Weddings during a pro sports event? Help, please?

[namasste]

Hey all, first post in this forum for me probably because I've never shot a wedding before. That's about to change in a big way this Thursday (I just found out).

Here's what's up, I am primarily a sports shooter and was asked to fill in at an AHL game here in Cleveland. The game is Thursday, Valentines Day. Hmmm, what better time to get married and what better place than on ice at a hockey game? Well, it turns out that the arena/team (which is who I am shooting for) has told the couples (yes plural, as in three!) that they have a professional photographer to shoot their weddings. Well that wa a relief until I found that I am the one they are referring to.

Can anyone please help me a little with this. I mean, I have no clue and the venue is certainly not something that's typical. I have two bodies (1DM2 and 30D and will have a 70-200 f2.8 and Sigma 24-70 f2.8) mounted. I have flash guns and that's about where I am at. I assume, I'll have to shoot direct flash. Beyond that, I'm clueless as to protocol, posing, etc. One thing is for sure, they'll have to be quick weddings if there are three of them so it's certainly not a drawn out formal affair.

Thanks in advance. You're probably keeping me from jumping out a window!

[Ballen Photo]

Hi Scott, GOOD GRIEF! Are these three couples going to be married at the same time, like synchronized swimming? :shock: Or will the weddings be performed one right after another? :confused:
Do you have any experience in choreography? :lol:
Sounds like you may have to take charge in lining everybody (including the clergymen) up so you can get group shots of the vows, putting on the rings, the Kiss(es), etc. Don't be afraid of asking some of those hockey players for a hand in arranging things, and get photos of them doing this.
Speaking of the Clergymen, or who ever will be performing the weddings, get together with them in advance so you can coordinate with them on the events to take place.
Methinks you'll get the most use from your 24-70 if you're going to be on the ice with them, and you'll want to use your flash guns for fill. Good luck!
-Bruce

[cdifoto]

Is everyone going to be on skates too?

[namasste]

Is everyone going to be on skates too?


very funny but now that you mention it, I wouldn't even be surprised!

Bruce, if I am only using the flash for fill, would you just set it in ttl with zero comp and let it do it's thing after finding a decent ambient reading? Would you read ambient off the gown? The ice? Just not sure since there's going to be a lot of white going on out there. If I am having trouble metering, I assume I should err towards a slight underexposure rather than blowing the whites out, right? Speaking of metering, would use spot meter this to help isolate the bride (but then likely underexpose the groom if wearing black) or use evaluative? I'm thinking the later...man, I'm screwed! LOL!

[picturecrazy]

Does the area have built-in strobes that you can use as an 'official' photographer? Some places do, most run off the pocketwizard system.

Otherwise, there is not really anything to bounce off of, so I would just put out a lightstand or two and use off camera flash.

[namasste]

Does the area have built-in strobes that you can use as an 'official' photographer? Some places do, most run off the pocketwizard system.

Otherwise, there is not really anything to bounce off of, so I would just put out a lightstand or two and use off camera flash.

thanks Lloyd. I'm still working out whther or not I'll have access to the house lights. I want to be prepared for the worst, meaning no access. I don't think there be any time to setup stands or umbrellas or anything as they have to get three weddings setup, officiated, cleaned up, and the ice Zamboni'd between periods. I wouldn't be shocked if the Zamboni driver isn't officiating.

That said, I'm probably shooting on camera flash. I wondered if I should use spot or cwa metering though. I'm worried the ice is going to really mess things up. I figure I'd just use TTL on the flash, meter, FEL, and fire away. Sound right? I'll probably need the little diffuser thing that comes over the lens or I could possibly pick up a diffuser at the local camera shop if I really need to.

[picturecrazy]

I would find out if you could use the arena lights. That would be awesome and easy. Use whatever metering you are comfortable with (I always use evaluative) and fix it up afterwards if it needs a bit of tweaking. The ice is white, but also depending on the angle you're shooting, you may have a lot of black in there to balance it out (i.e. the crowd and stands) So if you are shooting from a high angle and have lots of ice in the pic, turn up your exposure or FEC to +1. Otherwise, normal. Like anything there is never one good setting... each shot needs to be evaluated individually.

Post the pics when you're done... sounds like a hoot!

[namasste]

I would find out if you could use the arena lights. That would be awesome and easy. Use whatever metering you are comfortable with (I always use evaluative) and fix it up afterwards if it needs a bit of tweaking. The ice is white, but also depending on the angle you're shooting, you may have a lot of black in there to balance it out (i.e. the crowd and stands) So if you are shooting from a high angle and have lots of ice in the pic, turn up your exposure or FEC to +1. Otherwise, normal. Like anything there is never one good setting... each shot needs to be evaluated individually.

Post the pics when you're done... sounds like a hoot!

yeah, it's going to be a trip. I can't imagine that they think the wedding shots will be what you'd get from a typical wedding since I will not have met any of the them (bridges, grooms, families, etc) beforehand nor will I have much of an idea on how it will all go down once it starts. if it weren't for the weddings, I'd have no stress at all about the sports event but man, these weddings really got me rattled. maybe I should drink first?:lol::lol:

[nwagirl]

LOL Your post cracked me up and I hope afterwards you post some of the wedding shots here for us to see..

