Christening.

[Lynton]

Hi, think I am going to be asked to do the photographs for a friends daughters Christening in december. (Could be worse, could be asked to be a god parent but not having been christened myself I am automatically excluded from that one!!!)

Any tips?

No idea as to what happens in a christening, other than the Vicar wets the babies head.

Are there a traditional set of photos that should be taken (i.e. as with weddings, plenty of "standard" album shots.... ie. B&G with bridesmaids, B&G with parents etc......

Should have a 50mm Prime f2.8 by then, which should help!


Thanks


Lynton

 

[V8burble]

This is a difficult one to answer. There have been Christening threads over the past months that you should take a look through for sure. It really depends on the Rector/Vicar as to a) If you can even take any during the event b) If flash can be used. The last one I did, I could not take any at all in the church... the one before that the lady vicar was happy for anything at any time. Your first job should be to have a word with the Vicar. Only then can you start to plan what you can achieve.

 

[Lynton]

good point, thanks. will do

Would try to do without flash as much as possible, as don't have much in the way of flash, off camera flash, softboxes etc.... i,e.. have the p155y little on camera flash and a very old manual flash that I havent worked out yet.........

 

[Rudesing]

Definitely do a search, I remember a thread in the last few months about it.

Get pics of the kid, godparents, parents and the water splash bit.
Do some groups shots directly afterwards (depending what the family want)
Lots more photos of your friends daughter
Check with the church beforehand to see what is & isn't allowed
See if they'll let you pop in and do some test shots before the day

Hope that helps!

 

[V8burble]

If you are going to do group shots after (either in church or outside) make sure you let those involved know before hand. The last thing you want is for half of them to have left to gather at the pub or house for after service drinks/grub, you'd be amazed how quickly people can slip away.

If you are able to shoot during the service and you have the iso and aperture to allow no flash then it is what I would do, for the enjoyment of the rest of those there if nothing else. There are often plenty of children at them, so try and grab some fun candids of those during the boring singing bits when they pref to have fun . Remeber to shoot the person doing the reading, the gathering of god parents, vicar etc before they all go to the font, just in case the gathering at the font gets a bit of a scrum and you end up with lots of back of heads. Think about your positioning in the church before hand, check out lighting, sun through which windows etc. Remember to check your settings before you start and remember to change them when you go outside again. Check your histogram regularly for exposure.

From my experiences, this is probably my fav candid, whilst everyone else was doing the right thing listening to the Vicars every word (I've shown it before, but I still find it funny)

 

[zeugma]

If you are going to do group shots after (either in church or outside) make sure you let those involved know before hand. The last thing you want is for half of them to have left to gather at the pub or house for after service drinks/grub, you'd be amazed how quickly people can slip away.

If you are able to shoot during the service and you have the iso and aperture to allow no flash then it is what I would do, for the enjoyment of the rest of those there if nothing else. There are often plenty of children at them, so try and grab some fun candids of those during the boring singing bits when they pref to have fun . Remeber to shoot the person doing the reading, the gathering of god parents, vicar etc before they all go to the font, just in case the gathering at the font gets a bit of a scrum and you end up with lots of back of heads. Think about your positioning in the church before hand, check out lighting, sun through which windows etc. Remember to check your settings before you start and remember to change them when you go outside again. Check your histogram regularly for exposure.

From my experiences, this is probably my fav candid, whilst everyone else was doing the right thing listening to the Vicars every word (I've shown it before, but I still find it funny)

Now THAT I like. Excellent capture.