Rebel Wedding Photos

[new girl on the bloc]

My sister wants me to do her wedding photos next week. I've made it quite clear that I am not a wedding photographer and that it's not even my thing. But due to lack of $$ she has asked that I do just a couple of formals (I'm excited to do the candid informal behind the scenes stuff!). So, what's a sister to do, but acquiesce.

I am still getting to know my rebel so would love expert help from those of you who can tell me about settings, etc. I recently purchased a 550Ex but have not played with it much at all. :?

Any help is so much appreciated! :wink:

[robertwgross]

Probably the best thing that you can do for your sister is to find somebody else to shoot the wedding. That would be somebody who has done it before. Agree to shoot the informal stuff, because that is what you can do.

If a pro photographer is not in the budget, then at least find somebody who has shot weddings before. I say this since there is a huge responsibility in shooting a wedding.

---Bob Gross---

[Spargo]

I'm a noob too but let me see if I could give some pointers. It's obvious you have a big flash so lighting shouldn't be an issue. In that case I'd recommend using a fairly high shutter speed to avoid blurring. Since you're new, try the camera in full auto if you want to shoot JPEG. If you want to shoot RAW, I'd recommend using Tv, or Aperture Priority. You select the shutter speed and it auto-selects the aperture. Also I would recommend using ONLY the center dot in the viewfinder. Hold the shutter half way down then press the zoom in button in the top right. Use the wheel by the shutter until only the center dot in the viewfinder is lit up. This prevents from accidentally focusing on the wrong subject. Just always put your subject in the center dot. :)

[aam1234]

Some thoughts from a novice.

I think your biggest challenge is "light". Since you have the 550EX, then you are half way there. So what I think you should concentrate on is how you are going to bounce the flash for a nice & natural photos.

Judging from the no. of posts you make here, it seems you don't have a problem with composition (not an accurate measure if you see my photos :D ).

Just some thoughts.

[johneo]

My sister wants me to do her wedding photos next week. I've made it quite clear that I am not a wedding photographer and that it's not even my thing. But due to lack of $$ she has asked that I do just a couple of formals (I'm excited to do the candid informal behind the scenes stuff!). So, what's a sister to do, but acquiesce.

I am still getting to know my rebel so would love expert help from those of you who can tell me about settings, etc. I recently purchased a 550Ex but have not played with it much at all. :?

Any help is so much appreciated! :wink:

I was asked by my niece and her fiance to shoot their wedding back in July. I told them No Thanks! I've never shot a wedding and hate shooting people.

They insisted and I said ok but for them not to expect much.

They also asked a friend to use their 10D and between the two of us they figured they would have some decent shots.

I went early and took a lot of practice shots of the people setting the place up (wedding and reception was held in the same hall). Shawn had made a list of shots that one would expect to take at a wedding (good idea because if you've never done it, it comes in handy ... if you need it I'll type it in and give a link ... if I can find it :? )

If the wedding and reception is inside, get used to how the flash works. If outside be sure the sun is right and, as I did, still use the flash. (the friend didn't use a flash outside and shadows are terrible. mine came out OK)

One comment they made was how well I framed the shots and was patient enough to wait until everyone was posed. Then I'd take a series of shots.

Also, as I was told, don't think twice of getting in someones way to get a shot. Their view is blocked for a few seconds ... you may lose a shot that will be appreciated for years to come and it is for the married couple.

I didn't think I'd like doing it but I ended up having fun. It can be tiring though. Lucky for me, after the dinner I got to play the Uncle again and the friend stayed on as the photographer.

[natalka]

Some tips...
If possible on the DRebel, use the FEL.
Put the camera on P mode (for professional ;) ), ISO 400.
Play around with AV or Tv settings at the later end of the reception, on shot you don't care if they don't come out.

