Aperture settings for Wedding shots

cambsno

cambsno

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Simon
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I have done a search but not found any reference to aperture settings at weddings, so hoping someone can help out - just to set the scene, some friends are getting married at the weekend and to keep cost down they are just asking people to snap away and hope to get some good pics. They have not asked me to be the main photographer or anything but it seems an ideal time to have a good play with my new d300! Before people say dont so it etc...

I generally use A or M mode, and for any individual or b&g shots plan to shot around f/4. For any bigger shots (like when its 15-20 people in shot) what is the best setting then, f/8?

I know things will depend on light etc... but will be using my 17-55 2.8 for majority of these.
 
cambsno said:
I generally use A or M mode, and for any individual or b&g shots plan to shot around f/4. For any bigger shots (like when its 15-20 people in shot) what is the best setting then, f/8?
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You've answered your own question.

cambsno said:
I know things will depend on light etc.
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:)

Also, it depends on the effect that you want to achieve. With a group shot you'll want everyone sharp so an aperture setting of around f/8 seems ideal on the face of it.
 
It depends on light and what you want in or out of focus and focal distance/length, if your friends are expecting great shots from people that don't understand the science behind photography they may be disappointed with the results. I suspect that isn't the case and they will no doubt get a few shots that they will cherish and may well be great this way but it is a brave choice and have to be prepared for the worst and anything more is a bonus. Good luck and just enjoy the experience. ;)
 
You may well find yourself going into auto-pilot mode, so it may be worth sticking to Aperture Mode for the day. :)
 
It really depends on the light, but you want to keep your shutter speed above 1/40 at least (ideally 1/125) so gauge from that. If you can shoot at f8 while maintaining that shutter speed at ISO100, then go for it, although you will not get much background separation, so I'd use f5.6 from about 10ft back (do a test shot first though, don't take my word for it).

For the candids, shoot wide open. Indoor, crank up the ISO if your shutter speed falls below 1/40 but your lens is pretty quick so you shouldn't need more than ISO200 unless you're in a dungeon :)

Enjoy it :)
 
i use the same lens at iso 400 and the same settings as yourself with good results but i still have problems in dark churchs with flash.
 
wow...negativity overload. Im not putting black marks against someone who has a handgun as part of his kitbag.

Seriously though, Arkady makes a valid point, but as has been pointed out, he could have delivered it better, counting to 10 before making it would have rubbed people up less.

Now please folks, lets move on with the business of helping each other, not arguing.
 
Right, I've cleaned the bitchiness out of the thread.

Yes, it was a fairly basic question, but he was asking for practical scenario-based advice. Not how to set it, or DOF tables. Practical advice. That's what we're here for.
A community of photographers to answer other photographers questions.

If you don't want to answer, fine, don't answer, but dont **** all over someones thread with a badly worded and 'steam coming out of your ears' reply. Not helpful and is NOT what we're about. TP is for encouraging people.

So therefore thread cleaned, and THAT is the end of that discussion. If you wish to discuss the original question in a helpful way, please do so. If not, then go and play with the fluff under the bed.
 
Well put Marcel, that is why i have joined this forum. I know that there are loads of great members here, some are here to get advice and some are here to give. Some are here to do both.

Stew
 
I did put recommended apertures for different sized groups but it got deleted :( :lol:

in a nutshell, and playing it safe-ish, going wide, f/4 is fine for 2-3 people, f/6.3-f/8 for larger groups

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If the people are evenly spaced about two deep than f/5.6 or f/8 will be fine if you're positioned about 15ft or further from the group... any closer or if they''re three or more deep, then you'll have to use a narrower aperture to get enough DOF from front to back of the group...
 
That's the last warning I'll give out. Arkady has apologised in another thread and replied sensibly. Any more insults from anyone and I'll be dishing out the suspensions.
 
Arkady said:
If the people are evenly spaced about two deep than f/5.6 or f/8 will be fine if you're positioned about 15ft or further from the group... any closer or if they''re three or more deep, then you'll have to use a narrower aperture to get enough DOF from front to back of the group...
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Spent half a day following a pro tog aropund a friends wedding last year and he basIcally said exactly that! He was national commercial photographer of the year in 2007 but can't remember his name:thinking: So although I don't know enough to dish out advice on this topic, he does, whatever he is called:bonk:

ENJOY THE DAY!
 
Looks like I missed the fun again.......:cool:
 
cambsno said:
They have not asked me to be the main photographer or anything but it seems an ideal time to have a good play with my new d300! Before people say dont so it etc...
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Go for it:) Even if they don't have an official tog, offer to do some group shots for the B+G anyway - and you have answered your own aperture question!

Oh, and we expect to see photos next week;)
 
Dad and I both shot at a wedding last weekend. We both used a Canon 40D. In the church, I used a Sigma 70-200 2.8 with monopod, he used the 17-85 kit lens with flash.

During the church service I shot on f2.8 and it's given me some nice photos. Dad was a bit disappointed with his- the lens didn't reach far enough and he was still fighting motion blur despite using flash.
 
I am by no means an expert, but for the last year I have been looking at as many different wedding photography images as possible. It seems to me that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to depth of field, and shutter speed. If you are shooting in a stunning venue, then it may be a good idea to get pin sharp detail everywhere. On the other hand, a bit of movement at the right time can result in a spectacular image - confetti, throwing hats or bouquet, first dance. At times it may be an idea to have either the bride or groom, or maybe both slightly out of focus, with the guests sharp.
By following the "rules" all the time, is there not a danger of producing technically sound shots, which could possibly lack a bit of "wow" factor?
With the speed and flexibility of DSLRs, you could maybe shoot two or three different shots of every scene - different apertures, shutter speeds, height/angle form subject.
The reason why I have said all of this, is that I may have to shoot a wedding in the next couple of months, and I am quite nervous about it. The thing which worries me most, is the results I had from a previous wedding (I was not the official photographer though), where all the shots were nice and sharp, well exposed and composed - but utterly lacking in inspiration.
 
as someone else has suggested. if your not 100% happy shooting manual, and yes you can loose your your focus, while concentrating on composition. .
i too would suggest apeture priority. and keep a good eye on your settings.
you realy dont want shutter speeds getting to slow.
i wouldnt be happy with less than 100 th. preferably faster.
better to err on the deeper depth of field, and be able to alter in post, than have the back row, or even worse the front row of a group OOF.
Yes, its impossible to put hard and fast rules down sometimes.
 
inaneredstripe said:
as someone else has suggested. if your not 100% happy shooting manual, and yes you can loose your your focus, while concentrating on composition. .
i too would suggest apeture priority. and keep a good eye on your settings.
you realy dont want shutter speeds getting to slow.
i wouldnt be happy with less than 100 th. preferably faster.
better to err on the deeper depth of field, and be able to alter in post, than have the back row, or even worse the front row of a group OOF.
Yes, its impossible to put hard and fast rules down sometimes.
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:thumbs:

set it for speed priority...someone will move and then all the dof will be no good
 
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