lapse trigger. 
• Shoot way more than you think you need. Gavin says to "expect one in five shots to be sharp and perhaps only half of those to be good."

For more details on Gavin Hoey's tips for theatre phototgraphy, check out his blog post here.