First time wedding questions.

[redmonkee]

Hi guys its my first wedding next week and although there is no pressure from the couple for pro level shots (i'm shooting for free as the only other option they have is a relative with a P&S) I'd still like to provide a pro level service and treat the day as if I was getting paid as one day i'd like to get into wedding photography.

Anyway a few questions I have are. (sorry if some are basic)

1.Basic settings
I'm thinking for outdoor shots of the guests to use AV with flash on ETTL with -1 or 2 compensation just to give a bit of fill.

For outdoor shots of the couple i'm thinking Manual with flash in ETTL

2. How to light the reception for shots of the speeches.
I was thinking I might use my 580EX on camera bouncing off walls
or
I was considering two off camera flashes on light stands to light the whole room (other flash being a YN560)

3. Would an on camera flash be enough for fill when shooting large group shots outside?

4. How best to light the last dance?
Again is On camera flash the best way to go and if so is it best to meter in manual and keep the flash in TTL

5. How many sets of batteries would you take for your flashes?

6. If I use a YN560 off camera on a light stand will this be activated by the flashes of the guests camera?

Any help on any of these is much appreciated

 

[asphotographymk]

Hi guys its my first wedding next week and although there is no pressure from the couple for pro level shots (i'm shooting for free as the only other option they have is a relative with a P&S) I'd still like to provide a pro level service and treat the day as if I was getting paid as one day i'd like to get into wedding photography.

Anyway a few questions I have are. (sorry if some are basic)

1.Basic settings
I'm thinking for outdoor shots of the guests to use AV with flash on ETTL with -1 or 2 compensation just to give a bit of fill.

For outdoor shots of the couple i'm thinking Manual with flash in ETTL

This is one of them trick question really as it depends on the situation. I almost always use M indoors especially in a church but its really down to you

2. How to light the reception for shots of the speeches.
I was thinking I might use my 580EX on camera bouncing off walls
or
I was considering two off camera flashes on light stands to light the whole room (other flash being a YN560)

I light on camera flash bounced as you say for this. I have gone for the off camera option a few times but this was in a room a little like a theater.

3. Would an on camera flash be enough for fill when shooting large group shots outside?

I like to use of camera flash for groups if i can but a nice wide on camera fill works well to.

4. How best to light the last dance?
Again is On camera flash the best way to go and if so is it best to meter in manual and keep the flash in TTL

This is a chance to get a little creative. I use of camera always for the dance.

5. How many sets of batteries would you take for your flashes?

I have a battery obsession. Normally about 10 sets plus a charger on the go at the reception.

6. If I use a YN560 off camera on a light stand will this be activated by the flashes of the guests camera?

I have never had any problems with guests flashes. It can happen but the chances of it giving you problems is very slim. Unless of course your firing with an optical slave.

Any help on any of these is much appreciated

 

[redmonkee]

Cheers Andy

Do you mind sharing how you light the first dance with off camera flash?

Also you say that Optical slave flash may have problems with other guests camera flashes.

Would I need a receiver on the YN560 to ensure it only fires when I want it to. At present I have a 580 EX and RF-602 and I was planning on using the RF-602 to fire the 580EX which would in turn fire the Slave YN560 optically

 

[madmatt]

agree with all the above, but just something to think about is bumping the iso up and shooting without flash for a few shots on the first dance etc. gives a more natural feel to the photos i feel, and the customers seem to like them to

 

[redmonkee]

agree with all the above, but just something to think about is bumping the iso up and shooting without flash for a few shots on the first dance etc. gives a more natural feel to the photos i feel, and the customers seem to like them to

Cheers Matt i'll keep that in mind.

I have a 35mm 1.4 so i'll bump up the ISO and see what I get

 

[asphotographymk]

Cheers Andy

Do you mind sharing how you light the first dance with off camera flash?

Also you say that Optical slave flash may have problems with other guests camera flashes.

Would I need a receiver on the YN560 to ensure it only fires when I want it to. At present I have a 580 EX and RF-602 and I was planning on using the RF-602 to fire the 580EX which would in turn fire the Slave YN560 optically

I always play around with a few different options when it comes to the first dance so never really have a fixed set up.

