How I photograph receptions

[tim]

According to Mike @ Tricoast the new PWs range is very limited using 580EX flashes - 30 or 40ft. With a 430EX the range is higher. It has something to do with interference. Check the tricoast blog for details.

[form]

That rather sucks.

[mritchy]

I wish I could do things like this..

[Pigsy]

Tim, have you ever tried this setup on small groups, say 10 people, in say a dimly lit church ?, or similar venue ?

I was toying with getting some actual studio lights, such as the larger Elinchrom ones, just for the days that are rainy, or even just for group indoor shots, but if this works in darker situations, I may well just go for this sort of setup.

Jim..

[tim]

Originally Posted by Pigsy

Tim, have you ever tried this setup on small groups, say 10 people, in say a dimly lit church ?, or similar venue ?

Nope. Light is light, really, speedlites or strobes. Church formals are tough to do well, i've only done them once, I used studio lights and shoot through umbrellas, but it was a modern church with a wall not far behind them so I didn't have any issues.

[biggpopa]

I have a shoot to do in a hotel. Bride and Groom want some pics with their family. Would you just use a flash on camera?....might be difficult to bounce as I do believe the ceiling is high. OR, would I be better off mounting the flash on a stand?

My only worry is lighting up the groups of people.

[tim]

I'd use the same setup as for receptions, except shot through umbrellas up high. This works for one row, maybe two. I might use studio strobes as the stands go higher if there were more groups, or you can zoom the flash heads to 105mm and bounce off high ceilings.

If you have questions that don't relate to the topic of the thread i'd suggest you start a thread to gather general advice.

[mattograph]

Originally Posted by biggpopa

I have a shoot to do in a hotel. Bride and Groom want some pics with their family. Would you just use a flash on camera?....might be difficult to bounce as I do believe the ceiling is high. OR, would I be better off mounting the flash on a stand?

My only worry is lighting up the groups of people.

Not to hijack tims thread, but if you go to kelbytraining.com, David Ziser has about 6 hours of video instruction on shooting brides and grooms with on camera and off camera flash, all served up in nice little 3-5 minute lessons that are easy to swallow and digest. It is incredibly detailed yet easy to follow. Cost is $20 per month for a member ship, but you could easily get through them in a month and drop it.

Best $20 I ever spent.

BTW -- He shoots Canon, so even all his camera setup info (white balance, exposure comp) is tailor made for us.....

[biggpopa]

Originally Posted by tim

If you have questions that don't relate to the topic of the thread i'd suggest you start a thread to gather general advice.

Thanks for the info. I'm also shooting their reception, and your info was very helpful. I thought I'd just thrown in a question about the hotel. Thanks again.

[timecut]

second for the david ziser's video in kelbytraining

[S-Man]

What about Gelling, Tim?
Do you ever gel the speedlites to match ambient? Say, CTO or anything?

[nexsim]

Originally Posted by S-Man

What about Gelling, Tim?
Do you ever gel the speedlites to match ambient? Say, CTO or anything?

I tried once this setup, but I didn't gel the speedlites due to mixed light sources, the result I was getting was awful. I guess if you're using faster shutter speeds and you don't allow that much ambient light, there's no need for gelling. But let's wait for Tim's answer

BTW Tim could you post more picture samples with almost no ambient light and with ambient light?

[cdifoto]

Originally Posted by tim

I could have hidden the stands, or I could photoshop out the light stands, but I don't see a big need.

Same here. I try to shoot to keep them out of the frame but I don't cry a river if I have a great shot and they're in it - and neither do my clients. It's not like it's a blockbuster movie set.

Originally Posted by tim

I move the lights whenever I need to. As they are they light the front half of the hall fine. I have the on camera speedlite if I need to light other places.

I'm too into it to move my lights. I tend to put one in each corner though so the whole room's lit up instead.

[tim]

Originally Posted by S-Man

What about Gelling, Tim?
Do you ever gel the speedlites to match ambient? Say, CTO or anything?

You lose around 1/2 a stop with a gel, the speedlites are working hard enough already when they're bouncing off the ceiling, a gel just means I need to use full power. That's not good for them at the rate I take photos. Plus I tend to replace the light, rather than compliment it, receptions are so dark.

Originally Posted by jimb12345

i would have come up a little bit more than you did. but this is a great photo.

The foreground's lit by on camera as fill, the lights only lit the head table. Again, it takes too much power to light a whole room.

Originally Posted by cdifoto

I'm too into it to move my lights. I tend to put one in each corner though so the whole room's lit up instead.

Same comment - i'd do that if I had my studio lights out.

Occasionally I shoot direct at about 1/16th when there's no white ceiling, that works pretty well too.

[cdifoto]

Originally Posted by tim

Again, it takes too much power to light a whole room.



Same comment - i'd do that if I had my studio lights out.

Occasionally I shoot direct at about 1/16th when there's no white ceiling, that works pretty well too.

I find that 2 Vivitars on each stand @ about 1/2 power each is plenty for the average reception hall. I'm still using ISO800 or thereabouts though to make it easier. I can always crank it up to ISO1600 and go to full power adding a little patience to the recipe for the bigger places, and I still have the 580EX on the camera.

I haven't gotten my direct flash down yet. I tried it a couple times but I'm not quite there with it.