Going to a wedding with my crappy equipment.

12/12/2007 11:33:51 AM · #1

A family member is having an impromptu wedding tonight.

It just occurred to me that it might be nice to try for some shots of the ceremony and reception. I don't know if they have a real photographer, but I would like to see if I can get something to give them as a gift.

The ceremony is in a church at night. I only have my on board flash, my kit lens (Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM) and a really junky tripod. I know this seems impossible, but does anyone have some creative suggestions for how I might try for an interesting shot within these limitations?

Please post examples if you have them.

Thanks!

Message edited by author 2007-12-12 11:36:35.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Sigma 70-200 /2.8 APO EX DG Macro HSM II

12/12/2007 12:40:44 PM · #2

I am ont going to lie to you, with only on-board flash and the kit lens dont expect miracles. I think you could manage a few nice groups with the wide end of the kit lens, but not sure if the flash would be up to the job... My advice, just stick to candids. Probably not what you wanted to hear but I like to tell it straight.

Eyesup

Nikon D300

12/12/2007 12:50:30 PM · #3

you might be able to get some ok shots of Cake cutting etc. at the reception if you're able to get nice and close... but I would agree with Simms don't expect any miracles... good luck though

ETA: don't suppose you have enough time to stop at a camera store and rent some equipement...

Message edited by author 2007-12-12 12:51:11.

12/12/2007 01:14:42 PM · #4

Thanks guys.

No, I'm certainly not expecting any miracles.

I'm hoping that I can get a few candid snaps that I might do something creative with in post.

Wish I could rent some equipment, but on such short notice I wouldn't be able to get acquainted with it anyway.

I'm brainstorming for ideas (poses, settings, tricks etc.) that might make my snapshots not so terrible.

I suppose I'll be posting something for editing advice tomorrow.

Thanks for being straight shooters:)

candlerain

Canon EOS-30D

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Autofocus Lens

12/12/2007 01:20:29 PM · #5

Aaahhhh snobs... I wish that people would stop bashing the kit lens. Last year, all I had was a Rebel XT with the kit lens and I have some pretty amazing wedding shots. Give your pictures a nice perspective and I assure you that no newlyweds will say "oh that looks like a shot made with the kit lens". Photography is MOSTLY about the photographer. My uncle is used to be a photographer by trade and now all that he has (in digital) is a little A75 and I have seen this more than once... people choose HIS pics over the pro photog with all of his nice "stuff".

benee

Canon EOS-5D

12/12/2007 01:29:13 PM · #6

I think the biggest thing is lighting, not the kit lens, which should give you acceptable results.

Maybe you'll want to snap up a speedlite really quick and shoot in P mode if you're not comfortable with the settings yet.

love

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/12/2007 01:53:13 PM · #7

Originally posted by candlerain:

Perfectly stated!! Hell, I did a quickie wedding with my little point and shoot and some of the images were pretty fabulous if I don't say so myself.. MOST importantly, just have fun with it!!!

bennettjamie

Canon EOS-6D

12/12/2007 01:56:44 PM · #8

I have not done weddings but a lot of stuff I have done I used my kit lens, and it is not as bad as people on here say it is. If you get a cool comp, and perspective and just be creative, you can get some good shots that don't look like candids. Also, the lighting is really really an important detail.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/12/2007 01:58:23 PM · #9

I've just rigged up a home-made flash card(?) using foil to deflect and card stock to diffuse. A couple of test shots show a huge improvement over direct flash.

Edit: If I don't get any good shots, I should at least get a couple laughs!

Thanks for the ideas and support. Keep 'em coming. I'd also love to see some of your examples.

BTW: Which ISO should I use?

Message edited by author 2007-12-12 14:00:59.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

12/12/2007 02:00:51 PM · #10

DIY flash diffuser for the built-in flash: a ping pong ball with an opening cut in it so you can jam it over the flash when it is popped p. Works quite well.

R.

xianart

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

12/12/2007 02:01:19 PM · #11

1600 iso, wide open lens but the blurry, that's f10

3200, wide open

kit lens, same as yours, i'm assuming, and DARK. no flash

get well composed shots, and you can do quite a bit after the fact. shoot RAW, stop by a best buy or whatever and pick up a few cards, then you have the latitude to play. people often seem to like the grainy, artsy fartsy look...

roxanne, my, how you've changed...

Message edited by author 2007-12-12 14:13:03.

benee

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Autofocus Lens

12/12/2007 02:13:24 PM · #12

DIY flash diffuser for the built-in flash: a ping pong ball with an opening cut in it so you can jam it over the flash when it is popped p. Works quite well.
[/quote]

I second that - the ping pong ball trick works great - just be sure to bump up your flash exposure when shooting to compensate.

taterbug

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

12/12/2007 02:36:51 PM · #13

Originally posted by benee:

DIY flash diffuser for the built-in flash: a ping pong ball with an opening cut in it so you can jam it over the flash when it is popped p. Works quite well.

I second that - the ping pong ball trick works great - just be sure to bump up your flash exposure when shooting to compensate. [/quote]

ping pong ball does work good. I found the flash on a Nikon D100 was kind of large for the pp ball, so I used an old white plastic film roll container, works really well.

