shooting in the dark!

[rcarrigan]

New to the form ! Glad to be here!

Let me start by saying I shot a wedding in July and really goofed up! I have Never shot a wedding in the dark before and it never even occured to me to need something bright to focus on. When the sun set, so did I!!! I was embarrased that I did not know what to do in that situation. Luckily, these were just candids at the reception and they were okay.

So now, I have a new delima... I have a wedding booked for New Years eve. To begin at 8pm in a dark, dark room... the only lighting will be dimmed can lights in the ceiling and candles on the tables... on a personal note, I would think the couple would like to be seen and not be in the dark.

Anyway, I am worried now about how this should be handled. I have done dark receptions before, and they were also okay, but I know we are also doing some stuff outside too... Where I know it will be darker... No street lights either! With the ceremony in the same room as the reception, I know there are gonna be some issues with the lighting.

So ANY suggestions would be great! I have a Canon 10D, with a backup D60. A 550 speedlite, 28-75 f2.8, 17-35 2.8, and 70-300mm 2.8. Even if you think I may need another lens to let in more light?

Thanks in advance!

[Titus213]

Welcome to the forums. I would think you just need a bracket and off-shoe cord. Mount that 550EX and go at it. Bring batteries.

[Jim M]

I used a 10D for several years and did a lot of shooting after dark at drag strips. Compared to my 30D, they aren't the quickest focusing instruments on earth when the light goes down. I used f/1.8 prime lenses after the sun went down, but I didn't have any f/2.8 zooms then either. You may even have to resort to manual focusing. The 550EX has an infrared beam to assist focusing and that will be helpful whether auto focus or manual. I found that setting the camera to use only the central focusing spot made life easier, too.

If you want to upgrade anything, I think I would consider upgrading the camera to a 40D. My 30D is about a gazillion times easier to use than my 10D and I expect the 40D will follow suit. It wakes up almost instantly and focuses much better in low light. It is also very easy on batteries. On a day and night when I would use four or five battery changes with the 10D, I'm going all day and night on one battery with the 30D. I think I've only run the battery down twice with the 30D.

One nice thing is that you have from now until New Year's Eve to practice and test.

[Curtis N]

The good news is that the wedding isn't this weekend. You have a few months to practice and learn.

I think the standard equipment for wedding photogs in these conditions is a camera rotating flash bracket and perhaps a versatile bouncing accessory like the Lumiquest Promax System.

The focus assist light will be a godsend. With it, you can focus on a blank wall in the dark. Without it, you're in trouble. Keep the camera in one shot AF mode so the AF assist light will work.

[rcarrigan]

...
One nice thing is that you have from now until New Year's Eve to practice and test.

I notice alot of folks here wait til the last minute! How silly!! "Help, Im shooting a once in a lifetime thing and I dont have a clue how to do it!" Uh, Maybe, you should just say NO!!! I'm not qualified~???

Well, I am very seriouslly considering the upgrade to the 40D or even a 30D. I have had these forever and felt like there was no need to change because you know as soon as I do- there will be a better one the next week. (kinda like a cell phone - they're jurassic before you get them charged for the first time!) I wish some of the parts were compatible however. Like the battery grip if anything. Arent they a little smaller and made of something different? So while you are giving out help, think a small loan would be appropriate?? ;)

Anyway, I always use manual focus, so I dont think thats going to be a problem and I will definitly play around with the AF assist beam. You say its on the flash itself? I have never noticed it before. I did notice a blinking red light but sometimes I am so oblivious to things. But hey, its a good thing I have you guys to help point that out. Thanks so much.

Oh - Curtis N - thanks to you too. I have a stroboframe super-duper extra heavy duty bracket and Gary Fong's Lightsphere. (used to be a Lumiquest soft box) I have currently given up on the bracket. I found that a gorilla arm didnt suit my tiny body! Lifting/holding what seems like 50lbs for 6 hours... talk about heavy! So now I may be considering his new whale tail. It may do the trick for inside this paticular building. Bouncing light off the back wall may help a great deal.

Any thoughts on using strobes/ softboxes at a wedding?

Thanks!

[Curtis N]

...and Gary Fong's Lightsphere... So now I may be considering his new whale tail.Before you spend more of your hard-earned money on overpriced tupperware, practice with one of these. I have yet to find a more effective device for bounced flash, and the price is hard to beat.

http://performancephoto.smugmug.com/photos/193799451-M.jpg

[cskn0125]

I would just simply suggest getting a bracket and an off cam cord. Your 550 will be able to light up the romm enough I believe.

somewhat off topic, but how did you get your hands on a 70-300 f/2.8...for was that a typo? lol.

Good Luck.

[rcarrigan]

I would just simply suggest getting a bracket and an off cam cord. Your 550 will be able to light up the romm enough I believe.

somewhat off topic, but how did you get your hands on a 70-300 f/2.8...for was that a typo? lol.

Have both - thanks! And yes! OOPS~ That was a big typo. Its a f/4-5.6 tamron. Oh well, only in my dreams.

Curtis N, -- Genius! I will practice with that. Overpriced tupperware huh? Gotta say, whatever it takes to make a living.

[Titus213]

Have both - thanks! And yes! OOPS~ That was a big typo. Its a f/4-5.6 tamron. Oh well, only in my dreams.

Curtis N, -- Genius! I will practice with that. Overpriced tupperware huh? Gotta say, whatever it takes to make a living.

I've got some of that overpriced tupperware myself. It does a decent job in the right environment WITHOUT a bracket. But I have given in and gone to a Stroboframe CameraFlip bracket and Lumiquest ProMax System. It's the really overpriced version of what Curtis N Posted, about 3x the price of the tupperware but it works in nearly all situations.

I do agree, it gets a bit on the heavy side after a while.