A little scared! Help!

drummerkev

drummerkev

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Kevin
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Iv been asked to shoot a christening for my Mrs's friend. nothing serious or anything and not taking money for it, and its not a wedding! LOL but im a little apprehensive as iv never done it before

http://www.allsaintsstretford.org.uk/photos/gallery.php?gallery_id=3&pg=1

that is a shot of the venue. Can anyone help on what settings i used to be using, i was advised that setting TV and 1/200 was a good starting point but can anyone else give me any inspiration or what kind of shots i should be looking for and settings. All help really appreciated!

thanks
 
we can't help with actual settings and tbh, anyone who suggest actual ones should be ignored.

The reason we can't is because until it happens you could have a lot of sunlight coming through those windows or you can have black clouds an no light.

I've recently shot my first christening and was told NO photos during the ceremony which was a pita! then I was told we'd have as long as we needed afterwards, that then became 15 mins so had to kiss goodbye to the baby lying there with the candle lit in the background shot that I wanted as we barely had enough time for the group shots they wanted.

You just have to know what you are allowed and not allowed to do, and a general idea of what to do in different circumstances.

What kit do you have? camera, flash & lenses?

It does look fairly well lit so as long as you are getting sharp well exposed photos you will be fine. learn how to use the histogram to see if they are coming out ok and don't be afraid to chimp (constantly checking the photos) as its better to keep checking they are ok than get to the end and realise you've messed them up.

It's not a typical church that is dull and dark so you should be fine. have a play with your camera and take photos during the day and evening in doors and see what settings do what :)
 
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i have a canon 600d with a 55-250 lens and also the 18-55mm lens. The flash im about to purchase within the next week as im still deciding which one i want.

Would you say TV was a good setting to be used though?

would i need to use any filters or anything like that?
 
If your Mrs' best friend is aware that you really haven't get a clue (no offence);
Shoot RAW, Program mode and bounce your flash for the set up shots round the font. Keep your ISO high and watch your shutter speed.

If your Mrs' best friend believes that you're going to get pro level results because you've got a good camera;), you need to explain to her that it's a misunderstanding and that someone who knows how to use a compact will be better suited to get the pictures.:)
 
That venue has some lovely stained glass, but I'm guessing you'd need some fill flash to light the parents/baby so that the window doesn't get over exposed. I did a friends' baby's christening some while ago. There must've been 6 babies all being 'done' at the same time, it was a bit of a melee with all these people, cameras etc, hard to get anything 'arty', but I guess if you can get a small group, parents, godparents, etc that will be enough. If its possible, I'd visit the venue, speak to the vicar to find out what they will/will not allow, take a few test pics.

Others may have a different view, but if you have a flash, set the camera to AV mode, let the flash work through TTL. If in doubt, perhaps use P mode ...
 
whilst the stained class does look nice it might cause problems with "throwing funny colours" depending on where the font etc are.

Have a word with the vicar or verger and see if you could go into the church and have a play. But as others have said if your trial day is lovely and sunny and the christening is a dark day all settings will need to be changed. But at least you might have a better idea of what is allowed and what isn't angles you may be able to get etc.

All that is without the star of the show, having there own agenda. At least at weddings when you ask everyone to smile most will.
 
Photodiva said:
That venue has some lovely stained glass, but I'm guessing you'd need some fill flash to light the parents/baby so that the window doesn't get over exposed. I did a friends' baby's christening some while ago. There must've been 6 babies all being 'done' at the same time, it was a bit of a melee with all these people, cameras etc, hard to get anything 'arty', but I guess if you can get a small group, parents, godparents, etc that will be enough. If its possible, I'd visit the venue, speak to the vicar to find out what they will/will not allow, take a few test pics.

Others may have a different view, but if you have a flash, set the camera to AV mode, let the flash work through TTL. If in doubt, perhaps use P mode ...
Click to expand...
That's a good insight into the christening.

However I'd caution against AV indoors with flash, AV will take your camera settings as gospel (excuse the pun) and add fill flash - so your shutter speeds will drop like the Greek economy. P mode ought to keep the shutter higher if it knows there's a flash in use (not tested this theory). M is always the best option for fill flash indoors. Which is why getting good results on these occasions is tricky, learning to balance the ambient with bounced flash (even TTL) is a bit of a steep learning curve.
 
Thanks for the advice. Yes she is fully aware that they may not look completely professinal, but obv id like to give it my best shot (excuse the pun LOL)

I will see if i can get into the church before hand so i can have a play.

