Before taking photographs in any theater setting, it is important to first gain the permission of management. Many theaters have regulations that prohibit photography during the performance. There may, however, be exceptions to these rules in some places if you are a professional photographer, if you ask the director ahead of time or if you plan to share the photographs with the cast and crew. In some instances, you may not be able to take photographs during the performance, but you might be able to capture the dress rehearsal.
To gain the best shots when taking photographs in the theater, it is important to keep your camera in manual mode. This will ensure the greatest amount of control over the shots based on your camera’s settings. You should also take more shots than you believe you will need. When photographing in a theater, only about one in five shots will turn out as you intended. For this reason, taking extra shots will ensure that you have a greater chance of capturing what you want to capture. It is also important to remember that not everything within your depth of field will come out in focus as you intended, so choose your subjects carefully.
When taking photographs in a theater, it is very important not to interrupt the performance. To avoid disruption, theater photographers are encouraged to wear dark clothing, not shoot during quiet moments in the show and never use a flash. Flash photography is typically never allowed in the theater, as it easily disrupts and distracts the performers. It is also important to practice changing your lens and film in the dark, so you don’t risk dropping a lens caps or making extra noise.
Because the theater is dark, photographers will have the greatest amount of success using a fast lens with a wide aperture, as this will capture the greatest amount of light without using a flash. An f4 or f2.8 lens is best. You can also achieve the best shutter speed for theater photos by using a high ISO setting. An ISO of 1600 is best. If you can anticipate the moves of the actors on stage, it can also reduce blur in theatre photographs.