PLEASE READ NEED TIPS ASAP

[factoryphoto]

Hi everyone I have no time to waste but in a nutshell I shoot motocross photography for a living it is all I do.. I never do any other type of photos because my money comes from xtreme sports stuff..Anyhow a friend is getting married TODAY at 3:00 pm and something went wrong with there photographer. He knows I can shoot good motox pictures but asked me (more like begged me) to shoot the Wedding today.. I told him I have a race to shoot tonight yada yada, but I can't leave him hanging he said nobody will show day of unless there getting paid 3k plus dollas. SO I said ok I will do.
HERE IS MY QUESTION
The wedding and party are outdoors in there big back yard, I have a Canon Mark II N with Canon 70-200 IS 2.8, 17-40 wide and they have a lens that is a little shorter than my 70-200 n ot sure what but it was L and IS they said so I will use that also... I also have a 550 EX flash.. That said I always always shoot on Manual mode and bump cont and saturation up to make the color of bikes and gear look "wow"

What is a good basic set up I can use with flash (I only use High speed never used any other) and what about Program mode? I read some like shutter priority and other leave it in full auto? I cant justify having 4k camera and just using it like a point N shoot.. But hey that is why I am asking you pros.. I am doing this by myself, the candid stuff should be easy since I shoot 500-800 pictures daily of everything at the races and practices.
People say tttl flash and bounce? Guys any tips regarding set up, sunlight, shade will be so greatly appreciated. I am a little nervous just because I never shot a wedding ever and I cant leave them hanging.

Thank you for any ifo
Hoss

[Ronald S. Jr.]

AV mode, matrix metering, ISO 800 I'd say (depending on how bright it is out), and change up on the aperture. f/4 on the 17-40 and 24-105 will be tough...I'd use the 70-200 all you can for the 2.8 IS. Shoot raw if possible. Point the 550 directly at them, especially if you're outside. Set FEC on flash to around -1.

Make sure they're not expecting a lot, as you told them you've never done it before. I don't like to shoot for family, personally.

[factoryphoto]

Matrix metering?is that the same as center weighted? Im going off my manual lol I dont see matrix metering, and flash in tttl ? I have my camera on A1 servo and single center focus point do you recommend I change to a larger focus points?

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I choose my focus points manually. I tend to shoot in portrait most of the time for a wedding, so I use (going by a 30D/5D) the end focus point as well as the ones just to the sides. I would use single shot focusing...the 1-series is quick enough. AI servo can haunt your dreams.

Center-weighted is fine, although I use CF 4-1 and spot meter where I'd like, and then recompose and focus. You have focus point linked spot metering, so that may work to your advantage as well. Flash in auto E-TTL, yes.

[unforgettablefaces]

Shoot in AV, with as big of an aperature as you can get. Use the flash as little as you can. The 70-200 2.8 should do fine. If you've got an extra $80 and a camera store nearby go get yourself a 50mm 1.8. That will shoot in very low light and probably be the best cheap accessorie you can get. At 3pm you should have quite a bit of light "knock on wood" and the 2.8 and even the 4.0 should do fine. If you're not real familiar with flash I'd try to stay away until it gets late. Good Luck.

[MALI]

Calm down factoryphoto; you can do it. You are already a photographer; there is nothing to be afraid of. I do not think you will have problems with the technical stuff; you know your camera better than us. Maybe more important thing is to catch the emotions. But you should not be a stranger to catching moments either. So you will do just fine. Just focus on the bride and make sure you take nice pictures of her. Be on the lookout for nice backgrounds and do tell people to back off if they are blocking your view or something. You are THE man and you can tell people to get out of your frame if need be. Watch out for harsh flash shadows, too. That's what people are talking about when they say bounce the flash. Use the ceiling, walls, and whatever is in that environment to diffuse the flash light. A lot of people use Aperture priority mode rather than Auto or Program because it allows more ambient light to come in. Since you know how to control the camera in Manual mode, you should not have any problems in this area either. Go have some fun and be sure to come back here and post some pictures.

MALI

[DAVIDJAY]

Yea dude - you're gonna be fine. Seriously, the thing that stresses people out is when they think their is a "right way" and so I wouldn't get bogged down with all that. You have a great gear and you know how to shoot so just go in there with confidence and do what you do out there at the races.

