wedding lighting.

[mids1999]

I kow the common sense says don't do it your an amature but two friends of mine are getting married and want me to take the pictures. They cant afford a professi9onal.
I will write a contract out stating that I am not a professional and that I am an amature and all I can promise to them is that I will try to do my best.

I need advise on a full lighting setup and backdrop.
I am looking to spend 3-500 or less. Needs to be capable of taking a photo with 8 people in it.

Flash photos are ok during the ceremony and reception.
I am thinking about getting the Sigma EF-500 DG super E-TTL II.

Both ceremony and reception will be held in the same room in the restaurant.
I went there and took some practice pics and the average exposure was 1/60 @ f6.8 on a 50mm f1.4 usm.

Current equipment listed in sig.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

with your budget, strobes are out. Step back, use a flash, and have fun. It's all you can do. If you're not using a tripod, be careful of that exposure. 1/60 is awfully close for a 50mm lens. Now, I have a question. Not that the Sigma flash isn't capable, but if you can spend 500 bucks (I know..just because you can doesn't mean you should), why not get something nice that you're gonna want to use again? I'd get myself a 430 EX with a Custom Brackets CB Junior, off camera shoe cord, and a bunch of rechargeable AA's (Energizer 2500 mah nimh). Here's how the price breaks down.

430 EX- $240
CB Junior- $110 (with anti-twist plates)
OCSC2- $50
AA's- $30


That's $430, and that seems like a lot, but don't feel bad...that's the nice, "cheap" way out, without sacrificing on quality. The bracket is machined aluminum, not flimsy plastic like some of the strobos and what not.

As for a backdrop....backdrop?! Gotta be a decent place to take the shot without blowing $100 or more on a backdrop for a single event. Plus, you'll need something to hold it up. No way...just find a pretty spot.

[mids1999]

Is the 430ex is better then the sigma?

The CB junior looks interesting.

I know you said with my price range that strobes are out but I was just wondering how many w/s would be needed for this situation?
The most people I would be shooting at one time is 8 the 4 men are all medium build (150 - 175 lb) and the 4 women are all small - medium build (110 - 130lb) . The room has little ambient light no open windows and dim overhead lighting. average exposure was 1/60 @ f6.8 on a 50mm f1.4 usm.

[LightInspire]

I use a stroboframe flip flash (cheaper and does the job) plus for close quarters I use a bounce card on my flash attached to the hotshoe. Background is a twist flex (7x8 size) propped up against the wall or if needed, on a 9 ft lightstand (30 bucks on ebay) and a $2.00 clamp to clamp the backdrop to a lightstand.
If in close quarters like the dressing room, etc I use a flash on hotshoe with a bounce card.

[airfrogusmc]

Rent equipment. Its cheep and you can get exactly what you need.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Rent equipment. Its cheep and you can get exactly what you need.

I, for one, don't have a local store that rents gear. I assume most do?

[Heatseeker99]

Rent equipment. Its cheep and you can get exactly what you need.
That would require a good bit of time & practice to learn. I'm not sure he has that sort of time.

I would get a 580EX and a Lumiquest ProMax System (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/32580-REG/LumiQuest_LQ931D_ProMax_System.html) .
(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/32580-REG/LumiQuest_LQ931D_ProMax_System.html) (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/32580-REG/LumiQuest_LQ931D_ProMax_System.html)
and start reading some tutorials http://www.planetneil.com/faq/flash-techniques.html
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=171657

Go early, practice, get a spare battery, and buy more CF cards if you don't already have at least 4GB's.

[mids1999]

Wel for time I have until the end of Sept 2008.
I will be looking into off camera flashes using brackets more.

Do you think I should look into strobist system for the formals.
Seems like it might fit into my budget .

Does anyone know where I could find out about renting equiptment either in central NJ or near Scranton PA?

[LightInspire]

There is no place in this entire state of WV that rents equipment. Or do what I am going to do, but a large "flip it"..I'm trashing my lightspheres.