Natalka

[Malaxos1]

I have done quite a few weddings in the past two years and have done around 15 since the begging on this year. I am getting a reputation here in Portland and people are seeking me out. I have even been flown to Sanfransisco back in May. I am not trying to toot my own horn but just trying to establish my self as someone ewho does know a little bit about wedding photography. I use a D60 right now and will be getting a 20D as soon as they are available, but I did use the D Rebel last year for about 10 weddings, oh and I shot the SF wedding with it as well. The thing that I am concerned with mostly for you is that you said that you are "still getting to know my rebel". One thing that has really helped me is that I know my camera, very well. I know what it can and can not handle and how it will behave in every situation. There are some shots that I have not even taken because I knew I was wasting my time. Also I have read as much about wedding photography as I could first and have taken a course at a local community college. Eevn now I have teamed up with a local pro and joined him on a few of his wedding jobs so that I can learn more. I will tell you, I think P mode may work well for you. It definitley will just get you by though as shooting manually will really allow for more creativity. Watch the highlights in the dress, you don't want to blow them out. Get a flash bracket to avoid redeye and eliminate most shaddows. Shoot at ISO 400 (actually shoot at an ISO that will allow for fast shooting as to avoid blur and that will not be too grainy). A trypod is a pian in the but, but it is a must. Anyway, you can email if you have more questions...Dean

[Ronin]

Tell the happy couple to let relatives know that they should leave the P&S's at home. You don't want Uncle Fred getting in the way.

[Malaxos1]

My sister wants me to do her wedding photos next week. I've made it quite clear that I am not a wedding photographer and that it's not even my thing. But due to lack of $$ she has asked that I do just a couple of formals (I'm excited to do the candid informal behind the scenes stuff!). So, what's a sister to do, but acquiesce.

I am still getting to know my rebel so would love expert help from those of you who can tell me about settings, etc. I recently purchased a 550Ex but have not played with it much at all. :?

Any help is so much appreciated! :wink:


Hey I just noticed that you are in Oregon as well. MAybe I can give you a hand...Dean

[gillyworld]

A few bits of advice which I was given when I was asked to do a wedding:

Plan the who will be in each group shot in advance and create a list.

Get someone with a loud voice to organise the groups on your list so that you can concentrate on the Photography.

Watch the background!! Unsightly signs, wall fixtures or buildings can ruin a picture.

Reccie the locations in advance, and for the outside shots note the position of the sun at the time you will be shooting, that will give you ideas as to where you will position the subjects.

Don't overdo the fill-in flash, have a practice first and play with the settings.

I did all these things and the results were excellent. Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!

Good luck!

Alan

[briangig]

I would think a nice gift to her would be to hire a pro...I wouldnt want to be concentrating on that when I should be concentrating on the wedding/reception.

[robertwgross]

I would think a nice gift to her would be to hire a pro...I wouldnt want to be concentrating on that when I should be concentrating on the wedding/reception.

Professional wedding photographers don't grow on trees. There are a few that charge more than $5K. There are lots that charge $2K-$4K. My theory is that there is an untapped market for weddings in the $1K-$1.5K range. Lots of couples are getting married "on a shoestring".

That may be out of the budget, still.

---Bob Gross---

[new girl on the bloc]

thank you for all of your replies, ideas and expertise! you are all appreciated!

not doing it for my sister is not an option, thus the reason i put out this call for help. i take pretty decent photos, but being put on the spot to perform is a different thing.

i will play around and try things out. i am doing rehersal photos which will help get me prepared. i'll let you all know in a few weeks all it all went!

thanks again! :D

[Ogrt48]

Just do your best, you're doing them a favor and they'll most likely be very greatfull for your work.

[Cordell]

My advice is to go to the rehearsal. That will give you a very short practice session and you can make a game plan from there. You will know where everyone is or should be at any given point.

As for your camera and flash I would say if the walls are not dark colors or too high bounce that flash like crazy while shooting and shoot in "P" mode. However, be careful because P mode takes into account the ambient light and you have to watch your shutter speeds. Also give the flash time to recycle or you will end up with tons of underexposed images.

Find out if you can use flash during the ceremony. If you can use it. If you can't don't let the shutter speed go below 60s and lean on a wall, pew, or whatever as often as you can. RELAX, RELAX, RELAX.

There is so much more to say to all of this, but there is only so much room here to explain. Whatever you do let them know this will be difficult and to NOT expect the worlds most beautiful wedding photos (unless you are a lucky lottery winner with all your shots :? ).

Oh yeah, I would strongly suggest that you take waaaaaaayyyyyyy more pictures than you think you will need. If your success rate is only 10%, that gives you 100 good ones out of a 1,000. If you have the CF cards shoot RAW and forget about JPEG. Not that JPEG is bad but weddings can surprizingly put a lot of preasure on you while shooting. People think it's easy. It can be a mid-high preasure job.

