Wedding - How to get creative when there are restrictions?

[cory1848]

Looking for some advice...I am shooting a wedding this Saturday and its in a dark church cathedral. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get inside to scope it out but I am told no flash is allowed and once the ceremony starts and I have to move up to the balcony which there isnt much room to move around. Will be shooting with a 70-200 IS 2.8, so I am thinking light will be tough but manageable. Even with 2.8 IS, should I tripod it? With being so restricted, how does one get creative? I usually like getting good close ups on the ceremony but its clear that will not happen, even with the 70-200. They will be getting shots outside of the church afterwards so i am not too concerned about that, but I am concerned with the inside stuff...

Any thoughts on this?

[stathunter]

Sometimes there is not much you can do. You have to do what you can with the limitations given. See what you can do to get creative angles or tilts on some of the shots to change up the blah a bit.
I shoot weddings like this in RAW --- that gives me the ability to manipulate many things in post that can turn a bland shot into a real creative work.
Rent a 24L or 35L from lensrentals.com and shoot at 1.4 --- it will turn a dark room into a well lit backdrop.

[tomslens]

Contact the pastor or administrator of the cathedral. Sometimes the no flash and no camera's thing is part of their attempt to preserve the sanctity of the ceremony. They might not have as much of an issue after the ceremony.
I've not shot weddings but I have attended weddings where this has been the case. The photographer simply didn't get mid ceremony shots but did get shots in the church after the service.

[Scott McLoud]

use 85 1.2 - i use it exactly for this senario.

No flash - you should be okay after the wedding itself, just "mock" up the last part where thye give the vows etc...

[rebelgeek]

YES USE A TRIPOD! and take plenty of shots, because most will be throw aways. Prepare the bride and groom to play to the camera if you can. It is a little risky, but just knowing you are trying to get the shots for them will help. I think it is to late to rent, but you might try. Take some gray card shots to get your whitebalance right, it will save you time in the long run.

[tim]

You have to work within the limits imposed. The B&G chose the location, so they have to live with the restrictions. Shoot the 70-200 from a tripod just so your arms don't get tired.

[cory1848]

I rented the 70-200, I am concerned that anything less than a 100 will be too short so I didnt consider it. Its a pretty big church. I will have a second shooter with me so we will get double the shots so hopefully some come out decent. Still trying to get ahold of the church people but havent had much luck, probably due to the holiday today...

[gravy graffix]

have the 2nd shooter pretend to be uncle bob and get seated...;) seriously... work it out with the family so that he gets a good seat and dont tell that he is your 2nd...