First wedding, limited gear.

[ssnxp]

I'm flying up to Norcal tomorrow for a wedding, and I'm thinking about shooting for practice.

There will be a paid photographer, and I understand to not get in his/her way. The only lighting equipment/modifiers I have are my 580EX II and an Omnibounce (Omni just arrived not an hour ago). Assuming that the wedding will be held in a large hall, what should I do?

I won't have a low ceiling to bounce the flash off of, so should I angle it or just direct flash, with or without the Omni? Should I even bother with flash?

Thanks in advance!

[dmbpettit]

I would probably ditch the flash. In an effort to stay out of the phtogs way, I would stick with natural light.

[tim]

There's no point using an omnibounce if you have nothing to bounce the light off.

[ssnxp]

I would probably ditch the flash. In an effort to stay out of the phtogs way, I would stick with natural light.

Thank you, I'll take this into consideration. Hopefully the reception is well lit..

There's no point using an omnibounce if you have nothing to bounce the light off.

I felt that it softened the light a bit, but I haven't tested it a whole lot. Might just be my eyes.. thanks for the advice. So bare flash, basically?

[tim]

Yep, bare flash. I use bare or I bounce. Oh except when I use an off camera soft box hand held by my assistant.

Stay out of the main photog's way, and don't shoot over their shoulder - people look at you instead of them and you'll spoil their photo.

[ssnxp]

Thanks Tim - I'll keep it in mind to stay out of their way. Hopefully I'll have some decent photos to post in a few days.

[tim]

I stopped going into the wedding photo share section about two years ago... maybe I should some time.

[Red Tie Photography]

If i were you, i would make sure to introduce yourself to the photographer, make sure you stay out of their way and offer your help. It can go a long way, and maybe even book you a gig with them later. Just make sure you stay very respectful and try to learn, but like tim said, dont shoot over their shoulder.

[ssnxp]

I stopped going into the wedding photo share section about two years ago... maybe I should some time.

Maybe I should post it here, then :p

If i were you, i would make sure to introduce yourself to the photographer, make sure you stay out of their way and offer your help. It can go a long way, and maybe even book you a gig with them later. Just make sure you stay very respectful and try to learn, but like tim said, dont shoot over their shoulder.

Sounds like a good idea. Getting a gig with/through them sounds awesome, but unfortunately this wedding is 5 hours out of town, and I'm almost certain they hired a local photographer. :(

[Big G]

If i were you, i would make sure to introduce yourself to the photographer, make sure you stay out of their way

As the "Uncle Bob" at a recent wedding, this is similar to what I said. In fact I added a line. I said "if I get in the way tell me". He never had to - the Pro seemed to appreciate me doing this.

[AlexMoPhotography]

I did the uncle bob once. My wife (girlfriend at the time) was a bridesmaid.

I knew not to get in the pro photog's way, but as she was getting ready to take the group photos, she came up to me and said something completely rude and walked off. I wish I could remember exactly what she said. And that wasn't the only time I wish I had brought my voice recorder with me.

Most people are nice, so you'll probably have a better experience.

[tim]

I set up an aunty's Rebel today, I could hear her shutter was at about 1/20th taking a group photo so I changed the ISO for her. If we're not in a rush, and we weren't today, I invite anyone with a camera to take a photo before me. Then I set the group up properly and take mine :)

[ssnxp]

I set up an aunty's Rebel today, I could hear her shutter was at about 1/20th taking a group photo so I changed the ISO for her. If we're not in a rush, and we weren't today, I invite anyone with a camera to take a photo before me. Then I set the group up properly and take mine :)

Haha that's sweet of you. Well, just got back in town from the wedding. I have about 600 or so pictures to sort through, but man..

There were a TON of photographers. She had a hired team of three photogs/assistants and another video team that had a photographer also. Then about 5 or so more relatives with SLRs trying to get in the mix.. I didn't even bother introducing myself, the main photog didn't even speak English. I tried to keep out of everyone's way as much as possible. It felt like a paparazzi orgy, and I didn't want to contribute to the claustrophobic feel.. Crazy wedding. Amazing though.

