help with first reception

[UmphreyBogart]

so i have a couple that is getting married in hawaii but having their reception here in Saint Louis. this will be my first time at this type of shoot. just yesterday i bought a speedlight 430ex and a soft box diffuser. can anyone link me to any good sites that have great tips regarding settings for flash and body for weddings?

[auroraskye]

Two things. A) Google is your friend. B) I suggest going to the location and taking some test snaps. You can probably just bounce off the ceiling.

[DwightMcCann]

Two things. A) Google is your friend. B) I suggest going to the location and taking some test snaps. You can probably just bounce off the ceiling.

Probably the best possible advice is to take test images and don't plan on five minutes ... take your time, try multiple settings so you can evaluate the results and on the real day remember to bring lots of spare batteries. I think using bounce and your diffuser at different times to get different looks is best. Also, see what happens if you use exposure compensation at -1 and -2 stops (assuming there is some ambient light.)

[Dermit]

OK, here is my priority list of how to best capture subjects regardless of the source of the light. Number one is light direction closely coupled with number two which is quality of light, preferably soft. To do this with one light can be tricky, but not impossible. If you simply use a small softbox but the flash is on camera you would be better off losing the softbox and bouncing the light off a large neutral surface like a wall, or ceiling. This will give you both off camera directional lighting and soften it by converting it to be a larger source as it bounces off the surface. If you use a softbox AND bounce it will eat up too much power of that flash and you will have a hard time getting enough light from it, or will eat up batteries like Homer on donuts.

A potential problem with off camera axis lighting is the probablility that you may get muddy shadows on the side of the subjects that do not see the light. You can use a reflector to try and bounce light back into the shadows, adjust the bounce to be a better angle, use a reflector strapped onto the flash at the back to throw some light forward, or use another flash at a lower setting to fil the shadows but not over power the main light hitting off-axis.

Of course if there is nowhere to bounce the flash or any way to get the flash off camera then you may have to use the direct flash with softbox approach.

[UmphreyBogart]

OK, here is my priority list of how to best capture subjects regardless of the source of the light. Number one is light direction closely coupled with number two which is quality of light, preferably soft. To do this with one light can be tricky, but not impossible. If you simply use a small softbox but the flash is on camera you would be better off losing the softbox and bouncing the light off a large neutral surface like a wall, or ceiling. This will give you both off camera directional lighting and soften it by converting it to be a larger source as it bounces off the surface. If you use a softbox AND bounce it will eat up too much power of that flash and you will have a hard time getting enough light from it, or will eat up batteries like Homer on donuts.

A potential problem with off camera axis lighting is the probablility that you may get muddy shadows on the side of the subjects that do not see the light. You can use a reflector to try and bounce light back into the shadows, adjust the bounce to be a better angle, use a reflector strapped onto the flash at the back to throw some light forward, or use another flash at a lower setting to fil the shadows but not over power the main light hitting off-axis.

Of course if there is nowhere to bounce the flash or any way to get the flash off camera then you may have to use the direct flash with softbox approach.


the place its going to be at has pretty high ceilings. is it still going to be strong enough.? and i can't remember but i think it may not be white

[RPCrowe]

Here is a listing of suggested shots. It certainly doesn't cover all possible shots but, if you get these, no one will fault you for missing a shot.

Wedding Photography III – The Reception:

Overall shot of empty hall decorated and set up with tables, flowers etc.
(IMO this is really a low priority shot)
Several shots of wedding cake
Shots of any specific decorations
Guests signing book as they enter
Shot of presents on table
Bride and Groom arriving at hall
Close up of the Couple’s hands with rings with flowers and perhaps invitation/program
Arrangement of flowers, invitation etc.
Reception line if there is one
Note;
I shot one wedding wherein the Bride’s mother wanted a separate shot of each couple or small group of guests as they arrived. She arranged a location for these shots decorated with flowers and a banner with Bride and Groom’s names. She then had me print individual thank you cards using the best image from the ceremony as the cover and inside, each guest group’s picture on left with the words on the right side of card. It was expensive for her but, it really seemed classy to me and would have been a lasting memento to the guests.
Shot of food or buffet line if it is photogenic
Best man toasting couple
Shots of guest individuals/couples – standing, sitting at tables and interacting.
(Always ask specifically whom the Bride and the mother of the bride want photographed; Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Gus, etc.)
The food line with people filling plates (IMO low priority)
I don’t usually shoot people eating. Half emptied plates and food in mouths are not photogenic to me – I use this time to get my breath and make sure my equipment is in order. I do not eat at receptions but will drink a soft drink or water)
Cutting cake – several shots from close ups of hands to overalls of couple
Bride and groom feeding cake to each other
Note: I hate cake smashing but, get a shot of that if it happens
Band or entertainers if any
Anyone toasting couple
Couple with arms entwined giving each other a sip from their glasses
Bride and groom first dance
Note: at some weddings guests pin money on bride’s dress - get shots of that
Bride dancing with her father
Bride dancing with father in law
Groom dancing with mother
Groom dancing with mother in law
Other shots of Bride dancing – especially with little kids
Other shots of Groom dancing
Members of bridal party dancing
Various couples dancing – kids are great
Groom removing Bride’s garter prior to garter toss
Garter toss and catch
Flower toss and catch
Sometimes the man who caught the garter places it on the lady who caught the flowers.
Any other significant thing that is happening
Any romantic shots of couple
General shots of opportunity – kids are especially photogenic

