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03/24/2005 10:05:42 AM · #1 |
I have alot of things to learn about wedding photography by June 11th! I am shooting my sisters wedding as a gift, and I have never shot one before.
Here is what I need from you:
1. What flash is the best for weddings?
2. I have a 18-70mm and a 70-300mm lens.... do I need any other lenses or will these be fine?
3. What other advice is important or should I know?
Thanks everyone,
Lorrie
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03/24/2005 10:18:35 AM · #2 |
for the D70, go with the SB600 or SB800. The 800 is more powerful and can act as the master flash if using multiple off camera flashes.
The 18-70 will be good for your group shots, and ceremony shots if you are allowed near them up front, if not the 70-300 will do well if you have enough light. Both these lenses aren't fast, ie. f/2.8 so you may struggle getting it bright enough without having an overly strong flash feel to the shots. You can always bump the iso and have decent results that way. If you have an extra $100 laying around, invest in the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8. This will be a great lens to add for indoor low light photography.
As far as poses and such, search the web for other wedding photographers and get an idea of what they do for group shots and formals. The reception and other parts of the day usually have a more photojournalistic feel to them, so use different angles and compositions to give the shots interest.
//www.pbase.com/crabappl3/clients are some of the weddings I have shot in the past.
Good luck!
-danny |
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03/24/2005 10:46:59 AM · #3 |
| Get the plash off the camera with a flash bracket. Since you are doing it fopr free and a learning experience I wouldn't spend a ton on flash system. But I would get the best Nikon dedicated flash you can afford. Then get a flash bracket and the Nokon dedicated off camera flash cord. That will get the flash at least a 12 inches off the lens axis. |
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03/24/2005 11:15:30 AM · #4 |
Lorrie, you can always rent gear for the day. Try renting the flash you want to buy and practice with it (super cheap to rent, at least where I am..$20/day).
Ask yourself: are you a good photographer? If the answer is Yes, then everything else is gravy. |
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03/24/2005 11:24:34 AM · #5 |
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03/24/2005 11:28:22 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by LEONJR:
maybe the 550 ex |
That's for Canon, she's using Nikon. |
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03/24/2005 12:01:43 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by gwphoto:
Get the plash off the camera with a flash bracket. Since you are doing it fopr free and a learning experience I wouldn't spend a ton on flash system. But I would get the best Nikon dedicated flash you can afford. Then get a flash bracket and the Nokon dedicated off camera flash cord. That will get the flash at least a 12 inches off the lens axis. |
Good advice.
Get a flip bracket - so when you turn the camera for a portrait shot the flash backet will let you 'flip' the flash so that it is still above the camera, vertically, not beside it.
i shot my first event over the past weekend as practice for a wedding. When i turned the camera i got UGLY shadows...beside/in front of the people.
I would second - get an SB800 (or sigma EF500DG Super), teh cord and bracket. PRACTICE! Practice practice! I fixed some issues in PS, but with 300+ wedding pics, and a higher standard than the average photo, you'll spend forever PP'ing pics - so get eth best original image you can.
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03/24/2005 12:25:53 PM · #8 |
The trick with doing "portrait" oriented shots without using a bracket is to swizel the flash head UP. That's why they swivel dahlings :-)
Of course if you're using the onboard flash you won't have a choice. But every hotshoe mounted flash I've ever used had a swivel head. Swivel it baby!
Is it just me, or does "swivel" make no sense as a word now..... |
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03/24/2005 01:32:27 PM · #9 |
I completely second the pivoting flash bracket, but you should know that you also need to buy an "off camera flash cord", which is basically a remote shoe for the flash connected to the camera with a curly cord. I shoot Canon, and the stupid cord was $70 at my local dealer --- it's about half that from Adorama, especially if you by the off-brand.
I bought my flash bracket about 20 years ago, and they still sell something similar -- visit Adorama and do a search for "flash bracket" and you'll get 10 pages of results. A brief look at the results would indicate that I own a Stroboframe RL 2000, or the predecessor thereto. It's awesome. There are a ton of neat looking products, but the key is to get the flash pretty far away from the lens -- opinions may vary, but I think that the further it is, the better. I occasionally hand-hold the flash at arms-length above my head.