[cbjetboy]

I did a wedding when I first started and used my 580EX with a Gary Fong Lightsphere. I used my 70-200 2.8L IS lens. Your nifty should give good results with no flash for most of the ceremony and you can use a flash for the formals. You have plenty of time to save up for a 430 or 580EX flash. You need a flash whether or not you do the wedding IMHO. I LOVE my Gary Fong Lightsphere. Here are a few of examples of a beginner (myself) with only a flash. Go easy guys...it was my FIRST wedding shoot. Hope this helps. P.S. They get what they pay for. I'm sure they will be happy to get ANY of the images you take.

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/5469520-lg.jpg
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/5469523-lg.jpg
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/5469525-lg.jpg

[ItsMike]

How do you like the Gary Fong? I was going to buy it, My local camera Shop had it for $60 I think.. (The round one, not the one with the Diffrent tops)

[cbjetboy]

How do you like the Gary Fong? I was going to buy it, My local camera Shop had it for $60 I think.. (The round one, not the one with the Diffrent tops)

I really like it. You can get it through B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/435140-REG/Gary_Fong_LS2_C4_C4_Lightsphere_II_Inverted.html for $49. I have the original one. It is clear with a frosted cap. You can also go to http://store.garyfonginc.com/liiido.html for the one I have. It is $49 also. I highly recommend it. It works great.

[ItsMike]

I will look into it again.. Thanks.

[picturecrazy]

backdrop? Why would you want one of those for a wedding? It's useless imo.

for an indoor setup, a 430EX will do the job just fine. Bounce it off the ceiling, it's easy. You can get a lot more creative but keep it safe and simple. I wouldn't even need a bracket, just twist the head upwards when you shoot in portrait orientation.

Also, why are you shooting at F/6.3? (I assume you meant 6.3 and not 6.8) That means you could shoot at 1/500 at F/2.2. Which really means you can do it without flash. Either that or turn down your ISO to get a cleaner image. Keep in mind you cannot go over 1/200 with flash on your camera. Are you sure you are ready to do a wedding?

[mids1999]

I dont have much choice but to do the wedding for the my Friends.

Why the backdrop well because the B&G requested it in the case that the formals need to be taken inside. There is some nice landscape outside the building but inside is petty plain.
Everything is being done in a simple reception hall which is not an elaborate place by any means.

I used the 1/60 f/6.3 just to describe the average light condition. I know I can open up to shoot faster.
I don't have a lux meter.
Thanks for pointing out the misprint.

I also forgot to add one very important piece of the puzzle, the ISO was set to 1600 for max sensitivity but I would much rather shoot at 400 or maybe 800 max.

i greatly appreciate any and all advice that anyone gives me.

[ed.]

If you opened it up, wouldn't you be able to shoot @ a lower ISO?
Are you getting paid for it?

You've got enough time to have a stab @ DIY backdrops if you're a hands on person.

[JMHPhotography]

You're gonna be doing a lot of running around with only a 50mm lens. (I know you have the kit, but I would only use that when taking the big group shots of tables and such). If I were you... I'd get a flash with the capability to do direct and bounced flash combined, like the Metz 54 MZ4 or the newer 58 AF-1. Both are very powerful and will allow you to use a combination light pattern which will bounce the main light up off the ceiling and has a smaller flash for direct fill. I get a similar effect using two flashes in wireless ETTL mode ratio'd 1:2 to 1:4. I have a pair of Sigma Supers and together they do wireless TTL pretty well. But you can get a similar effect with one gun, under the budget you have. I'd also take and invest in a longer lens. The 28-105mm can be had used for about $150.00 and it's FANTASTIC! Very under-rated lens. That 50-105mm will come in handy. FORGET THE BACKDROP!!! you won't have time to be messing with that thing. Find some area on the grounds to do your formals. Let the couple look at the photos 20 years from now and remember where they were when they had them taken. If you really want to do a backdrop... I'd just go to the fabric store and get a big sheet of black cloth and tape it up to a wall somewhere. Hopefully they won't have to do them indoors... but a decent background will cost you a bit of money. The cheapest one I own was $86.00 from Ebay.

