Photographing a UPenn frat formal like a wedding • Owls Spring Formal 2025
When Fraternity Formals Rival Wedding Receptions
It was a perfect late-April day for an outdoor formal held on the chapter house lawn. With temps in the 70’s and clear skies, cocktail hour coincided with beautiful golden hour lighting.
The evening started classy, with Penn Jazz Band offering live music to accompany cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Dinner was an impressive affair with a tent and catering crew fit for a wedding.
A Long-Standing Relationship
I recognized several faces from when I photographed the same formal 3 years ago. The then-freshman were now seniors. (I appreciated hearing I was their favorite photographer across 4 years of events). One senior proudly pulled up the photos I snapped 3 years ago to show to his date:
“Mateen’s a legend — in Mateen we trust.”
This sort of trust built over time allows me to capture more authentic moments — people relax when they recognize the person behind the camera.
Wedding-Inspired Coverage
Approaching this formal with a wedding photographer's eye created some fascinating parallels:
The Venue Transformation
The chapter house lawn became an elegant venue through thoughtful decoration and planning. Just as I would for a wedding, I made sure to document the space before guests arrived — capturing the pristine table settings, jazz band, and the tent bathed in late afternoon light.
The "First Look" Moments
Just like wedding couples seeing each other dressed up for the first time, I captured the reactions of friends meeting up at the formal.
Candid Guest Interactions
The gentlemen made efforts to take full advantage of the open bar, and as dinner ended and senior speeches commenced, the energy was building towards the afterparty finale. They're a tight-knit group, and speeches were met with laughter, applause, and some light-hearted heckling. These candid moments of friendship and camaraderie are the heart of both formal events and wedding receptions.
Formal Portraiture
Just as wedding parties pose for group photos, I arranged formal group shots of the fraternity brothers, capturing their brotherhood in images they'll treasure long after graduation.
The Party Progression
Like any good wedding reception, the evening had a natural flow: from sophisticated cocktail hour to seated dinner, heartfelt farewell speeches, and finally, an energetic celebration. This progression creates a natural storytelling arc in the photos.
Cocktail Hour
Guests arrived for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at golden hour.
Entrée
Dinner and senior speeches.
Afterparty
A not-so-formal ending to the night.
Technical Approach and Gear
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Nikon Zf
Nikon Z 85mm f1.8 S
Nikon Z 40mm f2 SE
Fuji X-H2
Fujifilm XF 23mm f1.4 R
Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f2.8
Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4 R
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Nikon Zf
Nikkor Z 85mm f1.8 S
Nikkor Z 40mm f2 SE
Godox X3-N flash trigger
Fujifilm X-H2
Fujinon XF 23mm f1.4 R
Fujinon XF 16-55mm f2.8 WR
Godox V860 II F flash (on-camera)
Godox V1-F flash (off-camera, handheld)
MagMod MagSphere diffuser (attached to Godox V1)
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Nikon Zf without flash
Nikon 40mm f2 SE
Fujifilm X-H2 with on-camera flash
Viltrox XF 13mm f1.4
Godox V1-F flash
MagMod MagSphere diffuser
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Lighting:
iVisii G2 pocket RGB LED light
Godox X2T-F flash trigger for Fujifilm
Bags and carrying gear:
Shimoda Explore V2 E30 - an immaculately designed camera backpack, my go-to for traveling with a decent amount of gear
Peak Design Everyday Sling Bag 6L v2 - how I carry extra lenses, off-camera speedlight, spare batteries, extra SD cards, and my second body while shooting
Peak Design Capture Clip - I like shooting my Nikon Zf without a strap and just holstering it on the side of my sling bag using a Peak Design Capture Clip instead.
Peak Design straps (slide lite + leash)
Backup Gear (not used on this shoot):
Fujifilm X-E2 camera
Fujifilm XF 18mm f2 lens
Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4 lens
Viltrox XF 75mm f1.2 lens
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Editing Software:
Adobe Lightroom Classic for editing
DxO PureRAW 4 for noise reduction and sharpening - Used in this shoot to process all my X-H2 files from ISO 800-6400 and all my Nikon Zf files from ISO 3200-32,000 into clean and highly detailed DNG’s
Cobalt Image color profiles for Nikon Zf with Fuji Digital pack to match colors to Fujifilm using Fuji Classic Chrome color profile in Lightroom
Culling Software:
Usually, Narrative Select and PhotoMechanic
This time, I tried Aftershoot for both culling and editing. Overall I had a solid experience for culling, though I think I prefer Narrative Select for culling events. I did try a few Aftershoot AI editing presets like Lemon, Cherie, Leo, Crispy Cream, and Brownie. Lemon and Crispy Cream were decent, I didn’t care at all for Cherie or Leo, and I particularly liked the Brownie edit in Aftershoot. Even though the colors and white balance were totally off for scenes with artificial light like the tent photos, I actually used the Brownie preset for editing some of my outdoor flash photos.
Other Software:
SquareSpace for this website and blog post
FreshBooks for billing/business expenses
PixieSet and Google Photos for gallery delivery
For this event, I used a dual-body setup that gave me flexibility throughout the changing conditions of the evening.
During cocktail hour, I worked primarily with my Fujfilm X-H2 paired with the 23mm f/1.4 for wider environmental shots, while my Nikon Zf with the 85mm f/1.8 S allowed me to capture more compressed portraits and candid moments from a comfortable distance.
As the evening progressed into dinner and speeches, I worked extensively with the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S lens, which performed beautifully for portraits and unobtrusive documentary shots. For group photos, I transitioned to the 16-55mm on the Fuji for its versatility.
I used the Godox V1 with a MagMod diffuser as an off-camera light, which I held in my left hand to add dimension and direction to the direct flash. After the sun set, I asked many groups of friends and couples to step beneath the tent where I could bounce my flash for soft and pleasing light.
For the afterparty, I simplified to the Nikon Zf with the 40mm f/2 for its low-light capabilities, and the Fuji X-H2 with the ultra-wide 13mm f/1.4 to capture the energy of the space.
Throughout the night, my Peak Design 6L sling and Capture Clip system made switching between cameras efficient and comfortable.
Why This Matters for Photographing Your Wedding
If you're visiting this page while researching wedding photographers, you might wonder why I'm showcasing a fraternity formal. The answer is simple: these events demonstrate my ability to:
1. Handle diverse lighting situations, from bright outdoor settings to dimly lit reception spaces
2. Capture genuine emotions and interactions between people who care about each other
3. Document the progression of a special day from formal beginnings to celebratory conclusions
4. Build long-term relationships with clients who trust me to capture their important moments
5. Manage timeline shifts and unexpected moments that occur at any live event
The technical skills and interpersonal approach that make these formal photos successful are exactly what I bring to wedding photography. The only real difference is the attire and the specific traditions — the heart of celebration photography remains the same.
Looking Forward
To the Owls brothers: Thank you for trusting me with your memories for another year. It's been lovely seeing your brotherhood evolve over time.
I'd bring this same blend of technical excellence, storytelling approach, and genuine connection to your celebration. Let's chat about how we can document your special day with the same attention to detail and authentic moments.
Until next time,
Mateen