Some top tips there, any suggestions as to grouping of people and ideas for shots?

Thanks again guys.
 
drummerkev said:
Some top tips there, any suggestions as to grouping of people and ideas for shots?

Thanks again guys.
Click to expand...

I recently shot aperture mode with TTL and had no issues for my christening shots. It's trial and error tbh, just know how to change flash compensation in case :)

As for groups, baby and parents in the middle, god parents either side then family for big groups. Then mix and match for the rest :)
 
Definatly nicer inside with the stained glass than the outside.
Speak to the vicar before and see how he/she is regards to photos, if he/she is filling in then speak to someone else and ask them as some vicars say yes but the church says no. Often the problem is not with photos it is the flash so if you can get away without flash great they also don't want everyone getting up and going taking photos during the ceremony and service if it is during the usual church service. I was told no photos at one church so sat back, the next one at the same church I stuck the 70-200 on and shot long, the vicar loved the photos when she saw them and didnt even know I had take the photos. I did avoid using the flash. I was asked the other night to shoot at the same church another christening (brother of the last one) but I am away so cant do it.

If you can go to the church the week before it should give you an idea of the light in the church at that time and you will probably be able to go and take some test shots to see what you may capable of getting.

and as Phil keeps mentioning P isnt somthing not to be used, in difficult conditions it can be a life saver.
 
Harvey_nikon said:
I recently shot aperture mode with TTL and had no issues for my christening shots. It's trial and error tbh, just know how to change flash compensation in case :)

As for groups, baby and parents in the middle, god parents either side then family for big groups. Then mix and match for the rest :)
Click to expand...

In Aperture Priority mode a Canon (not positive about Nikon) will try to expose for the ambient, which could lead a user into really low SS (particularly with a kit lens). For instance in a normal room today - If I set the ISO to 800 and AV to 5.6 (wide open on the long end of a kit zoom) I'm left with a SS of 1/15. Which will give a blurred ghost to the perfectly exposed flash image. Manual at 1/60 and 5.6 will give a perfectly exposed flash image with an underexposed background.

I'd take the underexposed background rather than the ghosting.
 
I was the godfarther at a christening last week and I brought my DSLR. There were no photos for the ceremony but the Vicar let us take a few photos after. I have a 450D, Sigma 18-50 F2.8 lens, and a Jessops 360AFD flash with a stofen. When I use the flash I usually put the camera in manual and use the following settings:
ISO 400
Tv 200
Av F5.6
I will then fire off a couple of test shots and tweek the ISO and aperture until it suits the scene. I then handed the camera to my GF who took all the group photos, me with the parents and baby, etc.

If you are concerned shoot in RAW and you can always tweek the exposure a little. I appreciate this isn't the best shot but this is the type of shots I was getting:

575858_10150753872089929_516134928_9398467_982306491_n.jpg


I hope that helps you!
 
Actually that shot is taken off facebook, and on my work PC it looks it bit dark and soft. In lightroom on my laptop it seems a lot brighter and sharper!
 
I must be such a luddite, I took guest photographs at my niece's baptism and have done a couple of weddings and don't even have the flash on top of my camera in the church, it just doesn't even occur to me - all the photos have come out fine (subject permitting ;) )
 
If you're going to use flash, might I suggest you put a diffuser on it? Bearing in mind the baby will presumably be wearing white, direct flash may burn out the robes and/or cause under exposure of other people in the shot.

Any thoughts?
 
In my limited experience with strobes diffusers don't do a great deal compared to bouncing it off a wall or ceiling. You can even bounce it off someone's white shirt or a reflector.

Bouncing off a nice wall usually does the trick though :)
 
you can also tape a bit of white card to the head of your flash gun , and angle it up 45 deg for a bounce effect
 
drummerkev said:
i have a canon 600d with a 55-250 lens and also the 18-55mm lens. The flash im about to purchase within the next week as im still deciding which one i want.

Would you say TV was a good setting to be used though?

would i need to use any filters or anything like that?
Click to expand...

hmm slow lenses - they arent going to be too tasty if the light is poor - you might want to think about getting something with a faster apperture- if money is tight may be a nifty - or rent something like a 17-55 f2.8 from lenses to hire.

flashwise get the best you can afford - last time i looked mpb had a ex550 for a tad over a hundred notes (that used to be the top of the range canon flash until they launched the 580)
 
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