I do like to set an sb900 on full power as a rear light. Then a sb900 on camera on about half as a fill. This tends to keep the ambient light and still give a natural feel to the images without the need to pump up the ISO. The first dance is a great time to play with some of camera light and get some cool looks.

 

[ShoeQueen]

I always play around with a few different options when it comes to the first dance so never really have a fixed set up.

I do like to set an sb900 on full power as a rear light. Then a sb900 on camera on about half as a fill. This tends to keep the ambient light and still give a natural feel to the images without the need to pump up the ISO. The first dance is a great time to play with some of camera light and get some cool looks.

I'm in the same situation as the OP and some of these comments have got me thinking. I shoot dancing all the time and usually use my SB600 bounced off ceiling and a prime. That gives nice well exposed shots but first dance at a wedding is an opportunity to get more creative. I do sometimes use the DJs lights behind but I think I'm going to practice with using a flash off camera as well. (Practice before the wedding I mean btw.)

 

[asphotographymk]

I'm in the same situation as the OP and some of these comments have got me thinking. I shoot dancing all the time and usually use my SB600 bounced off ceiling and a prime. That gives nice well exposed shots but first dance at a wedding is an opportunity to get more creative. I do sometimes use the DJs lights behind but I think I'm going to practice with using a flash off camera as well. (Practice before the wedding I mean btw.)

I tend to get a couple of simple well exposed shots of the bride and groom dancing full lenght first and then play around a little more. IIf you have your of camera flash set up and ready you can always swithc between simple bouced fill and off camera flash pretty quick.

 

[SimonM]

1.Basic settings
I'm thinking for outdoor shots of the guests to use AV with flash on ETTL with -1 or 2 compensation just to give a bit of fill.

I use P mode get the exposure right and manually dial in exposure compensation

For outdoor shots of the couple i'm thinking Manual with flash in ETTL

Again as above unless I'm looking for off camera flash in which case Manual mode 580ex11 on a stand triggered by pocket wizard, power dependant upon the effect I'm after.

TE=2. How to light the reception for shots of the speeches.
I was thinking I might use my 580EX on camera bouncing off walls
or
I was considering two off camera flashes on light stands to light the whole room (other flash being a YN560)

I again shoot in P use the ISO

3. Would an on camera flash be enough for fill when shooting large group shots outside?

Depends on the ambient to be honest I used two on off camera in soft boxes fired by pocket wizards camera on manual lights set on manual too

4. How best to light the last dance?
Again is On camera flash the best way to go and if so is it best to meter in manual and keep the flash in TTL

As asphotographymk said I do exactly the same and shoot at about F16/22 to get a nice starburst effect

5. How many sets of batteries would you take for your flashes?

I carry 6 sets of 4 as the PW's use AA's

6. If I use a YN560 off camera on a light stand will this be activated by the flashes of the guests camera?

Yep, there is a possibility of a confliction I believe

Any help on any of these is much appreciated [/QUOTE]

Good luck, my best tip is to plan ahead sit down with the B&G and run through the day. Find out what they want, what the timings are and allow a bit of dead time in case things run over as they surely will. Have a set list for the formals and rope in the best man to help organise the people as they usually know the people. Take plenty of memory cards, relax and enjoy it

 

[ShoeQueen]

I tend to get a couple of simple well exposed shots of the bride and groom dancing full lenght first and then play around a little more. IIf you have your of camera flash set up and ready you can always swithc between simple bouced fill and off camera flash pretty quick.

Thanks.

Philip - all the best with the wedding next week and let us know how you get on.

 

[inaneredstripe]

I tend to shoot the first dance with higher ISO, and leave the flash switched off.
Then again, a three minute song gives you time to shhot half at hi ISO, and half with flash.

 

[Keenbfb]

opps wrong thread sorry

 

[redmonkee]

I do like to set an sb900 on full power as a rear light. Then a sb900 on camera on about half as a fill. This tends to keep the ambient light and still give a natural feel to the images without the need to pump up the ISO. The first dance is a great time to play with some of camera light and get some cool looks.

Do you have an examples of these shots.

I'm really leaning towards using a flash on a stand as backlight then shooting into the light with another flash on camera. My only worry is knowing what settings to use.

Are you using a slower SS in order to keep the ambient light?

 

[redmonkee]

Also will the 35mm 1.4 focus fast enough in the low light conditions?