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DPChallenge Forums >> Business of Photography >> Wedding Photography - Inside the Church
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Showing posts 26 - 48 of 48, (reverse)
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 04/08/2008 01:27:29 PM · #26
I kind of disagree with all the folks saying this is an impossible shoot. show up with your best gear and do it. You have been doing weddings before so Im sure you will think it through and get the best possible images. Its dark... so shoot a ton of shots on each pose and you will get something in focus even with long shutter speeds. Up the ISO, thats what its there for.

I doubt you will dissapoint the bride. If this was a regular paying gig would you turn it down or make it happen?

You will have to shoot w/ long shutter speeds so just plan for it. If it were me I would just make sure all the people know the situation. Do the little things to make sure you maximize every click. Have them hold their breath, open their eyes on your count etc.... You are on a time crunch w/ poor conditions.

This is the kind of gig that seperates the pros from the guy w/ a nice camera. Who said wedding photography was easy?
 04/08/2008 01:29:27 PM · #27
Haha, wow! Hi, and thanks for your responses. My friend Brandon will not be upset with me in the slightest if the pix turn out grainy or dark. His wife-to-be, whatever... she's hard to please anyhow; but, she loved my engagement photos I did of them on the beach... they both love my "style" and the bride said she understands the pix may be dark. She said she'd be happy just to have them. I don't think we'll finish her list in time, nor do I think the pix will be amazing, but they will exist (at least).

They paid for my $350 round trip ticket and that's all they can afford.
There will not be alcohol at the wedding (they don't drink).
They are having a friend (maybe) take some video for some of the big moments.
It's really low key, even though there are 100 guests (including myself).
No DJ (just a laptop/mp3 player).
No traditional MC (her brother will be trying this job on for size).

The fact that this is so low budget and that they are just happy to be getting married makes it alright. I don't think she'll turn into bridezilla, but she will not be as happy as she could be if the limitations were off. She's more of the "do the best you can" type of person...

For me, I want to be as professional as always. I normally shoot with a partner (here in LA), but I have done plenty of weddings alone... none in these conditions, but hey... I might as well do my best and give them something to look back on. At least I have a good tripod and some good lenses. I think I'll go get the 50mm 1.4 even if I don't get my AmEx on time. I don't have the money right now, but I'm beginning to think I would rather have it than not. Hmmm, what can I sell? ;)

Here's what I'm bringing:
Canon 20D
Canon 20D Back Up (yes, I have two)
Canon 24-70mm 2.8L
Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS
Tripod Legs: Bogen - Manfrotto 055XPROB Black Tripod Legs
Tripod Head: Bogen - Manfrotto 804RC2 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head with Quick Release
Canon 580ex Flash (I do not have a back-up) w/extra batteries and a battery charger
Lumiquest Flash Softbox
Lumiquest Flash Gold/Silver on-flash reflectors
Westcott Diffuser Reflector (may use this while bride is getting ready)
Personality, smiles and will power
 04/08/2008 01:34:24 PM · #28
Originally posted by Jmnuggy:
This is the kind of gig that separates the pros from the guy w/ a nice camera. Who said wedding photography was easy?


Thanks Jmnuggy! I agree! I've shot difficult weddings before, but I am always happy with enough shots to show the bride and groom, and they love them! I have never disappointed! In fact, I've come to the rescue at many weddings I've been to (as I almost always had my camera in the car 'just in case'). One wedding, their photogs worked for 4 hours (including the ceremony) and just ate food and left. They hadn't done the bouquet or cake yet. I ran to my car, got my camera, some high grade color film, and ran back inside... this was when I was 21 yrs old. They loved my photos (3 rolls of film) of the rest of the evening more than their 2 pro photogs who took the first 4 rolls (1 roll and hour approx.).

:) I know I can do this. I am excited about it. I just wanted some ideas on how to make it the best it can be. Well, I'll be reporting back in afterward to let you all know how it goes. I'm heading there on the 17th and back on the 20th at night. I'll keep checking this forum up til the wedding for more ideas.