[Wilt]

Thank you, I'll take this into consideration. Hopefully the reception is well lit..



I felt that it softened the light a bit, but I haven't tested it a whole lot. Might just be my eyes.. thanks for the advice. So bare flash, basically?

SIZE softens shadow edges. If it does not bounce off the ceiling, there is virtually no increase in size of the source, so little true softening of shadows. Omnibounce is useless without a ceiling, and serves only to waste light and drain your batteries faster.

[tim]

Like Wilt says, size matters. Ask any woman.

[ssnxp]

Haha yes, I understand that now. I used the Omni when I had a low ceiling and walls, but a bare flash when we got to the hotel/reception hall. Both bounce, of course.

Didn't produce any pictures of the actual wedding, but here are a few of my favorites (run through DPP, nothing else):

1. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4142221066_108b9571d5_b.jpg

2. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/4142218446_c4de77158e_b.jpg

3. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/4141469507_6aacaffac3_b.jpg




And.. here's one of about 1/4th of the paparazzi:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/4141467311_80f4644218_b.jpg



Any C&C on the first three?

[ssnxp]

Anyone have C&C for me? I have another wedding tomorrow, and I'd love tips on how I could improve.

Especially shot 3, since that's the only real shot.

[RT McAllister]

The photos are great and well exposed. Except #1... looks like the window to her left blew out some of the roses though.

#3 is a keeper for sure. My brides usually have that, "you're stepping on my foot!" expression. :mrgreen:

[Wilt]

Did you shoot this in JPG camera capture? If so, the use of RAW capture and a RAW convertor program would permit you to adjust the lower brightness tonality with the 'fill' function, to add some detail into the dark jacket.

And the color is over saturated for my taste, especially in the bride's skin tones.

Also, your shots are exhibiting a touch of the infamous Canon eTTL underexposure, so I would dial in some FEC into the shots, as they are a bit underexposed. I'd show you what a bit of more exposure would do, but you do not have Image Editing OK in your profile.

[Wilt]

Like Wilt says, size matters. Ask any woman.

Yes, softer shadow edges, less accenting any wrinkles which might be starting to appear. And keep in mind that it is not merely size alone, but how well you use it...60" from 6' away is no better than 30" from 3' away! ;)

[ssnxp]

The photos are great and well exposed. Except #1... looks like the window to her left blew out some of the roses though.

#3 is a keeper for sure. My brides usually have that, "you're stepping on my foot!" expression. :mrgreen:

Thanks, I pumped up the highlights to give it a Heavenly/blown out look, so that may be what is going on with #1.

Did you shoot this in JPG camera capture? If so, the use of RAW capture and a RAW convertor program would permit you to adjust the lower brightness tonality with the 'fill' function, to add some detail into the dark jacket.

And the color is over saturated for my taste, especially in the bride's skin tones.

Also, your shots are exhibiting a touch of the infamous Canon eTTL underexposure, so I would dial in some FEC into the shots, as they are a bit underexposed. I'd show you what a bit of more exposure would do, but you do not have Image Editing OK in your profile.

It's on now, I forgot about that. :D
I see what you mean about being over saturated, I forgot these are supposed to be "wedding" pictures. I ran these through DPP with other pictures that needed saturating (skating rink pictures outside the hotel) and I got used to saturating.

Yes, softer shadow edges, less accenting any wrinkles which might be starting to appear. And keep in mind that it is not merely size alone, but how well you use it...60" from 6' away is no better than 30" from 3' away! ;)

So it's just about how big it looks. ;)

[Wilt]

Here is a brightened shot restoring detail in the dark jacket and his hair and her hair, and de-saturating colors for more natural flesh tones...

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i63/wiltonw/4141469507_alt2.jpg

[ssnxp]

Here is a brightened shot restoring detail in the dark jacket and his hair and her hair, and de-saturating colors for more natural flesh tones...


Looks more natural. Thank you! I need to chill out with the saturation.

[Wilt]

Looks more natural. Thank you! I need to chill out with the saturation.


yeah too much saturation will only serve to accentuate the blemishes the bride or others might have on their faces. but more importantly, the exposure is brighter so the jacket does not look like the inside of a coal mine.