As is always the case with showcase gigs, it’s a mixed bag with what kind of lighting and environment you’re going to get, as well as where you can shoot from within the crowd.  I try to crop tight to minimise distraction from things like fire escape signs and studio backdrops, and then ordinarily have to do some heavy lifting in Lightroom to offset the tricky lighting conditions.

Group performances are also really common at showcases too, and they present a fresh challenge in knowing where to look! If you’ve not seen a routine before and there are 8 performers up on stage, trying to seek out the best moments as well as making sure all the performers are represented is quite a unique and demanding task.

Always hugely entertaining, they’re some of my favourite jobs to shoot, as not only do you have captures of the performances themselves, but also far more candid shots of the crowd and the performers that show you a different side to things than you ordinarily see from a studio photoshoot.

If you’re interested in hiring me to cover events and showcases, check out the rest of my event work in the main menu!

As the expression goes with 3 buses turning up at once, this bus happened to be the FPS Fitness Christmas Showcase run by the lovely Lisa Darcy, so it was on the road to the Midlands to shoot a fantastic array of performers at the Aura Dance Studio.

As is fairly standard with smaller productions, lighting is always a mixed bag and almost always you’re forbidden from using flash so as not to disrupt the performers, the audience and the videographer. Trying to make busy backdrops and mixed lighting look good is a challenge, but things would get boring fast if they were always easy

Due to the low lighting at these kinds of events, ISO is pushed up hard, and shutter speed becomes a precious commodity. Timing becomes king as you have to hit every move at the apex where motion is minimised to avoid blurring. This is where extensive familiarity with whatever sport or activity you’re shooting comes into play, as anticipating what comes next is more than half of the fight.

All in all some outstanding performances with a great group of performers, hopefully I’ll be back again for next year’s show!