Alien Bees and weddings - DPChallenge Forums

08/28/2005 04:50:32 PM · #1

It's with great intusiasm that I've recently watched a thread about AlienBees and how well they perform for the price, but what surprised me most was reading that some people use them in weddings, includding inside church photos.

I would like to know how is this possible, and how do you use it. If some photo's could be shown to exemplify I would appreciate. Do you use it in the bride/grooms house? Do you use them in the church? With softboxes and/or humbrellas?

Could you put some light, litterally on the subject? Because I thought I was doing ok with my sb800, but this is away ahead.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/29/2005 01:46:14 PM · #2

No one?

lwkimages

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/29/2005 01:59:07 PM · #3

While I haven't used my Alien Bees in weddings, I own a B400 and B800, and have been considering using them in upcoming weddings. I've only been using Sigma and Canon on-camera flash (with a flash bracket) in the few weddings I've done this past year. I'd anticipate using one of the Bees as the key light, with the on-camera flash as fill. As you may know, the Bees can be triggered remotely by the on-camera flash, so you wouldn't need a synch cord going to them. You could eliminate the power cords, as well, if you use a power pack...

Inside the church I'll be using an umbrella on the B800 (as key). For groups, I'll likely have the Bees on each end of the group - both with umbrellas.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

08/29/2005 02:09:25 PM · #4

I don't have any experience in out of the camera flash units so sorry if my questions seems a bit oubvious. But to use them inside church don't you need to mount them almout at the altar? Do you have the time to mount them in the church? Do you recommend the B800 for the job? I don't understand much about the watt power of them and what it represents in therms of light.

mrorange002

Canon EOS-5D

08/29/2005 02:09:41 PM · #5

I always bring mine with me to weddings, but rarely actually use them. But then again, I'm not a traditionalist wedding photographer, and people don't hire me for the extreme posed photos (ie: hours of posed photos during the wedding day)

BUT...

I have needed them a few times when it rains (every time the group shots were done in the church). I set up 3 lights (1 1600, and 2 800's) the 1600 straight up with only a reflector, (this is good as a fill light) an 800 with umbrella as a key light, and an 800 with barndoors as a background light.

This is the simplest/quickest setup (for me) and works well for groups. Bride and groom get special light treatment if time allows.

P.S. always bring lots of extension cords! many older churches only have a couple of outlets, and they seem to always be far away from where you are shooting!

CorySmith

08/29/2005 02:12:41 PM · #6

ive been wanting to try it out, i would bounce one off the ceiling (uif the ceiling is white) and try anther one with a softbox at another position

pocket wizards are a must

Plexxoid

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/29/2005 02:51:33 PM · #7

I use studio lights for the formal pictures after the ceremony, why wouldn't I? These are my AB 800's, giant softbox and umbrella.
I would've gotten them a lot closer, but there were a lot of group pictures and I ended up scooting the lights closer to the aisle to reduce shadows.

Message edited by author 2005-08-29 16:51:36.