“I think with shooting ceilidh the biggest thing is to throw yourself in the middle of the chaos! You won’t get good shots if you’re just standing outside – obviously be really careful but also don’t be afraid to get hurt”
Editors note – word to that sister, I got a 6 inch Stiletto stamping on my ankle at my last one – ouchy!
“My tip… get stuck in and don’t be shy! Go wide (I’m normally at 14mm) to get as much of the ‘action’ in as possible”
“I like to use the 16mm end of the Tokina 16 to 28 and get close. I guess that’s my tip, when shooting the dancing shoot wide and don’t be scared to get close to the action”
“One of my top tips when shooting a ceilidh is to get right in the action. For me, getting involved and up close is the best way to capture the dynamic and energy filled shots I’m looking for. A ceilidh can be frantic and fast-paced. Sitting on the sidelines might only get you shots of backs. You may come out with bruises and bumps on the dancefloor, but grasp the choreography quickly and with great timing it’s worth it for those killer close-up party shots this kind of celebration deserves!”
Editors comments
So there you have it, whilst there may be more swinging going on then when your parents used to go on holiday with those weird friends and leave you at the grandparents don’t be afraid to get right in on the action. You might get a stiletto in the ankle, but you will also get THE best photos. So go wide, get close and embrace the moment. Oh and my own personal tip? Before each dance they do a little demo talking everyone through it, it’s the same dance just done at a much slower pace, so bag a few safe shots at this point too.
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