How to Take Pictures With a Canopy

Pack your camera bag for any contingency. You will likely know in advance where your event will be held, either indoors or outdoors, and depending on size of the event you should pack your bag accordingly. Ideally you should use a medium-to-long zoom telephoto lens like a 70-to-200mm lens and an external flash, because your camera's built-in flash may not strong enough if you're far from the action.

Inspect the area for the event and see what type of canopy you will be shooting under. The color is the most important and how transparent the material is. If the canopy is white, shooting will be very easy. If the canopy is dark, you will likely have to use your flash to add light to your pictures. If the color canopy material is thin, there is a chance it will create a color cast on anyone under the canopy. In this situation you will still need to use your flash. Camera flashes create a daylight white balance. This will remove the color cast from your pictures.

Attach the lens and the external flash to your camera. Turn your camera on and set the camera to "Shutter priority" that is usually identified by the letter "S" or "Tv." Set the shutter to 1/125th of a second, which will allow the camera to set a midrange aperture setting for your picture.

Set your camera's "White balance" to "Flash." Turn your flash on and take a test picture of someone standing under the canopy. If the canopy is white, you can angle your flash directly up and use the white canopy as a natural reflector. However if the canopy is any other color, use your flash in its normal position directed at the subject.