First Christening client!!! (need help)

[5W0L3]

Hey, I have a client who wants me to cover her Greek Orthodox christening in a month+ time and I have never done any christenings before.. I usually do birthday parties / Couple shoots / Engagement Parties etc.

She asked me if I had done any christening and I said no, but I would still like to know a fair bit about them before shooting one so I can plan ahead.

Can someone please help me / explain the main things that happen at a Greek Orthodox christening? and any thing I should specifically know in regards to shooting them?

[ScullenCrossBones]

Call the church office and ask about photography of the christening ceremony. Ask to speak to the associate pastor or pastor's assistant. Many churches have a policy against flash photography, but the official performing the service may or may not enforce that policy. I find that they seem to enforce policy against the pro photographer but don't against everyone else with a P&S.

I don't think I've done a Greek Orthodox service, but in my experience, every church does christenings differently. Just be ready for anything. Take one or two formal photos after the service and add in any relatives that may be there.

[frugivore]

Well, the parents and godparents participate, along with the priest and the baby. They strip the baby naked, pour oil over him/her, dunk the baby in a cauldron of water, cut a piece of the hair off, and dress the baby in a white baptismal outfit. All the while, the priest is chanting/saying prayers and the baby is crying at the top of its lungs.

I've only shot two of them, one with and one without flash. I found that my 24-70 was sufficient.

Edit: Have a look through YouTube to get an idea. For example, this.

[neil_r]

might be worth seeing one before shooting one.

[cpam.pix]

Watch the lighting in the Greek Orthodox churches. The ones that I've been (never shot, though) in have lots of blue stained glass and the church is awash in blue light.

My wife was in a wedding in Greek Orthodox church...wearing a "Pepto-Bismol Pink" bridesmaid's dress. They looked the color of HubbaBubba bubble gum outside the church. However, when washed in the blue light the dresses became a bit "tamed" in their color.

[5W0L3]

The client was happy when he met me and they have hired me for the event. He said the church is "very bright", so i'm guessing using a flash or not shouldn't be a problem either way since there will be plenty of ambient light there. I'l go check it out in a few days.

Also how do you guys use the flash in church if you are allowed, bounced? What about churches that have extremely high roofs, do you still bounce?

[frugivore]

Originally Posted by 5W0L3

The client was happy when he met me and they have hired me for the event. He said the church is "very bright", so i'm guessing using a flash or not shouldn't be a problem either way since there will be plenty of ambient light there. I'l go check it out in a few days.

Also how do you guys use the flash in church if you are allowed, bounced? What about churches that have extremely high roofs, do you still bounce?

The ambient is ok, not the greatest. For christenings, I was able to get closer to the action than with some weddings though, where I might need a 70-200.

The one where I used flash, I used an assistant to carry the flash around to direct it on the people so I could get the best lighting angle. Most of these orthodox churches aren't bounce-friendly. Here is an example: