What setup to use - Wedding party

Kid Colgan · 4th of July 2011 (Mon)

Hi,

A friend has asked me to shoot his evening wedding party. I'm a newbie and he knows that, so he isn't expecting Pro-level work. He just wants something better than the average drunk snap.

My kit is listed below on my signature. Can someone recommend the best setup as I don't want to be messing round all night with switching various kit.

The conditions will be indoors, at night. Usual low level venue lighting and disco lighting.

Red Tie Photography · 4th of July 2011 (Mon)

Im not too familiar with the 15-85, but im guessing it is a step up from the kit 18-55. I would use that, your camera (obviously) and your flash. If you know how to bounce, wonderful. If you dont, get some snaps and be happy.

howzitboy · 4th of July 2011 (Mon)

id bring the 15-85 and the 50mm f1.8.
the 15-85 has IS on it so you should be able to handhold some slower shutter speeds but its slow. the 50mm can save you if the other lens is just to slow.
id really think about renting a lens tho..

Peacefield · 4th of July 2011 (Mon)

I'm not personally familiar with any of those lenses except the 50 1.8 which focues too slowly in low light. Go with whatever lens gives you a decent image plus decent low light performance. The biggest deal is ensuring that you have good skills with your flash. If you don't already know, read up on bouncing techniques and practice them. This will have more impact (both positive or negative) on the quality of your image then lens selection.

Kid Colgan · 4th of July 2011 (Mon)

Cheers everyone. I'm gonna put in some practice with the flash probably in manual mode. I've got a mini diffuser which I'm hoping will help give a nice light

Peacefield · 4th of July 2011 (Mon)

Depending on the nature of the venue, I would encourage you AWAY from those diffusers and tell you to bounce the flash off the ceiling with the aid of a bounce card. My bounce card is nothing more than $1.50 piece of styrene plastic that I velcro onto the top of the flash. I can adjust it up or down depending on how much or how little light I want to throw forward compared with how much is coming down from the ceiling. There are other approaches, this is the one I prefer. It costs little other than time to practice.

Mike · 6th of July 2011 (Wed)

I agree with Peacefield, I've started using my stofen much less and going more with the bounce card. Even high ceilings are not a problem.

4th of July 2011 (Mon)	#1
Kid Colgan Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Glossop, England Posts: 148	What setup to use - Wedding party Hi, A friend has asked me to shoot his evening wedding party. I'm a newbie and he knows that, so he isn't expecting Pro-level work. He just wants something better than the average drunk snap. My kit is listed below on my signature. Can someone recommend the best setup as I don't want to be messing round all night with switching various kit. The conditions will be indoors, at night. Usual low level venue lighting and disco lighting. __________________ Canon 450D, Canon 50mm F/1.8, 18-55mm kit, 55-250mm kit, Canon 15-85mm, speedlite 430ex ii, lowepro primus, lowepro slingshot 202aw, Canon Pixma MG6150

4th of July 2011 (Mon)	#2
Red Tie Photography Goldmember Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 3,490 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: What setup to use - Wedding party Im not too familiar with the 15-85, but im guessing it is a step up from the kit 18-55. I would use that, your camera (obviously) and your flash. If you know how to bounce, wonderful. If you dont, get some snaps and be happy. __________________ Bryan Gear List San Diego Wedding Photography - Red Tie Photography Red Tie Photography Blog

4th of July 2011 (Mon)	#3
howzitboy Goldmember Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hawaii Posts: 2,887 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: What setup to use - Wedding party id bring the 15-85 and the 50mm f1.8. the 15-85 has IS on it so you should be able to handhold some slower shutter speeds but its slow. the 50mm can save you if the other lens is just to slow. id really think about renting a lens tho..

4th of July 2011 (Mon)	#4
Peacefield Goldmember Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 3,866	Re: What setup to use - Wedding party I'm not personally familiar with any of those lenses except the 50 1.8 which focues too slowly in low light. Go with whatever lens gives you a decent image plus decent low light performance. The biggest deal is ensuring that you have good skills with your flash. If you don't already know, read up on bouncing techniques and practice them. This will have more impact (both positive or negative) on the quality of your image then lens selection. __________________ Robert Wayne Photography 5D3, 5D2, 50D, 350D * 16-35 2.8 II, 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8 IS, 100-400 IS, 100 L Macro, 35 1.4, 85 1.2 II, Tokina 10-17 fish * 580 EX II (3) Stratos triggers * Other Stuff plus a Pelican 1624 to haul it all

4th of July 2011 (Mon)	#5
Kid Colgan Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Glossop, England Posts: 148	Re: What setup to use - Wedding party Cheers everyone. I'm gonna put in some practice with the flash probably in manual mode. I've got a mini diffuser which I'm hoping will help give a nice light __________________ Canon 450D, Canon 50mm F/1.8, 18-55mm kit, 55-250mm kit, Canon 15-85mm, speedlite 430ex ii, lowepro primus, lowepro slingshot 202aw, Canon Pixma MG6150

6th of July 2011 (Wed)	#7
Mike ugly when I'm sober Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sandwich UK...the place, not the food! Posts: 14,923 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: What setup to use - Wedding party I agree with Peacefield, I've started using my stofen much less and going more with the bounce card. Even high ceilings are not a problem. __________________ www.mikegreenphotography.co.uk Gear UK South Easterners flickr Blog 5∞px Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? ::: A closed mouth gathers no foot.

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