Help!! Bob Gross, Bloo Dog, and others! Wedding questions.

[Belmondo]

I have something of a unique situation coming up. My sister is getting married (to a retired professional photographer of all things), and they are going to be married in an outdoor ceremony in August. I am not a wedding photographer, and have absolutely no aspirations of ever becoming one. I do have a fair amount of equipment to choose from, and would like a suggestion as to the easiest, safest, surest setup to use for informal shots, mainly of the reception.

I suspect I’ll use the 1D MkII with the 24-70 f/2.8L for most of the shots, but I have quite a few others to choose from, too. I also have the 20D, so a second setup is possible.

For flash, I have a 420EX, 550EX, and 580EX. I also have an off-camera shoe cord. Mainly, though, I have a deplorable history of using flash in the past, and most of all or course, I have absolutely no talent.

I’m assuming the reception will be outdoors, too, so I’ll be mainly concerned about fill flash. I don’t expect I’ll be taking many shots indoors at all.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. I really don’t want to learn anything from this experience. She’s my only sister, and I don’t expect she’ll be getting married again anytime soon. I just want a one-time solution that will produce reasonable results.

Do I want to invest in a flash bracket? Do I want to use multiple flashes? Do I just want to stay home and watch television?

Help!!

[Harry Settle]

Either camera, 550 or 580, 24-70 and don't have a heart attack. If you have some time, go out with a couple of people to the location;, at the correct time of day and practice shooting with the flash. Outdoors receptions, as well as weddings, are usually more laid back. That makes it a lot easier to get the shots.

(don't have a heart attack, have fun)


BTW, I made the trip to Zion last week and the hike up to the emerald pools. Man am I in poor shape.

[tim]

Belmondo - i'd recommend getting this book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1584281227/102-9127707-6895351?v=glance). Obviously i'm not an experienced wedding photographer, i've just done one wedding with good results and i've read a fair bit.

Are you doing all the wedding photography or just candids? A flash bracket is pretty handy, so is a diffuser like the LightSphere II. Remember to take at least twice as many batteries for the flash as you think you'll need. Also, this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=75678) might be interseting/useful.

Edit - changed book link.

[stoneylonesome]

Your a brave man Tom, I'd never do a wedding, My only suggestion is HIT THE BAR FIRST. :lol: :lol: . All kidding aside, having seen the quality of your work that you have posted here, I would say you have nothing to worry about, just shot as if it was one of you nature shots. I have always felt that the more natural relaxed, candid wedding shots are much better than the rigid and posed ones. Just my opinion.

[Belmondo]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think I properly explained myself, though. I'm not the photographer. The groom is a recently retired professional wedding photographer himself, and for all I know, he's very well capable of taking his own wedding pictures. I just want some pictures of the event and the people attending. The last three times the family has gotten together was for funerals. This could be the last chance to record all these faces in one place while there's something to smile about.

[tim]

Ah, that's much easier. I'd take the 558EX, a LightSphere II or a similar diffuser that doesn't rely on bounce flash, and the 24-70L. If you want to take "candids" from a distance away maybe take a long lens, but you probably won't need it. I'd prob take a 50mm F1.4 or similar in case you want natural light pics or extremely narrow DOF.

[CyberPet]

I read this guy's "Shooting your first wedding" articles and had many great laughs. There's also some great advice there too: http://www.aljacobs.com/index2.htm

Bring both cameras and hook up a tele lens on one of the cameras and a wide lens on the other body. The tele gives you some great short DOF and great for portraits outdoors and the wide for groups and overviews.

[Merle]

Belmondo,

Relax you probably have better equipment than the primary wedding photographer will have. If you are shooting in open sunlight use your 550 or 580 and set it 1 to 1 1/2 stops under the ambient light reading (fill flash) open shade is your desired outdoor lighting. Use the same procedure as for open sunlight. For indoor or deep shade set flash to your aperture setting. Remember to crop tight unless you are trying to show some of the setting I. E. (garden) again relax and have a good time. This is your family and you are not responsible for the wedding photographs, In the last 32 years of Wedding Photography I have never had the luxury of not having that responsibility ;) :) :D

Good Shooting to Ya !!
Merle

[tim]

Nice link Cyberpet, I might buy one of those guys batteries once the tuxedo version comes out :)

[robertwgross]

Well, since you are not the primary photographer, that makes it much easier. You can shoot whatever it is that you choose. Depending on the reception venue, lots of good stuff can be photographed with the B&G standing around a garden, courtyard, or similar vegetated area. Shade might do better than direct sun, and then a little fill flash helps the shade. For all of that kind of informal posing, I would use the camera with diffused flash on a bracket, and all of that on a tripod.

However, where I find the most subjects at the reception is around the dance floor. For that, you can dismount the flash bracket from the tripod and wander around that way.

If you need, I can recommend a photo shop in Indio where you can acquire certain equipment.

Let me turn this around and ask a question. If the primary photographer is doing the primary photography job, and if you are just shooting for the hell of it, exactly what is it that you want to bring home? Just a few photos of the relatives in a pleasant pose? You probably aren't trying to build a whole wedding album, so are you just looking to out-do the primary photographer for a half-dozen shots?

