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04/25/2008 03:50:23 PM · #1 |
| Question about reception lighting and flashes. Do you use remote flashes set up at the reception? If so how many? Do you bounce them or point them in a specific location? Any pointers or tips would be appreciated! Thanks. |
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04/25/2008 04:08:09 PM · #2 |
Personally I haven't done this yet, but I recently bought a second SB-800 so I might try it to some extent with upcoming weddings.
Once place I've always envisioned it being handy is for the throwing of the garter/bouquet. The bride is always right in front of me, but the people are a good distance behind her, typically in bad lighting as they're trying to catch stuff. I may experiment with sticking the other SB-800 on a tripod to light them for this tradition. |
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04/25/2008 04:19:57 PM · #3 |
| I have also not yet used a second flash for weddings I generally rely on my one sb-800 and higher ISO for the reception... sometimes in some venues in not practical and othertimes it's simply not wanted. I would talk to your bride and make sure... |
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04/26/2008 03:48:59 PM · #4 |
I have 2 SB800 but most of the times the second one is lying in the 2nd camera.
For the reception/church I use a conbination of fast appertures and slow sync rear curtain flash. For example f1.4-1.8 at 1/30sec and iso between 200-800. Sometimes if I want more light in the background I use a slower sync speed and the flash will freeze the motion. If a good light is present I forget about the flash, pump up the iso and use point measure for exposure.
After the ceremony I always try to do some photos of the couple when the light is more pleasent, and at this time I always use the second sb800 in a light stand with an umbrella.
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04/26/2008 04:15:22 PM · #5 |
Can't hurt to use more lights creatively...although it might make you concentrate more on your setting than on the actual action...
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04/26/2008 05:11:51 PM · #6 |
I'll use slaves at the reception ... mostly I use them during the dancing or the bouquet toss. You can see some examples here.
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04/26/2008 05:28:25 PM · #7 |
we set up 4 flashes at the reception. 1 at each corner of the dance floor. Each is fired by a pocket wizard set on a different channel. We just dial the pocket wizard on our cameras to the channel for the light we want to fire. Sometimes we will set the channel for 2 opposite corners to the same channel to get cross-lighting.
If the venue has nice light colored ceilings, we will point the flashes up at the ceiling and use it as a giant softbox. Light bounces all over the place and it is quite nice. If the ceilings are too high or too low, we'll just angle them down toward the dance floor.
For the rest of the shots, not on the dance floor, sometimes we can get lucky with the venue and our lights will provide enough fill for the other areas too. If not, well, 1600 or 3200 ISO is a blessing.
We both have a camera mounted flash we put on for the "leaving the reception" shots. |
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04/26/2008 05:41:29 PM · #8 |
I will vary between 1 and 3 580EX's for the reception. Most cases I can get away with just one flash with the lightsphere for guest shots etc. But when they drop those lights and dance, throw bouquet, garter and cake.....that is when my offsider will bring in another 580EX on a battery pack and a light sphere. He knows to watch who I am going after and will accomodate the angle and position correctly. I never stay still so he has to be on the ball. And the shots come up a treat. I have tried putting a third on slave on the opposite side when needed to....but I prefer not to rely on this as I feel it ties to me to set angles.
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04/26/2008 06:58:39 PM · #9 |
| I guess its all a matter of style. I use natural light as much as possible. Otherwise I use one flash on a bracket and/or one flash held by an assistant aimed at the ceiling. The shot itself dictates which of the three I use, and the assistants flash is on remote so I can send him across the room, standing on a chair, away from a mirror, wherever. |
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04/27/2008 02:09:11 PM · #10 |
| Thanks for the responses everyone. Lots of great ideas I'll check into! |
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04/27/2008 02:32:22 PM · #11 |
Out of curiosity. Don't photos with slave flashes take away from the original ambiance of the reception? It seems to me that a delicate balance of soft fill should be all that is necessary to get the right moment. It seems to me that too many slaves, especially around the corner of the rooms creates an atmosphere as if the lights of the hall were turned on.
I ask only because I'm trying to learn what others like, in comparison to what I like. For me, I like to preserve as much of the moment as possible, including lighting. Of course every photographer is different; I'm just opening this question for discussion. |
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04/27/2008 02:38:33 PM · #12 |
I rigged my slave to sit on a tripod during the reception. I can move it around whenever I need, for special shots, but most of the time it hangs out in a corner pointed in the general direction of the dance floor.
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04/27/2008 05:50:34 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by PGerst:
Out of curiosity. Don't photos with slave flashes take away from the original ambiance of the reception? It seems to me that a delicate balance of soft fill should be all that is necessary to get the right moment. It seems to me that too many slaves, especially around the corner of the rooms creates an atmosphere as if the lights of the hall were turned on.
I ask only because I'm trying to learn what others like, in comparison to what I like. For me, I like to preserve as much of the moment as possible, including lighting. Of course every photographer is different; I'm just opening this question for discussion. |
Here is a photo I did from a wedding less than 2 weeks ago. As you can see with the high ceilings and the lack of light...I had my offsider stand behind the group of women to backlight them with the slave flash. If you look closely you can see the red rose boquet in the middle of the ceiling near the lights.
Message edited by author 2008-04-27 17:51:26.
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04/27/2008 06:40:21 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by Judi:
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Cool picture!
Curious, how did you trigger your slave? Hidden behind someone like that, Canon's flashes aren't very reliable. That's the main reason I'm getting the Radio Poppers, so that I can reliably trigger the flash behind someone when it's too far off to the side to see my flash.
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04/28/2008 10:14:18 PM · #15 |
I use 3 sb600's on cheap tripod like mounts i built that are about 7 ft tall, and I place them in the darker areas of the indoor halls, then I may have one mobile flash that I use/ carry just in case the action goes where I did not predict. Assistants help with placement....
^ as to the dependability of canon flashes, I used to have this problem too (sometimes still do). But I have found that indoors, it is more reliable to aim the sensor toward a white wall than toward yourself.... if the flash will not be in direct line of sight. |
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04/28/2008 10:25:37 PM · #16 |
A ceiling can never be too high, however a ceiling can be too low lol
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