If you can find some open shade for the groups that will give you some more even light but I've shot plenty of groups out in sunlight and they don't know the difference. What they're gonna remember is the experience and the emotions they were feeling when the picture was taken so go out have a good time, Chimp a lot :), and make sure everyone is having a great time - including you!

Rock on!
DJ

[DAVIDJAY]

AV mode, matrix metering, ISO 800 I'd say (depending on how bright it is out), and change up on the aperture. f/4 on the 17-40 and 24-105 will be tough...I'd use the 70-200 all you can for the 2.8 IS. Shoot raw if possible. Point the 550 directly at them, especially if you're outside. Set FEC on flash to around -1.
With all do respect I wouldn't suggest this...being outside at ISO 800, F2.8 with a flash on will give the appearance of a blizzard. :) (unless you're using high-speed sync on your flash with a super fast shutter but no need for going into that)

Shooting AV is good but remember when you turn your flash on the shutter is gonna lock down at 1/250th and if your ISO is that high you're gonna blow everything out.

Again, just go out there and do what you do...check the exposure on the back of the camera and don't feel rushed. You'll do great.

Cheers,
DJ

[Philco]

If you're used to shooting in broad daylight at the races, an outdoor wedding would be a piece of cake. If you're used to shooting manual, all the better - there are a few key moments where you have to think fast, like the processional if the light changes from the end of the aisle to the front. I tend to shoot in AV under those circumnstances and ride the EC dial up or down depending on the background.

I wouldn't recommend fill flash either in this case. If it was on a beach and the blue of the water was super important, then maybe fill flash to preserve background would be worth it it - but here I just say go for the faces, the emotion, and don't stress about the background. Especially for the ceremony. Your job is to capture the people today, not create a spread for a bridal magazine, so don't put that pressure on yourself.

70-200 is wonderful for tight shots of bride's face, the grooms face, the rings, the parents crying in the front row, candids, you name it (f3.2 for me). If you shoot group shots w/ the 17-40, I'd stay on the 40 end. I'm guessing the other lens is a 24-105 - you could just about shoot the whole wedding w/ that lens. I'd be at F4 all day - and have some fun, chimp a lot, - you'll see a few great shots early on in your camera and that will give you some inspiration to keep shooting.

What David Jay said about shade it key for the posed shots.

Good luck!

[liza]

And chimp the heck out of your histogram. :)

[factoryphoto]

Hey guys thank you for the great info.. I guess I should not be to nervous but hey big day for someone and I don't want andything but perfection for them. Ill try out AV and see how they look im sure I will be forced to go manual because its really all I know, I change sometimes every shot in moto its just what I am used too.. Again I appreciate everything I printed this page out so I can have it if I need a reminder :)-
Thanks guys
Hoss

[Ronald S. Jr.]

With all do respect I wouldn't suggest this...being outside at ISO 800, F2.8 with a flash on will give the appearance of a blizzard. :) (unless you're using high-speed sync on your flash with a super fast shutter but no need for going into that)

Shooting AV is good but remember when you turn your flash on the shutter is gonna lock down at 1/250th and if your ISO is that high you're gonna blow everything out.

Again, just go out there and do what you do...check the exposure on the back of the camera and don't feel rushed. You'll do great.

Cheers,
DJ

Whoops! I missed the outdoor part. Heck...the f/4's at 200 ISO should give you a fine shutter speed. I shot an outdoor wedding weekend before last, and I was around f/5.6 at ISO 100 and still getting 1/250 or more.

[liza]

Hey guys thank you for the great info.. I guess I should not be to nervous but hey big day for someone and I don't want andything but perfection for them. Ill try out AV and see how they look im sure I will be forced to go manual because its really all I know, I change sometimes every shot in moto its just what I am used too.. Again I appreciate everything I printed this page out so I can have it if I need a reminder :)-
Thanks guys
Hoss

You'll be fine. I primarily shoot sporting events and have found that my experience with the fast pace of sports translates well to weddings. :)

[Phil Light]

You'll be fine. I primarily shoot sporting events and have found that my experience with the fast pace of sports translates well to weddings. :)

Me too Liza. I shoot for a local high school sports magazine and now that I've got one wedding under my belt (as of one week ago), I guess I can speak with authority on wedding photography. :p Just kidding, but seriously, after shooting sports so much recently I felt a lot more comfortable with the pace of the wedding than I thought I would. I also think I've been bitten by "the bug". I'm really looking forward to doing another wedding now!

BTW - factoryphoto, please post your results!