Thanks!
Arie
 04/08/2008 01:41:58 PM · #29
If you were interested in renting something, I have the 35 1.4L that would be $60/week including shipping. The 50 1.4 would be $37 including shipping. If you wanted more than 1, I can definately work something out.
 04/08/2008 10:53:51 PM · #30
From what I read of the situation and the way it was put. I thought you where going there with just a camera and nothing else whatso ever.

Tripod Legs: Bogen - Manfrotto 055XPROB Black Tripod Legs
Tripod Head: Bogen - Manfrotto 804RC2 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head with Quick Release
Canon 580ex Flash (I do not have a back-up) w/extra batteries and a battery charger
Lumiquest Flash Softbox
Lumiquest Flash Gold/Silver on-flash reflectors
Westcott Diffuser Reflector (may use this while bride is getting ready)

I think everyone else thought that to.

Message edited by author 2008-04-08 22:54:51.
 04/09/2008 12:36:57 AM · #31
Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS


I didn't notice this lens before! This is great. Use it with IS and you will get great shots. I'd managed 1/8 with f3.5 with this baby, handholded (with a wall, chair, etc... as pivot). I'm confident in your ability. Very curious to see wath a great lens, a courageus photographer and a challenging situation can produce.

Bings out some shots to us, after the event!
 04/09/2008 05:31:57 AM · #32
goog luck...

gotta love a challenge!
 04/09/2008 08:44:34 AM · #33
Originally posted by GoodEnd:
Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS


I didn't notice this lens before! This is great. Use it with IS and you will get great shots. I'd managed 1/8 with f3.5 with this baby, handholded (with a wall, chair, etc... as pivot). I'm confident in your ability. Very curious to see wath a great lens, a courageus photographer and a challenging situation can produce.

Bings out some shots to us, after the event!


1/8 - well done. I can't get reliable shots below about 1/40 unless I get lucky. The 17-55 2.8 IS I can do 1/5 sec - problem is even a B&G standing at the altar will have motion blur at those shutter speeds from breathing, swaying, looking up at the priest or over at their partner. 1/30 is better, but even then they're not all keepers.

Sometime you just need more light!
 04/09/2008 11:16:42 AM · #34
Originally posted by JulietNN:
From what I read of the situation and the way it was put. I thought you where going there with just a camera and nothing else whatso ever.

Tripod Legs: Bogen - Manfrotto 055XPROB Black Tripod Legs
Tripod Head: Bogen - Manfrotto 804RC2 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head with Quick Release
Canon 580ex Flash (I do not have a back-up) w/extra batteries and a battery charger
Lumiquest Flash Softbox
Lumiquest Flash Gold/Silver on-flash reflectors
Westcott Diffuser Reflector (may use this while bride is getting ready)

I think everyone else thought that to.


I'm not sure that the 580 will be in use? I understood that all flashes and strobes were off limits. If allowed the 580, yer larfing! Toss it on manual, with high output, get a good stand and white poster board or whatever and bounce off that if there's a vaulted ceiling. You can use wireless or a simple sync cord. Not a very expensive setup.

The thing I like about the 50mm f/1.4 in low light is not so much that it is usable at f/1.4, it's that it's unbelievably wicked at f/2.0 with a hair more DOF. The f/1.8 can't even come close. AF response is very, very fast and extremely accurate. You will have time to pick a spot and grab the shot in almost every circumstance. *highly* recommended.
 04/09/2008 11:52:29 AM · #35
I didn't realize that people thought I was going with a camera and lenses only... no photog would do that, would they? Eeek. Anyhow, I will not be able to use my 580ex flash until the reception across the street... no flash in the church (hence, the title of this post).

I can't drag the tripod all over the place in the church either (mostly leaving it in one good spot), but I have a quick release so I can move about pretty damn fast. I'll use the tripod for the formals though! I just hope everyone stays still!

I am going to see if I can pick up that 50mm 1.4. Fredmiranda rates it lower than the 1.8, but the 1.8 is just too noisy! I can't have that going on in a church! :)
 04/09/2008 01:00:30 PM · #36
Two cameras, two lenses - put one on the 'kit' on the tripod and roam with the other. I do this, but then my assistant is with the tripoded camera...
Working on setting up a remote trigger system so that I can put a camera behind the altar. It's not as easy as it should be!
 04/09/2008 01:52:21 PM · #37
Send the bride a link to this forum thread and give her your password so she can read it.
 04/09/2008 06:19:55 PM · #38
I prefer not to include the bride in my photographer to photographer discussions, thank you. :) This is a comfortable place for professionals to chat without fear of judgment. Well, that's how I feel anyhow.

