Leaving Tommorow To Shoot my First Wedding~Help!!

[Vacation]

I need any last min tips any at all....What mistakes have you made....etc etc.

I am shooting with a 30d

Leses in addition to my signature I purchased are 70-200 IS 2.8L, 24-70L 2.8, and 50MM 1.4.

My main questions are how to make images pop?

How to get more color into your pics?

What metering modes do you use (a little confused on this topic) If you give advise please tell me what mode you are shooting in also.

What modes do you shoot groups in and tips on getting the best shots.

PS I am shooting this as a novice not a pro...The Bride and Groom know I am not a proffessional and I have already begged them to hire a pro. I told them if you want proffessional pics hire a pro otherwise I will be glad to help but expect the worst!

ANY I MEAN ANY ADVISE IS APPRECIATED!! I WANT TO DO THE BEST JOB I CAN AND I AM NOT A PRO....I DON'T DESIRE TO BECOME A PRO EITHER....THIS IS A HOBBY FOR ME!!

[jlrichmond76]

What flash will you be using?

[SOK]

What metering modes do you use (a little confused on this topic) If you give advise please tell me what mode you are shooting in also.

The only advice I can give is that it sounds like you need to do a lot of reading to do on this topic! There's plenty of resources on POTN and the internet in general regarding metering. Head to Google and go nuts.

Let us know how it goes.

[AlanU]

This has been mentioned many times but I find myself re reading from time to time to refresh my memory.

http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/

[Mike]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5999915&postcount=2

[Wilt]

If you mount the 16-35, try not to stand too close to people if you are at the 16mm setting, as you can induce exaggerated bellies and butts and noses by using a super WA lens too close to people. And if you shoot a group at 16mm, try not to stand with the front of the group at an angle to the camera. Again, perspective distortion exaggerates the size of the people standing closer to the camera, compared to those farther from the camera. You can also use that for your benefit, if you have a couple that consists of a skinny man and larger girth wife...have her farther, have him closer, and shoot with the lens at 16mm from closer distances!

By limiting you use to 17-18mm minimum for groups, you can largely avoid inducing perspective distortion; use the 16mm FL for the scene-establishing shots and you'll be fine.

'More color in your pics'...use post processing!

Metering modes...if you have an 18% gray card, take a reading off that and use that reading as the settings in your camera on Manual. That avoids the issue of exposure error cause by 'subject failure'...a subject in white, or a subject in black fooling the meter about the amount of light in the scene!

[egordon99]

I wrote out a LONG reply to you a few weeks ago about how to shoot indoor events with flash. Did you practice with those suggested settings? If you didn't, well......

[egordon99]

I think http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=541634 should cover everything. If you still need help for this wedding, well....

[sacral]

GET AN ITINERARY. down to the minute. things move quickly...and don't let other family members bully you around for pictures. You do your job first, then everyone can stand there for just a little bit longer to get the pictures they want.

[Vacation]

580ex and 580ex2

[Vacation]

I wrote out a LONG reply to you a few weeks ago about how to shoot indoor events with flash. Did you practice with those suggested settings? If you didn't, well......

You da man!...Yes I have been practicing...I have painted the house...waxed the car...Wait is this Mr Miagi...lol

[Vacation]

If you mount the 16-35, try not to stand too close to people if you are at the 16mm setting, as you can induce exaggerated bellies and butts and noses by using a super WA lens too close to people. And if you shoot a group at 16mm, try not to stand with the front of the group at an angle to the camera. Again, perspective distortion exaggerates the size of the people standing closer to the camera, compared to those farther from the camera. You can also use that for your benefit, if you have a couple that consists of a skinny man and larger girth wife...have her farther, have him closer, and shoot with the lens at 16mm from closer distances!

By limiting you use to 17-18mm minimum for groups, you can largely avoid inducing perspective distortion; use the 16mm FL for the scene-establishing shots and you'll be fine.

'More color in your pics'...use post processing!

Metering modes...if you have an 18% gray card, take a reading off that and use that reading as the settings in your camera on Manual. That avoids the issue of exposure error cause by 'subject failure'...a subject in white, or a subject in black fooling the meter about the amount of light in the scene!


On the metering modes...When I called canon they said the 30d meters the white NOT the gray?? How does this affect the picture as far as exposing for the Bride and Groom.

Did they tell me correct...He said the film cameras do the 18% gray but digital meters off white.

He also said that when using your focus point in the group shot to focous on the second row for example in a row of 3. Wheras when I read Scott Kelby's book he reccomended focusing on the eyes of the first row.

[Wilt]

On the metering modes...When I called canon they said the 30d meters the white NOT the gray?? How does this affect the picture as far as exposing for the Bride and Groom.

Did they tell me correct...He said the film cameras do the 18% gray but digital meters off white.

He also said that when using your focus point in the group shot to focous on the second row for example in a row of 3. Wheras when I read Scott Kelby's book he reccomended focusing on the eyes of the first row.

He is blowing smoke out his ...to hide his ignorance of the subject. You can point your digital camera at a gray card and get exactly the same reading as if you used an incident light meter.

His reference to white is only true with regard to setting the White Balance for a Custom White Balance.

I would follow Kelby suggestion rather than focus on second row...DOF is always deeper BEHIND the plane of focus, shallower in front (the only exception to this statement is at macro distances)

[lungdoc]

Shoot RAW or RAW plus jpg so you can make more fixes esp. white balance later. I wouldn't try manual at this stage - too much potential for error and other things to worry about. I'd leave it in matrix metering, Av for the most part EXCEPT when using flash as main light indoors- either use manual or P mode in that case as Av will use the flash as fill.
Extra card, extra batteries for flash and camera. I'd consider autobracketing for some shots.