Please advise on window troubles. :O

[photography by trish]

Hello dear POTN members.

Here's the jist of my dilemma. Part of my extended family is getting married and they do not have a photographer (finances). I am not "doing the wedding," but our family is going to take pictures throughout the event. I am obviously not going to pass on an opportunity for experience. So I've embedded ambient light images of the church, which will probably have different lighting later. The couple will be in the center of the church (you may not be able to tell, but I'll be able to get behind the couple to see over the priest's shoulder) which is surrounded by windows. The ceilings are about 30-50 feet high.

What is one to do about this? I do not want the blown out windows to overpower the photos. Is there anything to do about this?

My gear: xsi, 40D, 70-200 2.8, 28-135 3.5-5.6, 50 1.8 II, tamron 11-17 3.5-5.6, st-e2, 580 ex II, umbrella, stand, tripod, monopod

My husband and I are going to treat this as a paying job for experience sake. Nothing too overpowering, but definitely professional. We will be the most experienced there, as most, if not all will be carrying POS cameras. I will shoot with 2 bodies and he will help however possible.

If you all could share any other tips pertaining to the photos I've posted, I would GREATLY appreciate it. Please keep in mind, there are just snapshots. I was somewhat rushed to take them, as a service was about to start. My intention is to use the images towards a portfolio to show a photographer (in hopes to second shoot for him).

(I think I used flash on this one.)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3376510842_b4ece15b1b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3375693869_07af3cce50_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/3375694297_da6d3cc146_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3376512386_8a234339df_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3376512064_1d57b540af_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/3376511814_4c68d43440_o.jpg

I am very grateful to have POTN in my life! Thank you in advance for your time.

[tiziano]

You need to light the couple enough so to balance the external light, if you don't want to blow the windows. I guess you will need to rent some studio flashes and set them up, if they let you.
But, are you sure you want to keep the details of the outside world?

[photography by trish]

You need to light the couple enough so to balance the external light, if you don't want to blow the windows. I guess you will need to rent some studio flashes and set them up, if they let you.
But, are you sure you want to keep the details of the outside world?

That's a good point. I don't want that. Would my photos look amateurish if I had these bright windows in the back? I suppose I forgot to say that my motivation for this question is to NOT look like an amateur in my portfolio.

[Valjoy]

I would advise some more practice in the church....with you husband as the subject see what settings work to give you the best results......Try flash...no flash..put him directly in line with these windows and see what happens . Try partial and spot metering of the subject.
I usually have the opposite problem to you . Church too dark.
Good luck. Val

[tim]

"Shooting over the shoulder of the priest" isn't a good idea.

There are two options with backlit subjects (in general, not just weddings):
- Expose for the subject and let the background blow out.
- Expose for the background and add light to the subjects (either direct flash, bounced on-camera, or off camera flash).

[picturecrazy]

I let the windows blow out, except for maybe a couple of shots.

I would also change the angle to which I am shooting them and use the window light as a light source on the couple. For example, get an angle so the window light is side lighting and use your on camera flash pointed direct for fill. You will get a really nice ratio of light hitting them. Back light them like crazy and expose for the people, or back light them by two stops and fill in with your flash, or back light them by and silhouette them. Angle yourself so the window light front lights them and you can shoot available light. There are many many things you can do but you have to learn and understand and study how light works first to really take this into your own hands and run with it.

[photography by trish]

I let the windows blow out, except for maybe a couple of shots.

I would also change the angle to which I am shooting them and use the window light as a light source on the couple. For example, get an angle so the window light is side lighting and use your on camera flash pointed direct for fill. You will get a really nice ratio of light hitting them. Back light them like crazy and expose for the people, or back light them by two stops and fill in with your flash, or back light them by and silhouette them. Angle yourself so the window light front lights them and you can shoot available light. There are many many things you can do but you have to learn and understand and study how light works first to really take this into your own hands and run with it.

i really appreciate you sharing these ideas and important points. i will keep these in mind when preparing and shooting. :) i am now very excited about using these windows to my advantage! i only have one flash, so these windows seem like a GREAT thing now.

[SoccerRef]

It looks like there is an aisle right in front of the windows. You can also consider taking photos with the windows to your back, looking right at the Bride from one side and the Groom from the other. Proposed position is noted below:

. http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/SoccerRefPhotos/POTN%20Photos/LitChurch2.jpg

This will eliminate the windows as a background issue and allow you to use the light they provide to your advantage. Open up your lens, focus on a face and allow the people in the BG to blur out and voila' the windows are a help, not a hurt...

[photography by trish]

It looks like there is an aisle right in front of the windows. You can also consider taking photos with the windows to your back, looking right at the Bride from one side and the Groom from the other. Proposed position is noted below:

. http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/SoccerRefPhotos/POTN%20Photos/LitChurch2.jpg

This will eliminate the windows as a background issue and allow you to use the light they provide to your advantage. Open up your lens, focus on a face and allow the people in the BG to blur out and voila' the windows are a help, not a hurt...

that's a good idea. thanks for taking the time to make that visual. :)