Wedding photos

[zee]

I have been asked to do some informal wedding photos for a couple who are getting married next week. However, they are getting married in the dark with fairylights as the only lighting there.

Just need afew tips so that i can get the perfect photos for them.
I want them to be sharp, and clear...which would be the best settings to use. Im using a Canon EOS 10D, lens 28-135mm...someone told me to take the photos in 'P' mood, with ISO 800. Also, i have been told to use a flash gun, but which is the best position it?

I have done wedding photos before, but never in this sort of senerio....any help and tips would be appreciated!
Thank you :)

[northlander]

You might try some side lighting if you can do off camera, maybe direct flash but toned down to provide more fill, borrow a faster lens, turn up the iso, if all else fails a little pixie dust for the fairy lights. I would suggest trying to get some practice shots in similar lighting before the ceremony.

[Zansho]

Someone told you to do this in P mode? As in Program? ....

/sigh.

Stay away from program. I understand the unique challenge that's posed before you, with the "fairylights" as your only source of lighting. That being said, learn how to use your flashgun to your advantage, you may want to bounce it off a ceiling if it's low enough, might want to use a diffuser to help soften the strength of the light, maybe even use a flash bracket to help with your shadows.

Even if you're not allowed to use a flashgun, the lighting situation could actually be beneficial. They're doing that particular lighting for a reason, to set a mood. Capture that mood. I would strongly suggest using IS lenses, and a monopod if you can, push your ISO to around 800-1600, 1600 if you absolutely need that extra stop.

I don't know more about your gear or your lighting situation, so this is the best I advice I can give. :)

[poloman]

You might get some shots worth keeping with a very fast lens (faster than f2). If you don't have one or can't get one you will have to use lighting of some sort. If you really want them to be sharp and clear, you will probably need lights.
I would be cautious of this job. Are the persons asking you to do it truly your friends? There is a lot of potential here for someone to demonstrate weakness here. Very tough job. Motion blur will be your biggest enemy. You should talk to the people you are planning to shoot ahead of time and set up a subtle "freeze" signal. This will help avoid blurring and may give you some decent semi candids.

[sydneyruby]

what are fairy lights? Are they like gnome lights because I know what those are. (haha)

But really, it sounds like the couple wants a very low light ceremony on purpose so throwing a flash in I think will be really distracting to the effect they are trying to achieve as a couple. I would just crank up the iso, open the aperture, and shoot on a really low shutter speed on a tripod because they probably would prefer the warm light in the images over anything with a flash. Then after it's over, you could re-pose a few and use a flash on those just to cover all the bases, but at least it wouldn't ruin the feel of their wedding during the service.

PS- I see you have a 28-135- if that is an US lens, turn it on, and it will help you shoot at a slow shutter speed w/ less apparent movement/ camera shake.
Also, the beauty of digital is that you can see what you are doing as you do it, so you can play with the settings as you go to compensate for the light, or lack thereof in your case. Try not to shoot on 1600 iso w/ the 10D though b/c it is really noisy. Try not to go past 800.

[SuzyView]

The 10D, 28-135 was the combo I used for a year shooting weddings, but never in the dark. The 28-135 is not going to do it for you without a lot of blur and slow shutter. Rent a good lens for dark, maybe a 50 1.4 or even the 50 1.8. The 28-135 isn't going to do it for you, but if you don't have a choice, practice. The settings should not be on P. You may want to go as high as you can ISO (unfortunately, the noise will be there), and go 1/60 and open the shutter as big as it'll go. If flash is not possible, get a good tripod, get going on practicing and you may be okay. If you are not into slow photography, rent a lens.

[PhotosGuy]

Tripod. Manual exposure. RAW. Shoot some ISO & shutter speed tests well before the day so you have some idea what you're doing. I might try using a warm gelled flash at low power from the side to throw some light on the background. Again, test. (Why do I have to say that so often? It's the first thing I would do before asking in a forum.)
If you're using a very slow shutter speed, take a LOT of shots in hope that they both won't be moving in one of them.
And, tell them to try to hold still!

Is this inside or outside?