The last bit of advice is that aside from a wicked-powerful flash, the single best flash accessory -- and darn-near free -- is a piece of white illustration board that you fold up into a reflector and hold onto the camera with rubber bands. The flash points at the ceiling, and the reflector stands vertically behind the flash. It bounces light onto the subject rather than directly lighting it. MUCH superior to a direct light. The downside is that it's pretty inefficient, so a big flash is needed.
OK, really, now the last piece of advice -- don't limit yourself to Nikon flashes -- Sigma make decent units, and Metz make very nice stuff.
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03/24/2005 01:39:17 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
The trick with doing "portrait" oriented shots without using a bracket is to swizel the flash head UP. That's why they swivel dahlings :-)
Of course if you're using the onboard flash you won't have a choice. But every hotshoe mounted flash I've ever used had a swivel head. Swivel it baby!
Is it just me, or does "swivel" make no sense as a word now..... |
I sometimes swivel my swizel stick in my swiss miss.
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03/24/2005 01:39:53 PM · #11 |
There are chevy and ford flashes, and cadillacs and lincolns...or Ferraris!
//www.qtm.com/flash/qft4d.php
add in a batter belt pack for quicker recycle and more total flashes...well, OK, not an inexpensive option, but if you can rent one, go for it.
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03/24/2005 01:55:37 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
There are chevy and ford flashes, and cadillacs and lincolns...or Ferraris!
//www.qtm.com/flash/qft4d.php
add in a batter belt pack for quicker recycle and more total flashes...well, OK, not an inexpensive option, but if you can rent one, go for it. |
I have the QT4D. It's HUGE and pretty unwielding on a bracket (it's too big for hot shoes..only works on a bracket).I don't know if I'd recommend it for someone just starting out as it can be pretty cumbersome. I use quantum battery packs for both types of flashes, however, Canon and Quantum (each one uses a different kind of pack and cord, so gets pricey but well worth it).
Message edited by author 2005-03-24 14:01:42. |
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03/24/2005 02:38:51 PM · #13 |
Do any of you wedding photogs use any of the Lumiquest products. I recently talked to a wedding photogapher that said she wouldn't shoot a wedding without the 80-20. I have been considering some of these products, but wonder which ones are really necessary.
@alanbataar: it looks like some of these products would produce much the same result as your illustration board reflector.
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03/24/2005 03:00:46 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by lhall:
@alanbataar: it looks like some of these products would produce much the same result as your illustration board reflector. |
yup, you got that right. But the lumiquest products have that "pro" feel which is important at weddings. They're fairly cheap and if you're interested I have a Lumiquest Pocket Bounce that I bought brand new for a 580EX that I returned. If you want it, you can have it for $10. I paid $35CND. It's never been used...but is dandy. (doesn't fit on my T4D lol) |
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03/24/2005 04:27:36 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
Originally posted by lhall:
@alanbataar: it looks like some of these products would produce much the same result as your illustration board reflector. |
yup, you got that right. But the lumiquest products have that "pro" feel which is important at weddings. They're fairly cheap and if you're interested I have a Lumiquest Pocket Bounce that I bought brand new for a 580EX that I returned. If you want it, you can have it for $10. I paid $35CND. It's never been used...but is dandy. (doesn't fit on my T4D lol) |
PM'ing you!
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03/25/2005 01:17:54 PM · #16 |
I have bought something like this.
I have not used it on a group yet.
//www.pbase.com/john_down_under/image/28973896 |
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03/25/2005 03:35:54 PM · #17 |
If you can afford the SB800 it has a reflector like the white board that people are talking, so it is one less worry. And it also came with a difusion cupule, that is exelent if you need to use direct flash (withought bouncing it on the ceiling, like in churches where often the ceilings are too high to do this), and you get a very even and soft light almoust withought any shadows.
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03/31/2005 01:51:39 PM · #18 |
I am extremely happy with my wireless flash unit.
Also if I am shooting in high contrast situations
(sometimes unavoidable due to times people set their weddings!)
I will put the flash on a tripod and aim it twords the shadows
It works perfectly and gives more of a 3-D feel to the photos
as well.
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