[namasste]

LOL Your post cracked me up and I hope afterwards you post some of the wedding shots here for us to see..

sure will, then we can all have a good chuckle!:lol:

[Ballen Photo]

Bruce, if I am only using the flash for fill, would you just set it in ttl with zero comp and let it do it's thing after finding a decent ambient reading? Would you read ambient off the gown? The ice? Just not sure since there's going to be a lot of white going on out there. If I am having trouble metering, I assume I should err towards a slight underexposure rather than blowing the whites out, right? Speaking of metering, would use spot meter this to help isolate the bride (but then likely underexpose the groom if wearing black) or use evaluative? I'm thinking the later...man, I'm screwed! LOL!
Scott, Let me clarify what I meant by "fill" light. Most, if not all lighting in the rink are overhead, correct? IMO, The flash will be necessary for preventing shadows under noses, in eye sockets, etc. I mean, we cant have your bride & groom looking like a pair of Raccoons, right?
I would spot meter for reflected light off the brides gown, or even the back of your hand in a pinch.
A little bit of under exposure can be brought back in PS, but blown highlights are just that, blown.
I highly recommend you go there well in advance to take test shots, and work out the best formula for you.
I used to carry a cheat sheet in my shirt pocket that showed which F stop to use for manual flash at a given distance. Here's some interesting reading on that subject. http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/12/guide-number-your-free-flash-meter.html
While you're at it, try the TTL for comparison. Grab someone to use as a model so you can check your use of flash on them at varying distances. ;)
-Bruce

[Exit]

How much are you charging per couple? :D

[picturecrazy]

Scott, Let me clarify what I meant by "fill" light. Most, if not all lighting in the rink are overhead, correct? IMO, The flash will be necessary for preventing shadows under noses, in eye sockets, etc. I mean, we cant have your bride & groom looking like a pair of Raccoons, right?

in a hockey rink the ice reflects light back like crazy, does a great job for fill. But I guess having some fill light on hand just in case never hurts.

[Ballen Photo]

in a hockey rink the ice reflects light back like crazy, does a great job for fill. But I guess having some fill light on hand just in case never hurts.Interesting, Bounced light off the floor then? (J/K). Thanks for the info. ;)
-Bruce

[picturecrazy]

seriously, it's crazy the amount of light that flies around a hockey rink. you get light coming from just about every angle. at least, this was my experience.

[namasste]

seriously, it's crazy the amount of light that flies around a hockey rink. you get light coming from just about every angle. at least, this was my experience.

I'll have the flash handy but if I can shoot ambient and still get what I need, it will make things much easier as it's one less thing to deal with, no worries about recycle times, batteries, settings, shadows, etc, etc... it's a pro arena (NBA plays here as well) so lighting should be great. other shooters say they register ambient around 1/500s f2.8 400-640ISO. Not my settings choice (for the game) but still good light.

[blackshadow]

I'm sure you'll be fine Scott.

Take your Sigma UWA along too - could be good to get some nice WA group shots of the three couples.

[namasste]

I'm sure you'll be fine Scott.

Take your Sigma UWA along too - could be good to get some nice WA group shots of the three couples.

Good call. At 20mm on the 1.3 crop, I can probably get all the couples in one shot which I am pretty sure the arena will want. Thanks. I'm going to stop stressing about it (I hope). BTW, it's now up to 12 couples! Hmmm, one photog, 12 weddings and a hockey game, something in that math breaks down.

[namasste]

Just wondered. As some may have read here, I am a sports shooter but have to cover not one, not two or three, but twelve weddings during pregame and between the second and third period at an AHL event I am covering tonight. Knowing nothing about weddings, it'll be a hoot. Anyway, just wondered if you guys ever shoot portrait type stuff wide open or if I should allow some margin of error and stop down a bit at the sacrifice of bokeh? My stress is that when I'm shooting sports, I know I'll get enough material for good coverage but with a wedding, I only get one chance to be right. Talk about pressure, you guys are nuts!

FYI, I am supposed to be shooting some candids pregame then the wedding(s) are a group thing. I can have some input on how I want things to go but the whole ceremony will only last around 5-7 minutes (or they'll be driven off on a Zamboni!). Any suggestions on how I should try to have things arranged or how you'd go about making sure you got a few good shots of each couple in that time span? I assume they'll all kiss at the same time so do I just slap on the 10-20 and try to get it all at once? Gear wise, I'll have 2 bodies and the choice of a 70-200, 24-70, and 10-20. Which would you mount/use for the ceremony?

I have so many questions but I really think that the bottom line is that there will be very little time to work with down there so I just need a few good one's each.

As for flash, I want to keep things simple. Should I just set ambient settings (the house lights will be on from the game so lighting will be awesome but overhead...it will reflect off the ice so not sure if I need flash or not). If I use flash, should I just use ambient settings, and throw the gun on the hot shoe in ttl? Any FEC recommended?, Zoom settings?

Sorry for so many questions but I'm stressing badly about this thing.

[Exit]

Is this not the same thread?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=452502

[namasste]

Is this not the same thread?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=452502

yes but with some more specific questions. sorry to be asking more questions (your reply ws most helpful last time around), hopefully you can understand my anxiety over this.

[nwagirl]

Well..how did it go?

[namasste]

Well..how did it go?

I'm working through editing just under 900 images right now but it went great, thanks. I'll post back a full "report" with some images tomorrow sometime. I have a 7am shoot in the am as a second shooter for a congressional campaign. I guess I just keep expanding my horizons.