What Kind Of Lighting Equipment For Weddings?

I have one speedlite 430exII and and a flash bracket, and I find that doesn't really cut it most of the time. What are some good pieces of lighting equipment I could get?

The better the value the better. I'm looking for bang for buck and not absolute quality regardless of price.

Thanks for the advice! Best wishes!

You could add a 2nd 430exII, a pair of stands, umbrellas and wireless triggers, but I would add a backup body and beef up your lens lineup before going there.

The 5.6 lens is problem number one.
Then as said, get a body that supports high ISO properly 40D or newer.

580EX or 580EXII for primary.
Additional speedlites on stands are helpful.

It not just a speedlite question. Its a combination of ISO performance, ambient light and speedlites. That's why glass and body are just as much part of the solution as a speedlite.

The 430EXII and bracket are Ok but you need faster lens... I like the 24-70 F2.8, 70-200MII combo... For the church you need more lights but it also depends on how the church ilumination was designed. Another thing to avoid is killing the ambient light with your flash at the reception. I like the 430EXII over the 580EXII because it weights less and after the event I still can feel my fingers and arms. Good luck.

Regards,

The best "value" I can suggest is simply renting a better lens to suit your needs.

SunnyOctopus wrote in post #12463629
I have one speedlite 430exII and and a flash bracket, and I find that doesn't really cut it most of the time. What are some good pieces of lighting equipment I could get?

The better the value the better. I'm looking for bang for buck and not absolute quality regardless of price.

Thanks for the advice! Best wishes!

If you are getting paid to shoot weddings, then you'll need to get a backup body.

As for lenses, the typical suggestion, at least on a FF camera, is 24-70 + 70-200 f2.8. Fill in with primes.

As for lighting, look at off-brand lighting, like the YongNuo YN-560, for instance.

I have a 580EX, I burn't up my 430EX a while back. I purchased a YN460-II about 2 months ago so I would have a flash for both cameras. I have been well pleased with the YN460, so I ordered another one 2 weeks ago...true its not the 580EX class, but for those on restricted budgets....its a cool buy. Amazon.com took like 5 days to get.

Pardon me for replying off topic but... Stephen, nice website gallery and song too! Those are awesome shots, what the name of that song? Peter

Sorry to be a jerk....but...If you really have to ask, you shouldn't be a wedding photographer.

Example.

I have the follow:

3x Einsteins
3x 580EX II's
2x LP160's
reflectors
modifiers

but since I have all that, doesn't mean I use it at every wedding. Sometimes I only use the reflectors, other times I use the 580s, or LP's for more fill.

Or overpowering the bright sun from a distance, I use the Einsteins.

So, learn photography and your ability more before you ruin someones day by not knowing your ability or what things do

spaztastic wrote in post #12469929
Sorry to be a jerk....but...If you really have to ask, you shouldn't be a wedding photographer.

...

So, learn photography and your ability more before you ruin someones day by not knowing your ability or what things do

I'm gonna have to agree with this. That being said, its not like a lot of us haven't gotten in over our heads at some point, so its more like the voice of experience.

The mere fact that you say your 430exII "doesn't cut it most of the time" means that you are letting people down at the weddings you are photographing, and you know it.

A simple answer to your question is this:
What you have would probably be fine for shooting aisle shots and reception shots (in a medium to small church/reception hall). If you're setting up shots of the wedding party indoors (which you should be), you need a minimum of two strobes (some shoot with one, I just prefer more fill). These strobes can then be set up at the reception to make your own light where there likely is none. Use different effects with your flash on the bracket.... drag the shutter with 2nd curtain sync for some good motion shots, etc.

Longer and better answer: read, read, read, read, read. look at lots of wedding photos from good photographers. analyze the lighting used. read some more. shoot as a second shooter with a very experienced photographer (more than once). read. then shoot your own wedding (with backup equipment at the ready).

There are a ton of threads already about the subject. Search can give you more information too