MAK

Leica CL

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

12/12/2007 02:48:38 PM · #14

your profile lists a 50mm f2.5 macro... perfect shoot the whole inside thing with that and use the kit for groups in a lit area

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

12/12/2007 03:49:37 PM · #15

Originally posted by MAK:

your profile lists a 50mm f2.5 macro... perfect shoot the whole inside thing with that and use the kit for groups in a lit area

Yeah, I was just thinking that. What would be a good aperture setting to get good detail in candids with the macro? I just got it and haven't used it yet.

MAK

Leica CL

12/12/2007 03:58:55 PM · #16

Originally posted by rox_rox:

Originally posted by MAK:
your profile lists a 50mm f2.5 macro... perfect shoot the whole inside thing with that and use the kit for groups in a lit area

Yeah, I was just thinking that. What would be a good aperture setting to get good detail in candids with the macro? I just got it and haven't used it yet.

I personally (DEPENDING ON THE LIGHT INSIDE THE CHURCH) would keep it wide open at f2.5 and try to use ISO 800 or 1600 only if i had too, the 20D should handle ISO 800 very well and even 1600 at a push, if you set it to ISO800 and still have high shutter speed then wind the lens in a bit to f4 or something to add DOF.

Best advice from me really is to enjoy the day, after all, the heat is not on you.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

12/12/2007 04:00:06 PM · #17

Originally posted by candlerain:

Not snobbish at all.. decent kit helps in the creative process and allows me to pull off shot that inferior equipment just wouldnt be able to do in a pressured environment such as a wedding.. put me up against your uncle with his A75 and me with my kit and I can tell you now whose shots will come out best, mine.. not me being arrogant, just a fact.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

12/12/2007 04:01:10 PM · #18

Originally posted by MAK:

Originally posted by rox_rox:

Originally posted by MAK:
your profile lists a 50mm f2.5 macro... perfect shoot the whole inside thing with that and use the kit for groups in a lit area

Yeah, I was just thinking that. What would be a good aperture setting to get good detail in candids with the macro? I just got it and haven't used it yet.

I personally (DEPENDING ON THE LIGHT INSIDE THE CHURCH) would keep it wide open at f2.5 and try to use ISO 800 or 1600 only if i had too, the 20D should handle ISO 800 very well and even 1600 at a push, if you set it to ISO800 and still have high shutter speed then wind the lens in a bit to f4 or something to add DOF.

Best advice from me really is to enjoy the day, after all, the heat is not on you.

ISO1600 on the 20D is fine for prints, you may gag a bit when you examine them at 100%, but when printed it will not be noticable.

aliqui

Nikon D300s

12/12/2007 04:05:49 PM · #19

Have some kids point Maglite flashlights at the bride and groom's faces.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/12/2007 04:27:46 PM · #20

Originally posted by aliqui:

Have some kids point Maglite flashlights at the bride and groom's faces.

Good suggestion! Remember though: flashlights not Laser pointers. I won't make that mistake again! :P

Bear's suggestion about a makeshift diffuser is good also - I used to use a plastic golf ball (as given to me with the suggestion by my friend

Beetle).

Good luck, Rox! Shouldn't be any pressure as you are doing this out of kindness and on short notice and you are a very gifted photographer!

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/12/2007 04:52:36 PM · #21

Luckily I am under no pressure. I wasn't asked to take pix; I just want to try it in the hopes I can get something that will pass as a (cheap) wedding present.

I did a test shot with my homemade flash thingy and the macro lens. My confidence is much higher now!

I'm on my way now. Thanks for wishing me luck:)

SamDoe1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

12/12/2007 04:58:04 PM · #22

Umm, don't know if you've left yet or not but just a quick thing about the ping pong ball trick. Make sure you give the flash head a decent amount of time to cool between flashes or else you could cause damage to the system. The ball over the head does not allow for very good, or any, air flow and could cause the flash to overheat if you don't wait. Good luck!

NVPhoto

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

12/12/2007 05:02:21 PM · #23

Originally posted by candlerain:

Lets see the amazing wedding shots, I bet they are outside in bright light. That is terrible advice. The kit lens is not a good lens otherwise Canon wouldn't essentially give it away for free. Its ok in bright sun at f8. If it was such a good lens than why doesn't any pro use one? Its not a matter of opinion that it has severe limitations such as softness and slowness. At wide open it only has an aperature of 3.5 and due to poor build quality its soft wide open. If its low light there is no way to get good shots.

Photography is about the photographer, but the best photog on earth can't get low light shots with that lens, it would just defy the laws of physics.

I would give it your best and shoot at a high ISO, but that lens will not produce the same results as a 24-70 2.8L ever.

Pro wedding photogs don't have the nice "stuff" just to have it, it is essential to their business. YOu need to have the right tools. Fast lenses and good flashes allow the photographer to work quickly and creatively. Using that gear I know I can get any type of shot I need so I can look for the creative shot rather than worry about just being able to get the exposure.

candlerain

Canon EOS-30D