Leaving reception

Couple getting in vehicle
Couple kissing in vehicle
Couple waving from vehicle
Vehicle leaving from behind (if there is a “Just Married” sign or other wedding related decorations)

Links:
INDIVIDUAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY EXAMPLES

Tampa Photo – M.J. Wilson
http://www.tampaphotoweddings.com/gallery.html (http://www.tampaphotoweddings.com/gallery.html)
http://tampaphoto.com/ls2pj/ (http://tampaphoto.com/ls2pj/)

Tom Ellis Photo – Seattle, WA
http://www.tomellisphoto.com/ (http://www.tomellisphoto.com/)

Indianapolis and Cincinnati Wedding Photographers
http://www.proweddingphotos.com/ (http://www.proweddingphotos.com/)

Gary Seim – Emphrata, WA
http://www.wildpix.biz/wedding.html (http://www.wildpix.biz/wedding.html)

Ron Estes Photography – S.E. Pennsylvania
http://www.ryanestes.com/about.htm (http://www.ryanestes.com/about.htm)

Roddy McInnes Photography – Boulder, CO
http://www.roddymacphoto.com/ (http://www.roddymacphoto.com/)

Wendy Woods Photography – Minneapolis-St. Paul
http://www.wendywoodsphotography.com/detected.php?page=&pass (http://www.wendywoodsphotography.com/detected.php?page=&pass)=

Spellbound Images – Upland, CA
http://www.spellboundpix.com/ (http://www.spellboundpix.com/)

The Many Lives – Garland, TX
http://www.themanylives.com/ (http://www.themanylives.com/)

Evoke Photography – Pasadena, CA
http://www.evokephotography.com/ (http://www.evokephotography.com/)


WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY GENERAL SITES

Onewed.com provides links to many commercial wedding photographers
http://www.onewed.com/vendors.php?category=126&state=CA&submit=Search&name=vendors (http://www.onewed.com/vendors.php?category=126&state=CA&submit=Search&name=vendors)

Photocamel.com provides numerous wedding related posts including examples of wedding photography.
http://www.photocamel.com/index.php/board,20.0.html (http://www.photocamel.com/index.php/board,20.0.html)

photosig.com provides (at the time of this writing) over 2,600 posts of wedding pictures
http://www.photosig.com/go/photos/browse?id=25168 (http://www.photosig.com/go/photos/browse?id=25168)

http://johnlind.tripod.com/wedding/ (http://johnlind.tripod.com/wedding/)
This is an older web site that deals with film cameras. However most of the other information is as valid now as it was when it was written.

http://www.christophermaxwell.com/wedding-photography-tips.htm (http://www.christophermaxwell.com/wedding-photography-tips.htm)
Wedding Photography Tips which are, again, mostly film oriented.

http://www.planetneil.com/faq/flash-techniques.html (http://www.planetneil.com/faq/flash-techniques.html)
Excellent article from a professional wedding photographer on how he uses flash to achieve natural lighting at weddings.

Joe Demb – Flipit Diffuser
http://www.joedembphotography.com/flipit/ (http://www.joedembphotography.com/flipit/)

Chuck Gardner
http://super.nova.org/DPR/#Index
(http://www.planetneil.com/faq/flash-5.html)
88 Must Take Wedding Photos
http://home.ivillage.com/entertaining/weddings/0,,q5hb,00.html (http://home.ivillage.com/entertaining/weddings/0,,q5hb,00.html)

U.K. Wedding Site
http://www.despugh.co.uk/ (http://www.despugh.co.uk/)

[DwightMcCann]

Most excellent post!