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07/29/2009 07:26:26 PM · #1 |
| I was asked by some close friends to shoot their son's wedding. During the ceremony, I will not be able to use a flash. Does anyone have any ideas or tips on how to do this? I do have a 50mm 1.4 and the 60mm 2.8 but those are the only really fast lenses that I have. Any ideas would be appreciated. |
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07/29/2009 07:46:45 PM · #2 |
| The only thing I can think of is rent some glass... |
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07/29/2009 07:48:00 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by dknourek:
The only thing I can think of is rent some glass... |
and an extra body. |
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07/29/2009 08:17:47 PM · #4 |
| A lot of it also depends on the location, what type of natural light is available, are there any windows, is there a possibility of setting up a reflector or two on stands to maintain lighting on the couple but stay out of the way but still provide light... |
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07/29/2009 08:57:54 PM · #5 |
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07/29/2009 09:15:24 PM · #6 |
First, are you sure you can't use flash? I shoot a lot of weddings and there have only been a few venues that require no flash. You should ask the church coordinator or priest. Many will let you - they just don't want EVERYONE using flash. After that - faster glass is better. As long as you are white balanced for whatever lighting they do have and you use fast glass you'll be okay.
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07/29/2009 09:29:20 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by idnic:
First, are you sure you can't use flash? I shoot a lot of weddings and there have only been a few venues that require no flash. You should ask the church coordinator or priest. Many will let you - they just don't want EVERYONE using flash. After that - faster glass is better. As long as you are white balanced for whatever lighting they do have and you use fast glass you'll be okay. |
The minister told them that he doesn't want flash photography during the ceremony. He said that he doesn't want people to forget about the seriousness of the event. |
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07/29/2009 09:38:23 PM · #8 |
Rent a D700 or some other full frame body, and shoot at 3200 ISO. That, along with your 2 fast lenses, should work like a charm even in the worst lighting condition. Other than that, you're pretty much outta luck.
Message edited by author 2009-07-29 21:39:17. |
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07/29/2009 09:47:25 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by bmartuch:
Originally posted by idnic:
First, are you sure you can't use flash? I shoot a lot of weddings and there have only been a few venues that require no flash. You should ask the church coordinator or priest. Many will let you - they just don't want EVERYONE using flash. After that - faster glass is better. As long as you are white balanced for whatever lighting they do have and you use fast glass you'll be okay. |
The minister told them that he doesn't want flash photography during the ceremony. He said that he doesn't want people to forget about the seriousness of the event. |
It might also help you to find out if "ceremony" includes the processional and recessional. I try to not use flash during the actually ceremony, but do use flash for those the coming in and going out due to the movement of the bodies. |
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07/29/2009 09:53:41 PM · #10 |
I never use the flash during a wedding, even if its allowed (it seems that most churches in our area prefer that you don't use them, or downright ban their use during services). I take a lot of shots during the ceremony, and I don't think anyone wants to be distracted by the flash going off that many times to begin with.
Fast glass and a bumped up ISO is really the only answer. |
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07/29/2009 10:34:29 PM · #11 |
| And even in you don't use a flash, uncle Bob in the second row will. throughout the ceremony. :P |
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07/29/2009 10:58:03 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by peterish:
Rent a D700 or some other full frame body, and shoot at 3200 ISO. That, along with your 2 fast lenses, should work like a charm even in the worst lighting condition. Other than that, you're pretty much outta luck. |
^ What he said. A D700 would make your 50mm REALLY 50mm, but as long as you're renting, I'd go for a 24-70 f/2.8 and crank up the ISO. |
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07/30/2009 12:11:49 AM · #13 |
Hi Bob,
From the "we do this for friends and are not professionals!" camp - shoot what you can during the ceremony without flash, using high ISO and the glass you have (unless you have a good place to rent lenses from, which would be fun anyway). Ask the official about re-creating parts of the ceremony afterwards where you can, if you wish, use flash or reflectors. Most will do that, and you can set that up to take place just before the couple heads over to the reception. If that's the case, concentrate on those things you can't re-create - the groom waiting at the altar, the bride coming down the aisle, the couple presented to the audience as "man and wife", the couple going back down the aisle. Try to remain as inconspicuous as possible. And as Karma mentioned, tons of friends and relatives will be firing away with ther pocket cameras, and most of those folks will have no idea how to turn off their flash.
And if possible, find a second shooter - that helps immensely! Good luck, and have fun with it!
Oh - a P.S. - chances are these folks are not members of DPC and will not be issuing scores. Capturing the moment is far more important than perfect technicals!