[LightInspire]

If you get the lightsphere make sure it fits. I have both cloudy and clear and when my flash tube went bad I went and got the 580ex II and guess what..there is no LightSphere to fit it...I'm stuck...Gary Fong's support told me I'd have to get a whale tail..that costs too much and naturally they would try to sell me the newest thing..I want a lightsphere but they don't make them to fit the 580ex II so I either have to use a bounce card or the flip it.

[cbjetboy]

If you get the lightsphere make sure it fits. I have both cloudy and clear and when my flash tube went bad I went and got the 580ex II and guess what..there is no LightSphere to fit it...I'm stuck...Gary Fong's support told me I'd have to get a whale tail..that costs too much and naturally they would try to sell me the newest thing..I want a lightsphere but they don't make them to fit the 580ex II so I either have to use a bounce card or the flip it.

Why won't it fit? Is it too small or too large? When I use mine I tape it to the light with some clear packing tape or electrical tape. I used to bump it and it would come loose. With them taped I do not worry. If it is too small...maybe you can Exacto knife the little fingers off of the inside lip and it would slide on. What model are yours for?

[SilverOnemi]

well unless you like the solid feel of the 430EX, or thinking about beating the hell out of the flash... i would gget the metz 58 which is arround the same price of the 430EX ( i think ) and it's even better than the 580EX, and A mode actualy works.

here is a review by pacAce :

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=268574

[LightInspire]

Hummm..I'll check and see if I can do that. Mine is the P2 size, for the Promaster 7500
dx..I now have the 580ex II and it is too small..

[fivegallon]

Wel for time I have until the end of Sept 2008.
I will be looking into off camera flashes using brackets more.

Do you think I should look into strobist system for the formals.
Seems like it might fit into my budget .

Does anyone know where I could find out about renting equiptment either in central NJ or near Scranton PA?

Maybe i'm missing something here?
You say you have until end of Sept 2008 right.
And your friends can't afford a professional?
THEY have until end of Sept 2008 also right?
That's some 60+ weeks if i'm not mistaken
They can't put aside a few dollars each week to get a professional photog but they're not worried about what you can/can't fit into YOUR budget?

:confused:

[mids1999]

The fact that this person is a good friend of mine and can not afford a photographer puts me in an interesting position that I kind of like.

My friend wants me to photograph their wedding and its always been a dream of mine to get into professional photography. So both of us are getting something out of the deal.

I am not working with a max budget but rather one that I feel comfortable taking a chance with that could possibly lead me into a dream position.

I look at it this way. I not yet equipped to work with a pro as an assistant but my friend needs a photographer nut cant afford one (to be honest I know their financial situation and I really dint know how thy are even paying for the wedding) My friend thinks I am good and I think that If I do a good job I will have something substantial to show what I am capable of. If not well lets just say that my friend knows that they did not hire a pro and did not pay for it. And expects nothing more then p&s quality photos.

I have a decent background in natural light photography but never did professional or much flash work. I also have a computer background and am quite familiar with photoshop.

[vic6string]

I would actually consider getting a couple of nice potted plants and maybe a wooden arch from Home Depot. It will look nicer than a backdrop if you pretty it up a bit, it will cost about the same, and if you never use a backdrop again, at least it can decorate your yard. I know I am not ready for a wedding shoot, but if I had a couple of friends and their only other choice because of budget is to have Uncle Bob shoot it with his P&S, I would probably take the gig too. Good luck.

[rammy]

I was a guest at a friends wedding recently, they had a pro already booked, I was shooting mostly candids and some formals. My advice would be a decent flash, good quality, fast zoom lenses and technically able with a decent photographers eye.

I think the last bit is very important because if you shoot RAW you can always correct exposure. If you miss the focusing or have poor framing or composition then you may not be able to "rescue" the shot. The last bit comes from experience and skill, you can't "buy" it.

You say that they only expect P&S shots. Well that is aiming low isn't it. For my own satisfaction and personal gratification (especially if I want to use the pics in my portfolio) I would do all I can to do the best I can.

Good luck.

[LightInspire]

With the advent of CS3, you don't need to shoot raw anymore...save card space and cards..go with jpeg and get cs3 and process them in the raw module..you will be amazed. I can get a 4 stop difference of out a jpeg with cs3.