Prof_Fate,
I like the idea of leaving one camera on the tripod. I may do that!
 04/09/2008 07:28:26 PM · #39
How about renting 2 Canon lenses:
Canon 24mm f/1.8
and
Canon 85mm f/1.2

They would work in this situation. One 580EX would be better than nothing but not much...
 04/18/2008 10:29:46 PM · #40
I'm down in FL and guess what?! The pastor is going to let me use flash in his dark church!!! :) Hooray! I'll still post some pix when I get home to LA!
 04/18/2008 11:13:47 PM · #41
that is some good news!!!!!!!!!!!
 04/19/2008 12:46:23 PM · #42
Just a note for all the people suggesting the 1.8's and 1.4's. Now while this will help with the low light situation, it will not help the depth of field. So while the bride may be in focus, I can guarantee the people behind her even if it is just a little, will not be in focus. Also you are going to get some serious shadow if you are not using a fill flash. You may want to take a reflector to try to get some light back on their faces. Just get one of the guests to hold it since you can't have an assistant.

Travis
 04/20/2008 01:52:30 AM · #43
I was able to use a flash, and I used my 16mm-35mm mostly, with a few shots taken at 24mm-70mm and even fewer at 70mm-200mm. I have some post processing to do with the terrible fluorescent lights, even though I metered the bride's dress for white balance. Still, shots came out really great! :)
 04/20/2008 02:55:15 PM · #44
That's good news! The stress is over, which is even better.
04/21/2008 08:05:16 PM · #45
So, upon editing the pix, I realized that the ones I like best were taken with A-DEP setting, more so than those taken with f11. Very odd. I'd never used it before at a wedding, but I had to fly through the pix without time for review, so I just switched to that after awhile, and so many more formals were in focus in this dark church! Hmmm. Anyone have any experience with this? Do you prefer f11 for groups or a-dep? Just curious what you all use. f11 is my tried-and-true, but I had to get through 40 group photos in 20 minutes!

:) Arie

They came out very well by the way!
04/21/2008 11:09:19 PM · #46
I have had a similar experience where I had to shoot the actual ceremony without flash and a 1.4 manual lens. I tend to focus a little beyond where I actually need to put the focus, which is critical with a 1.4 aperture. They loved the existing light shots anyway, so everyone came out smiling in the end. I have been looking at an after market focusing screen, with the split prism in it like the older film SLR's that I used to shoot with.

Show us a couple of shots if it would be ok with the wedding party.
04/22/2008 01:47:57 AM · #47
Originally posted by mirdonamy:
So, upon editing the pix, I realized that the ones I like best were taken with A-DEP setting, more so than those taken with f11. Very odd. I'd never used it before at a wedding, but I had to fly through the pix without time for review, so I just switched to that after awhile, and so many more formals were in focus in this dark church! Hmmm. Anyone have any experience with this? Do you prefer f11 for groups or a-dep? Just curious what you all use. f11 is my tried-and-true, but I had to get through 40 group photos in 20 minutes!

:) Arie

They came out very well by the way!


Wow. If you were able to pull off f/11, then the church wasn't nearly as dark as it originally sounded.

Congratulations on a successful wedding.

Edit: I noticed now you probably meant only for the formals, so they were probably lit. Even still, did you get a big group at f/11 and only one strobe?

Message edited by author 2008-04-22 01:49:01.
 04/22/2008 02:18:56 AM · #48
I had a large group of people to shoot during the formals. All the church lights were on, and I was using my 580ex flash only. I still had some focus issues though, but the a-dep helped a lot! I often had to stop open to f4 for the larger groups, but I wanted the DOF of the f11 when possible. It wasn't easy, as I had so little time to get each photo ready. The church ended up letting me use flash... don't know how the couple convinced them of this, but they made it happen! :)
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