Outdoor night wedding!!

[jschao]

Hey,

I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice and wisdom about taking wedding pictures outdoor during the night, i talked to the bride and she said that there will be lights, but im not sure if they will be enough, does anyone have any idea of what kind of lens or flash that i need to use. I have a canon 70-200 2.8, but cheap flash. Are there any suggestions about what i need to do, thank you so much.

Jeff Chao

[Andy_T]

If you have a wedding coming up, this might be the time to get a good flash.

Canon 550, if you can afford it, or Sigma 500 DG Super.

Best regards,
Andy

[mdr]

Have a look at the new 580...

[dphotomania]

go w/ canon 580. It's smaller and lighter.

[OviV]

Your 70-200 is going to be a bit long for a wedding. You can use it for candids but you want something wider for most of your shots. Take a look at Tamron 28-75 2.8 or Canon 28-135 IS. The challenge with outdoor night wedding is that you have nothing to bounce the light off of (I would still use something like an Stofen Omnibounce to diffuce the light) so expect dark backgrounds. This may or may not be an issue. If there are items you want in the picture background, think about a second flash on a stand to light the background.

[Akreager]

THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH QUESTION - I TELL YOU FOR SURE IF THE LIGHTING IS LIKE WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED AT NIGHT WEDS IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH FOR PICS OTHER THAN AVAILABLE LIGHT CANDIDS AND YOU WILL BE PRESSED TO GET THOSE EXCEPT WITH HIGH ISO AND SLOW SHUTTER (DO YU HAVE THE IS VERSION). I SHOOT WEDDINGS WITH TWO BODIES - ONE HAS WIDE ANGLE TO MEDIUM TELEPHOTO AND THE OTHER IS THE 70-200. THE HUGE MAJORITY ARE WITH THE FIRST. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE STUDIO STROBES WITH STANDS ETC FOR THE FORMALS A BASIC SYSTEM WILL RUN YOU $1000 AND YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT. THIS WOULD BE HARD TO DO IN A VERY SHORT TIME. I WOULD TURN THE JOB DOWN POLITLY EXPLAINING THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND WOULD FEEL REAL BAD IF THE PICS OF THEIR SPECIAL DAY WERE NOT UP TO PAR. IF YOU REALLY REALLY HAVE TO DO IT, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD DO - GET A TAMRON 28-75F2.8 LENS. A CANON 580EX, A PHOTOFLEX 12X16 SOFTBOX FOR THE 580 AND A SIMPLE L SHAPED FLASH BRACKET. ALL THIS IS ABOUT $800. SHOOT THE CANDIDS WITH AVAILABLE LIGHT WHEN POSSIBLE, USE BALANCED FILL FOR THE REST. SHOOT ALL THE FORMALS WITH BALANCED FILL IF THE BACKGROUND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT OUT AND TTL IF NOT. WITH THE CAMERA DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING (FLASH EXPOSURE WISE) A NOVICE CAN PULL THIS OFF. I AM SURE SOME WILL ARGU WITH MY ON CAMERA SOFT BOX SOLUTION - IT IS NOT PERFECT BUT MUCH MUCH BETTER THAN NOTHING.

[robertwgross]

Please don't post with all caps on.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

I agree that 28-75mm or so is the most needed range of focal lengths for weddings. One good 580EX or 550EX or 420EX on a flash bracket would be good. If you have large group shots, then you might need something wider than 28mm. If you tried to use something long, like 70mm minimum, then you have to get back so far that your flash brilliance will be diminished. To use the flash unit on a bracket, you'll want the off-camera cord.

A sturdy tripod is good.

When somebody says that there will be lights, normally they mean ordinary incandescent lights. Those are somewhere between ineffective and bad for wedding photography (I am assuming that the bride will be wearing white). It will be much better to get one of the flashes going to dominate the scene.

Take extra batteries for the camera and for the flash. Take a tiny flashlight along for examining connections in the dark.

---Bob Gross---

[LisaMarie]

I second the comments for bringing a shorter focal length lens or 2.

As well as the 580- or similar flash unit.

For night scenes of people I would drag the shutter if you need the background detail included and let the flash expose fill for the subject. Other wise just use the flash as you need it to expose the subjects. You'll do fine.

[KevC]

Please don't post with all caps on.

---Bob Gross---

Agreed. I didn't even read that post, made my head hurt.

You'll definitely want to get a good tripod, and fast lenses. 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.8 come to mind. I've got the 50mm f/1.8 and I love it. What camera do you have? The 20D is awesome at high ISO. You'd hafta be shooting at ISO800-3200 . Better a noisy picture than no picture at all...

However, with a tripod, you may be able to get away with some at 200-400. Oh, and of course, a flash would be nice. Some portable studio lighting with batteries too! Check out alien bees...

[Mark Kemp]

Any chance you can hold the wedding in a football stadium? somewhere with floodlights?

[Tom W]

I'm in favor of getting hold of a fast lens or two - the 50 mm f/1.4 and 85 f/1.8 as KevC recommends. Scout out the scene, preferably at night when the ceremony will take place. You might want to take someone along and do some test shots with and without flash. Get a real good feel for what ISO, shutter speed, and aperture work for you in that setting.

Find out if there will be any additional light there. And, find out if flash will be permissable or if it might ruin the ambiance of the ceremony. If flash is a problem, set up a time frame where you might be able to do some staged flash shots.

[jschao]

Thank you for your reply!! im getting paid for shooting this wedding! i just bought a 24-70L 2.8 lens do you think that would do the job? im certainly gonna use a tripod also!! im not sure about the lighting yet!

Thank you again,

Jeff Chao

[cmM]

Any chance you can hold the wedding in a football stadium? somewhere with floodlights?
Yea... call off the superbowl, we got a wedding :-P