Cordell

[rpmx]

I havent seen what lens you have for the Rebel.

[jonnyhorizon]

don't forgat lots of batteries and a plug in charger and extra memory cards
a laptop for offoad might be nice if memory cards run out but time is an issue
...

[robertdrake]

When I read the subject line, I thought you meant something like this:

http://www.loc.gov/bicentennial/proimage/ky-1-8.jpg

[rsnadel]

Anyone else think that if she doesn't have one, she might also consider spending $17 to buy an Omni-Bounce for the new flash? Here's the link to B&H's Sto-fen product for this specific flash:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=89908&is=REG

[new girl on the bloc]

Anyone else think that if she doesn't have one, she might also consider spending $17 to buy an Omni-Bounce for the new flash? Here's the link to B&H's Sto-fen product for this specific flash:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=89908&is=REG

Time does not allow for this great idea. Perhaps I could make one?

[Mark Kemp]

As the brides sister, I expect that you will be needed for hand holding, giggling, doing hair and a whole bunch of other girlie stuff. So make sure you prepare the camera, charge the batterires etc the night before.

Also, don't forget to get at least one picture of a relative dancing in an embarrassing manner at the recpetion.

But, as the brides sister you really should enjoy the day and make sure that the bride does too - which is probably more important than the photos.

[new girl on the bloc]

As the brides sister, I expect that you will be needed for hand holding, giggling, doing hair and a whole bunch of other girlie stuff. So make sure you prepare the camera, charge the batterires etc the night before.

Also, don't forget to get at least one picture of a relative dancing in an embarrassing manner at the recpetion.

But, as the brides sister you really should enjoy the day and make sure that the bride does too - which is probably more important than the photos.

:) thanks for the reminder ~ and its true, i want to enjoy the celebration rather than being stuck behind a lens. she has assured me that she is only really interested in a really good one of the bride and groom. I can do that!

[robertwgross]

[
... she has assured me that she is only really interested in a really good one of the bride and groom. I can do that!

Then study the shot on the rear display and on the histogram after you get the B&G, and don't leave the room until you have several. In fact, do some exposure bracketing to make sure that one of them is perfect.

---Bob Gross---

[toddb]

That omnibounce is good stuff. You said you were not real familiar with the camera yet, so let me tell you what my last year of playing with the 10D (mostly the same). I almost always shoot indoor of my 2 year old daughter. I have the 550EX flash with the omnibounce and I bouce the flash mostly off of the ceiling so I can get much more natural lighting then having the flash pointed right at the subject (which you may not be able to depending on the room).

Here is what I have found....I always shoot RAW (because the mixed lighting it's so much easier then hoping the camera will get the right WB setting) plus all the other benefits of shooting RAW for pictures that are important are just too great. So I've never really shot in the all automatic modes except for "P" (which is pretty much auto but lets you shoot raw). There is one thing about running in "P" mode that I don't like and actually stopped using it for the most part inside. The problem I have is that when the flash is turned on, it would always have the lens wide open which in turn (because of how close I was allot of times) give me blurry images. Here is a thread dedicated to this: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=38424 I am now much better at dialing in the manual settings when the 550EX is attached now and get much better results because of it. For my close shots, I usually run 1/60 -1/90sec shutter with an F8 aperture and depending on my distance I'll dial the iso up and down. I've been getting MUCH better shots then when I just tried to let the camera figure things out...it's worth experimenting with.

The other thing like Bob said, know your histogram and bracket some shots just to make sure. Read through this so you know how your histogram works: http://luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml

[new girl on the bloc]

so much helpful information here! i will print it out and read, reread and try to digest it on the airplane tomorrow!

wish me luck :wink:

[new girl on the bloc]

I havent seen what lens you have for the Rebel.

the kit lens and the canon 50mm 1:1.8

[scottbergerphoto]

Anyone else think that if she doesn't have one, she might also consider spending $17 to buy an Omni-Bounce for the new flash? Here's the link to B&H's Sto-fen product for this specific flash:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=89908&is=REG

Time does not allow for this great idea. Perhaps I could make one?
Take a 3x5 white index card and attach it to the back of the 550EX with rubber bands so that it sticks 1/2 way above the flash. Tilt the flash head to 45-60 degrees. The index card will direct some of the flash forward for catchlights and the rest will be bounced off of the ceiling.
Good Luck,
Scott