Shooting a wedding evening do

[ed_o_brain]

I'm going along to an evening do and hoping to turn out a few pictures. I'm not doing this in any kind of official capacity, although I will be giving the Bride and Groom copies of any pictures which turn out decent and using them in my portfolio.

A friends band are going to be playing and they have offered to pay for any well turned out photos.

I'll be using my D90 for the first time in anger. I'll take with with me:

35 mm f/2
50 mm f/1.4
18-70 mm f/3.5-4.5

Also got a friend coming who can help by holding SB-800 for some off camera flash. I've got another cheap flash I can mount on the camera as a fill in light. Although at the moment I've only got one CTO filter.

If the venue don't mind me taking some extra equipment with me, I have shoot through umbrella that I could use.

So that's the equipment.

I've shot gigs before with a bridge camera without thinking and turned out a few keepers. But now I'm thinking too hard!

I was going to start with 50mm lens for some unobtrusive candid shots and also leave the flash aside. Then try getting some pictures of the band with the 35mm if I can get out far enough to photograph the band (as a group) and then switch back to the 50 and maybe introduce the flash for a couple of close up shots of band members.

They will be using a machine to create a fog/haze so will see if I can use that to artistic effect?

Then later on, just grab a few shots of the guests and the bride and groom. Not forgetting of course, the first dance which will probably be taken with the 35mm and flash.

Sorry I've only vague ideas at the moment how to get the best out of my kit. I'm doing some reading up, but I thought a bit of direction from here might also help.

 

[Harvey_nikon]

Problem with night dos, and I learnt this last Sat at a wedding is, too much flash can ruin the atmosphere.

Baring in mind my equipment is poor (d60 and onboard flash).

Hi ISO (which my camera fails at) and I think about 1/8 flash power and I was getting some ok shots. Nothing I am really proud of but for a first attempt it was better than I thought.

Flash and fog will also cause some issues for you due to the light bouncing back.

 

[keirik]

hi ISO and lots of grain/ noise can look good for gig photos

otherwise I find the best thing is

shoot RAW, shoot for ambient light and use the flash for fill

(Best thing about my 1d mk4 is I can up the ISO to get fast shutter speed on the ambient without high noise then use the flash sparingly to highlight the foreground)

 

[Harvey_nikon]

Hi ISO can look good as long it doesn't totally destroy the image. ISO 3200 on a D60 is enough to make your eyes bleed! I've seen images from the D3s at it's max ISO of 102,400 and it still looks better than my D60 at 3200.

I must say though, I did love it, I've a great image of the bride and groom doing their first dance. she is back lit by strong blue lights, and the grooms face is visible too. Great shot

 

[inaneredstripe]

most night time "do " venues should be well enough lit for an F1.4 and an f2 to turn out some good pics without putting the ISO through the roof.
big apetures obviously mean short depth of field, but watch where your focus is, and no probs.
AP and keep an eye on shutter speeds too.
bounce flash off a convenient ceiling to spread and soften the light , if you use it.
lots of venues have light coloured ceilings.