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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Wedding to shoot tonight!! HELP!!!
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04/30/2005 05:20:40 PM · #1
I'm shooting my brothers wedding tonight. I'm a videographer but also an amateur photographer. I'm able to use a flash during the ceremony so I want to know what aperature you wedding professionals would use. For portrait photography and flash equipment, I would normally use an aperature of F8 and a shutter speed of 1/125. Should I use the same for weddings?

I'm using a canon 10d, a flash bracket, a tamron 28-75 di lens, and a canon ex550 flash. I was going to use a canon 70-200L but I'm going to be way too close to use it.

All suggestions would be majorly appreciated!!!

Thanks,
Eric
04/30/2005 05:55:06 PM · #2
I can't give you any suggestions on settings for your camera, other than to do some test shots ahead of time if you can and see how they look.

Also, be very aware of where you are standing while taking the shots. Look at the background, the alter, etc. Make sure there are no odd things that will look like they are popping out of someone's head or shoulders. And find out if you can get behind the minister so you can get some nice shots of their faces during the ceremony. Will you be able to move around or will you be restricted to one area?

Hope it all goes well!
04/30/2005 05:55:47 PM · #3
Well, first off, i would highly recommend NOT getting too close to the bride and groom during the ceremony. Nothing worse than people watching you, and not the bride and groom. Step back, and put that 70-200 on. I would try to use indirect flash (bounce) if at all possible. Even if it means opening up your aperature to 2.8 You do not want harsh shadows on their face ar behind them by directing the flash. Also, by opening up your aperature, more light will get in, creating a better exposed background. You still want the background to be a little underexposed, but not pitch black. Since i'm not in the building, i can't tell what the light is like, so your gonna have to figure out the proper exposure when your there.
Good luck!
E
04/30/2005 07:05:23 PM · #4
Originally posted by ericlimon:

Step back, and put that 70-200 on. I would try to use indirect flash (bounce) if at all possible.

Not enough room :(

Originally posted by ericlimon:

Even if it means opening up your aperature to 2.8

I don't think I want to open up to 2.8 because I don't want to worry about a shallow DOF.

But if i use ISO400, do you think it will come out too grainy?

04/30/2005 07:53:34 PM · #5
I shot one today, and how close you get really depends on the event/venue. For example, the one I did today was in romatically lit chapel with only approximately 30 guests (if that). At some times I stood directly behind groomsmen to shoot over their shoulders and surprisingly people commented on how unobtrusive I was. My aperature was usually around 4 but usually I got in close for family couple shots and never had the opportunity to do large group outside family shots The largest groups I had were only about 6. Overall it was a smash! I loved doing this one since it was so small, I actually had family members coming up to ask me if I was part of the family and shooting pro-bono. Actually I was shooting for free so me and another photographer can get experience shooting weddings but to actually be treated as "part of the family" was really nice (we even went for lunch after).
04/30/2005 08:09:40 PM · #6
I've never shot weddings, but something to think about: the flash distance is very dependent on your aperture. If you're not close to your subjects, f/8 might be too dark. It depends on the lighting there of course, but I'd suggest trying something around f/4 - f/5.6, ISO as low as possible. ISO 400 shots, if properly exposed should be fine, especially when printed.

I usually use the highest flash sync possible and the flash white balance setting so that my exposure is not influenced by ambient lighting, but if you're shooting raw, that shouldn't matter.

Take all of this with a grain of salt, b/c like I said, I've never done a wedding before. Just suggestions.
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