Message edited by author 2009-07-30 00:12:38. |
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07/30/2009 01:42:30 AM · #14 |
what time of day is the wedding and how many windows are in the church? Some churches are very well lit and flash is not needed at all. If you use your 1.4 and bump up the ISO a little bit and use shutter priority you can probably pull it off. Providing the church has a bit of natural light. The one problem you could run into however is shadows which the flash would help to offset. Find out if they are having a rehersal and go take some test shots then. Usually they hold those the evening before so if you get decent results at night the day time shots shouldn't be a problem. Good Luck...
eta: Because the priest stressed how important the day is, The couple should tell the priest that they feel the same which is why they want to make sure they get plenty of quality photos to remember the day and see if he will allow flash to assure that the most important day of their lives is recorded properly. men of the cloth tend to be very nice guys and may allow it at the brides request. Worth a try.
Message edited by author 2009-07-30 01:46:51. |
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07/30/2009 01:44:38 AM · #15 |
Yup that is very true. Originally posted by karmat:
And even in you don't use a flash, uncle Bob in the second row will. throughout the ceremony. :P |
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07/30/2009 05:17:22 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by bmartuch:
Originally posted by idnic:
First, are you sure you can't use flash? I shoot a lot of weddings and there have only been a few venues that require no flash. You should ask the church coordinator or priest. Many will let you - they just don't want EVERYONE using flash. After that - faster glass is better. As long as you are white balanced for whatever lighting they do have and you use fast glass you'll be okay. |
The minister told them that he doesn't want flash photography during the ceremony. He said that he doesn't want people to forget about the seriousness of the event. |
Seriously, tell then NO! If a flash will change the audience's perception of the 'seriousness' of the event, so will having some guy roaming the aisles with a little machine going 'click' 'click' 'click' 'click' 'click' 'click' 'click' 'click'. Walk, no RUN away from this request. |
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07/30/2009 05:19:20 AM · #17 |
| Allow me to reiterate....NO. This will only serve to stress a friendship later on. DO NOT agree to this request. |
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07/30/2009 05:29:38 AM · #18 |
A wedding is supposed to be a happy and joyous event. Some priests have way too many rules. Ask the bride if she could speak with the priest to let him know that she agrees the event is serious but at the same time a joyous occasion. After all, it's a celebration, and should be treated as such. God is not boring, and neither should be the wedding ceremony.
Depending on her communication skills, she should be able to persuade the priest into changing his mind.
Message edited by author 2009-07-30 05:30:37. |
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07/30/2009 06:11:39 AM · #19 |
Or just enjoy the ceremony and set up the shots the couple wishes to have after the ceremony. Hard to get good angles during the ceremony without being intrusive, and if you do everything afterwards, you can light the way you please.
Disclaimer - I am not a professional, and I do shoot weddings for friends. |
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07/30/2009 05:43:02 PM · #20 |
| Thanks all for the help. Now I have some decisions to make. |
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07/30/2009 06:12:03 PM · #21 |
Hey Bob!
So when is the wedding? Do you have plenty of time for research, thought, and planning?
Can you go check out the venue? I've seen churches that are pretty nicely lit, and yeah, some are a lot more dark and brooding. Take your gear and if at all possible, go in at the same time ceremony will be, and take some test shots. Take a friend or 2, so you can really get a good feel if you can get shots or not. Get a grey card and set a custom white balance. That's one thing that can be really funky in there, even if well lit. As people pointed out, you can pose some of your shots afterward, they shouldn't have any problem with using flash or any kind of lighting then. Another thing that can help is a monopod. You will probably be moving around a lot, and fast, a tripod probably wouldn't work, but a good monopod can be useful, especially as it might be kind of tight quarters.
Is it a big wedding Bob? The smaller, and more informal the better! :-)
If you can, meet with the couple a time or two in advance, discuss what style, type of shots etc they want. Any shots that are very important, for example- Aunt Mary is 93, we HAVE to have a shot with her.... etc.
Make a list of specific shots they want, or they may be ones they DON'T want.
Also, meet with the minister beforehand if possible. He may have other 'rules', etc. or even more importantly, some tips or advice (he's probably done this a time or 2) like, this is a good spot to get a shot of the kiss, etc.
Are you doing the reception also?
Try to make friends with the DJ fast. They usually 'MC' the reception, and can be of great help in timing, and getting you time to get the shots.
I don't know if I got anything gearwise that you don't already have covered, but if you you think of something, just let me know. You probably have places that rent lenses around you, but if not, in a pinch, the Camera Shop here does rentals, I've rented there before. |
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