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

Let me turn this around and ask a question. If the primary photographer is doing the primary photography job, and if you are just shooting for the hell of it, exactly what is it that you want to bring home? Just a few photos of the relatives in a pleasant pose? You probably aren't trying to build a whole wedding album, so are you just looking to out-do the primary photographer for a half-dozen shots?

---Bob Gross---

I'm doing this strictly for my own amusement. I'm figuring that there will be very few opportunities for my brother, sister, and me to be in the same place every again where one of us won't be in a box. I'd just like to get a few pictures for my own consumption.

I'm not even sure there will be anyone taking pictures at all. To be sure, I won't be trying to do anything on the order of what a pro would be doing.

[Maureen Souza]

Tom: since you are not the primary photographer, just have fun. Take a few handfuls of photos with your Tamron, and maybe the 70-200 and 50mm lenses. Try a few different angles, watch for fun moments to capture and I'll bet a good portion of them will come out great! Use your 550 flash when the lighting needs a filler and don't forget to post some here so we can oooohhhh and aaaahhhh at them!

[Maureen Souza]

I read this guy's "Shooting your first wedding" articles and had many great laughs. There's also some great advice there too: http://www.aljacobs.com/index2.htm

Bring both cameras and hook up a tele lens on one of the cameras and a wide lens on the other body. The tele gives you some great short DOF and great for portraits outdoors and the wide for groups and overviews.

Man! I read that guy's articles and it is enough to keep anyone from shooting a wedding. He makes such a Federal case out of evey little detail. I don't know of anyone who can give a fool-proof guarantee that the wedding photos will be 100% perfect. And I have seen a ton of wedding photos done professionally that I personally didn't care for. To each, his own, I guess....

[PhotosGuy]

Take a look at his "Digital Dictionary" here:
http://www.aljacobs.com/LINKS.htm

Canonization ( kan-on-i-ay-shun) The scared almost religious ritual when a former Nikon owner, listens to the web blogs and forums and annihilates his bank account selling his Nikons and purchasing Canon products. (see also Nikonismosis)

Nikonismosis ( Ni-con-is-mo-siss) The scared almost religious ritual when a former Nikon owner, listens to the web blogs and forums and annihilates his bank account selling his Nikons and after purchasing Canon products. This is the second stage where he realizes it wasn't the cameras problem after all, it was his lousy post processing.
;-)

[robertwgross]

Tom, I think you will want to try to get some family shots with yourself included. Therefore, get to know your self-timer or else remote shutter releases. The tripod is obvious.

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

Thanks, everyone. I have plenty of time to experiment with my setup, and your advice is currently being digested.

Bob:
I have a Pocket Wizard, and might use that to get myself into some shots.

[Belmondo]

Bloo.
My main goal in all this is to get through the day without any adventures to tell about. I'm definitely no the story-teller you are. :lol:

[robertwgross]

Bob:
I have a Pocket Wizard, and might use that to get myself into some shots.

This may sound funny, but you have to try it.

Suppose that you are going to include yourself into a pose with three other relatives. Let's say that you are six feet tall, and you are going to stand in the back of the group whose heads will be slightly lower than yours.

You will set up your camera on a tripod, and you will aim it at the three others. Get somebody to hold up their hand to the position where your head will be. That allows you, at the camera, to check for focus, depth of field, exposure, and all that good stuff. Then you can enable your Wizard, walk into the frame, and fire the Wizard.

I've seen too many times where the photographer had it framed up without himself, but then when he entered the frame, his head was partially cut out of the frame or else out of focus. Not recommended.

---Bob Gross---

[Moppie]

Im going to offer some differnt advice, if thats alright.

I shot a wedding earlier this year useing two camera's my A80, and my g/f's frilm SLR with a 28-200mm lens on it.
While the pro used a 50mm (or similar) and kept close to the bride and groom, I was able to shot them from the end of the isle, and from the side of the seating, getting some quite differnt angles, and very nice close ups of both the B&G faces, trying always to shoot the one the pro was not.
I also did things like shoot both familes as they sat watching, and made sure to get both the bridesmaids and the groomsmen, something the Pro missed completely.
I was also able to shoot the Bride arriaving, something the pro was unable to get close enough to do with his short lens.

All the small things that although they might not make a great proffesional photo, when you show them to your sister she will love that someone who knows how to take a photo captured them.

The long lens came in handy again at the reception, where I was seated it was nice to be able to reach past other people and shoot just those giving speachs etc.
My A80 was then useful for the close stuff (and since it has a faster lens) once it started to get a little dark, not a problem you will have I imagine.




Taking advice from some pros, and setting your gear up like a pro will lead to take proffesional styled shots (in theory), but as you mentioned there will already be a pro there doing that.
Instead setting yourself up with just some basics, and relying on your own skills and your knowledge of the people who will be there may let you get some really great candids, and capture the things that will make great memories, as well as letting you enjoy the day :)

[eastcoast909]

Belmondo:

No suggestions, just best wishes. Have fun and enjoy. Show us some pictures after the wedding.

Yow Bloo Dog! Talk about the short course in shooting people! :eek: :eek:

Needs to go in a sticky.