Disappointed with Low-lighting Wedding Coverage

[Aliengreen]

I recently purchased photo equipment for weddings and similar events, based on the recommendations and advice given in this site as well as others. On the whole, these centered mainly on having fast lenses capable of covering low lighting, indoor situations, wherein weddings and other occasions are most often found (with the added consideration that most churches do not allow the use of flash or strobes during the ceremonies).

However, having tried the gear at home, in a room with ambient and incident light similar to a small chapel or bride's dressing room, I am disappointed to discover even with a f/2.8 aperture opening, I find I could not have sharply focused, properly exposed images unless I use a flash. I am for natural lighting, but now dread to approach a potential client for business unless I nail this technique. How is it done, this coverage in low light, without any flash or strobe that potentially destroys the drama ambient light provides? I have tried several strategies, from setting the camera to a higher ISO to diffusing the flash in order to disguise its more unflattering effects, but I am far from satisfied. I am not sure also if there are wedding photographers who bring a tripod to church; must I bring one?

I have seen the websites of the top wedding photographers such as Joe Buissink and Jeff Ascough, and I am amazed how they captured their subjects without the assistance of flash (and with hand held, tripod-less cameras too). Though we all strive to be unique in our photography, I think just to be able to apply the basic techniques of low light photography is a lesson all photographers should learn. In this regard, any help would be most welcome and appreciated.

[e r y k]

can you post some examples with maybe some exif? it will be much easier for people to help you out that way

[Aliengreen]

Ok, here's a few I took around the house at around 10AM. The first is my son and I took it with bouncing a hotshoe flash up the ceiling. I was going for a ring- or flower bearer situation, possibly at a procession. The second was also bounce flash, this time 45 degrees swiveled to the right, approximating a shot of a bride's accessories for the ceremony. The third (next thread) was natural light, streaming through a window behind me, possibly similar to a chapel's or small church.

[Aliengreen]

Here's the third. The EXIF for:
Pic 01
f/Stop - f/2.8
ISO - 200
focal length - 50mm
shutter - 1/100 sec

Pic 02
f/Stop - f/2.8
ISO - 200
focal length - 50mm
shutter - 1/60 sec

Pic 03
f/Stop - f/2.8
ISO - 200
focal length - 50mm
shutter - 1/60 sec

All taken with a 17-50mm Tamron f/2.8 lens mounted on a Canon 40D.

I just want to take it to the next level if possible, am not just sure how to go about it...Thanks

[cdifoto]

Originally Posted by Aliengreen

I have seen the websites of the top wedding photographers such as Joe Buissink and Jeff Ascough, and I am amazed how they captured their subjects without the assistance of flash (and with hand held, tripod-less cameras too).

Who says they don't use flash?

[Borderfox]

One possibility is to use something like a 50mm f1.4 or to continue the equipment you use with the flash attached and set it only to use the af assist light on the flash to help you focus in low light. Using flash creatively is an art and needs lots and lots of practice especially in situations where the difference between exposing the subject and the ambient light is so much.

[cdifoto]

By the way. Get the hell off of ISO200. You'll never get your shutter speeds up that way.

[silvex]

Yeah ISO 200 in indoors is asking for trouble...at LEAST 400...with the 40D 800 easy!

[e r y k]

it seems like to me that your flash is too overpowering and taking over the ambient light. try to balance the flash with the surroundings so it looks more natural.

you can do that by decreasing the shutter speed/lowering fstop, and like others have mentioned, raising the ISO will help you get there

[dawnrogers]

You really need to up your ISO.....if you can't use flash in the church there is no way round it, don't be put off increasing the ISO..it looks more grainy on your computer than it does when they are printed.

If you are allowed to use flash in the church then use it, try a bit of flash compensation so that things aren't flashed out.

But if your really that worried about all of these things I'd go get plenty of practice by setting up a mock wedding before photographing anyones special day..
Experience of this type of thing is invaluable....

[Aliengreen]

Thanks everyone! Very insightful, and I'm going to try your suggestions on this..

cdifoto, regarding Joe Buissink/Jeff Ascough, I thought they didn't use flash after watching "Masters of Wedding Photography I," but reading an interview just 10 mins ago, I find Ascough does use flash after all. Guess their selected photos just doesn't show it...

Okay, got it everyone: get off 200 and use a higher ISO, flash photography is an art, and balancing it with ambient light is the key. Practice practice practice!

All taken to heart folks..thanks a ton again!

[ofdphoto]

I regularly use ISO1600 for entire ceremonies (on 30D's) and if necessary I'll use ISO3200. Whenever flash is welcome/practical/appropriate I'll use ISO800 to keep some ambient light coming in.

[kato1]

It's quite common to use ISO's of upto 1600 and on occassion 3200 for weddings.

In post production run your images through a program such as 'noiseware' to reduce some of the grain. If you nail your exposures the noise shouldn't be too serious.

[ofdphoto]

I don't use noise removal except for badly underexposed shots. Noise is better than plasticity IMO

[cdifoto]

Originally Posted by Aliengreen

cdifoto, regarding Joe Buissink/Jeff Ascough, I thought they didn't use flash after watching "Masters of Wedding Photography I," but reading an interview just 10 mins ago, I find Ascough does use flash after all. Guess their selected photos just doesn't show it...

I use flash for just about every image, excepting those where it's prohibited. However, I don't believe my images show that I use flash...and that's the whole idea. I'm certainly no Buissink but my goal is to blend flash with the ambient so you can't tell it's there, or if flash is the primary/only light source, bounce it in such a way that it looks normal. The only images on my website without flash are during the ceremonies. I suspect Buissink does the same for his photos - including some of those on his website.