Panoramic Photos

Table of Contents

2023-2024 PANO PRICE SHEETS

PANO & Group Interplay

2023-2024 PANO PRICE SHEETS

Most panoramic jobs are online only. Parents receive a link to order online and can order for up to 4 days after picture day.
Make sure to check the job summary for your event for the correct price sheet

PANO Setup.mp4

Intro to Panos

Pano Set Up Timelapse Final.mp4

PANO Timelapse

Dorian INTERPLAY PanoGroup v1 text.mp4

PANO & Group Interplay

THE BASICS

A panoramic is large group keepsake photo (grade-level or all-school). This can be solely for yearbook or service item purposes, but students have the option to purchase a copy at many schools.

2 weeks prior to picture day

- Email school and request they email their students/parents using the following template:

Greetings!

Dorian Studio is excited to photograph the (GRADE LEVEL) on (DATE) at (SCHOOL NAME). We are pleased to offer this panoramic picture as a keepsake for you or your student. Ordering is very simple. Attached is the current order form with various choices for you to choose from. Simply print the attached page, fill it out and enclose payment in an envelope with your students name on it. Your student will then give it to the photographer on picture day and we will take care of the rest!

- Request that the school hand out envelopes in senior-only classes (i.e. Government or English)
- Request an 8-10 foot ladder be available on picture day
- Determine location & due date for late orders after picture day (ideally 1 week out)

Day before picture day

Determine how many subjects we are expecting. You can find this number inside the job details in Salesforce. The "Number of Envelopes" is a close approximation of the student population. Reduce that number by 10% for absenteeism.
Look at the previous year's picture, if available. Were there issues? What can be improved? (Lighting, aspect ratio, straighter edges, etc.) Take a picture on your phone so you can refer back to it at the school.

Picture day

Load the equipment listed below
Arrive 60-75 minutes prior to start time

EQUIPMENT & SETUP

4 to 8 lights (preferably 3200s), depending on the size of the group
Cycle time for 3200s: 8-10 seconds between flashes

4 to 8 large light stands (same as number of lights used)
Sandbags (if photographing outside) OUTDOOR ONLY

Extension cords and surge protectors
For 4 lights: At minimum 4 extension cords and 1 surge protector needed
For 6 lights: At minimum 6 extension cords and 3 surge protectors needed
For 8 lights: At minimum 9 extension cords and 6 surge protectors needed
If outside, bring additional 100 foot extension cords

Camera body preference: Canon 5D, Canon 6D, Sony
Wide angle lens: minimum angle needs to be 24mm
Extra camera battery and charger
Light meter
2 long throw reflectors (if using an 8 light setup)
Male/male cord, sync cord and Y-splitter OR
Wireless transmitter and 2 wireless receivers
Caution tape and gorilla/duct/blue tape
Sample print / extra envelopes
Ladder (usually provided by the school) - ask for the largest size they have.

CAMERA SETTINGS

Outdoor

ISO 100

1/125TH

f 11 or higher

Indoor

ISO 200 or 400

1/125TH

f 11 or higher

SETUP

The outside tape lines should be vertical in the camera viewfinder. For this school, the center stairwell can suffice for the gutter in the yearbook image.

Arrive 60-75 minutes prior to the start time.
Check in at the school's office. Confirm population to size the group accordingly.
Set lights up based on number of students, see chart below. Plan on 4-8 lights aimed up at a 30 degree angle. Spread lights evenly across the width of the group in a V shape with the ladder as your center point.
For indoor panos, your ladder should be set up approximately the width of a standard basketball court from the front row. As a general rule, for outdoor panos aim to be 25-40 feet back from front row.
Determine the number of bleacher rows needed. Mark the outside edges with caution tape. They should be vertical in the camera viewfinder.
Meter lights, trying to keep variance at 5/10ths of a stop or less. Move/angle lights to get more consistent readings, if necessary.
- Settings: INSIDE: ISO 200 or 400. 1/125th. F stop should be between f11 and f16 OUTSIDE: ISO 100. 1/125th. F stop should be between f11 and f16

The V pattern is created angling the lights 30° from the photographer's base line. In forming a V pattern with the lights, we expose all areas of the group to light from multiple strobes, as well as give equal lighting from the front middle to the back corners.
With an 8 light setup, placing long throw reflectors on 2 of the light (as shown) will assist in exposing the back corners evenly with the rest of the area.

All lights need to be angled up 30° from horizontal. This keeps the front rows from not being overexposed, helping with a more even lighting scheme from front to back. It also lets a portion of the light bounce off the ceiling, which provides fill light and softens shadows.
Connect the two center lights nearest the ladder to the camera to trigger the remaining lights to fire. You can use either a corded setup (with the Y-splitter, male/male cord and sync cord) OR a wireless transmitter and two wireless receivers.
See the link for setup assistance. PANO Setup

METERING

Check meter reading across the front row, back row and where the estimated middle row will be.
Getting all readings no more than five tenths of a stop apart is the goal.
See the link for help getting your readings more accurate. PANO Metering

THE SPEECH

Quickness is key! Students' attention will fade quickly. It is important to get their attention, remind about hands down, and get the images quickly.

Start by congratulating the class “Congrats Class of 20XX!”
Go over ordering. If they have an envelope today, please turn it in before leaving. If they want to order, direct them to mydorian.com to place an order within the next 4 days.
Remind the students that we are taking their picture. Any inappropriate behavior will be seen. Images get sent to school administration and they will be disciplined.
Let them know if we are taking two sets of pictures (print and yearbook) - be patient.
If any school staff members are in the room, urge them to spread out under the lights and look for inappropriate behavior. If necessary, they can remove students who are continually problematic.
Start with the image for ordering:

Speak loudly and authoritatively. Work quickly.
Leave backpacks off to the sides.
The side closest to the entry door will likely fill first. Try to catch those kids before they get into the risers and send them to the other side.
Fill in any gaps in seating. Move down back rows when needed.
If there are stairwells, have students sit in them.

Keep groups with shirts spelling words out in the front row so they are not being blocked. (This front row can be kneeling on the floor)
Remind them each time to keep their hands down and eyes on the camera.
Take at least 5 images of this group.

If needed, continue with images for the yearbook (gutter image):

Going right down the middle of the group, have students slide over to leave a gap of two feet in each row, to create a space in the middle of the group. This is where the seam in the yearbook will be in a double-page spread. Tell the group not everybody needs to move- JUST A FEW PEOPLE.
Again, remind them each time to keep their hands down and eyes on the camera.
Take another 5 images of this group.
Remind the students if they have an envelope, give it to us before leaving.
Let administration or the staff present know that they can release the students back to class.
Get any lights down that are in the direction of the students exiting. Protect the equipment!

Speech.m4v

Photographing the Group

COMPLETING THE JOB

Fill out a coaches cover sheet including the chosen frame. Also note the chosen frame on the job sack.
Hold the job until late orders have been picked up at the school, if applicable. We want all orders to be printed at one time. Notify lab check-in when the job will be shipped to them.
Crop and send 11x17 of the pano (with gutter) to the yearbook advisor at the school
Click HERE for how to upload
Click HERE for Lightroom Basics