Little help please

Been awhile and I would like some help on an outdoor wedding. Its in 3 days.

I'm not a pro photographer. I was asked to do my GF's son's outdoor wedding. I said no I will not be responsible for that. But they will have no photo's if I don't so I said I would take some photos.

OK, settings, where do I start. I have a T2I, 2 canon flashes, Pocket Wizards plus 3's,
50mm 1.8, 28 - 135, and a 100-400.

Mainly looking for quick ways to expose correctly using fill flash with correct background exposure.

I always shoot manual but I'm thinking there is a better mode to shoot ETTL and take out some guess work. I have almost no experience with people outside.

Here is a link of what I like to shoot, but I am rusty even with that.

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/77200552@N06/

If its your first time photographing a wedding, I wouldn't spend much time on how to light it as I would on where and how to direct it. From experience, what you think is going to work, never does when factoring in strict timelines, changing light and the dynamics of people. The best advice I can give is put a flash on top of your T2i and dial down the FEC to -1... The focus assist will be helpful, and the flash will provide a tiny bit of fill, but not enough to take over the exposure.

Let me rephrase that first sentence... Don't spend much time thinking about how to add additional light (strobes), but don't ignore good light. If anything, go out a head of time, and find pockets of shade you can use for portraits... and where your troublesome spots are...

Are you talking about taking photos during the ceremony or for portraits afterward?

Yes I always put a flash on and directing it scars the crap out of me.

I will be putting out the word to them to go online and decide what type of photos they would like to get. Shoes, kisses, groups, ( I'll have a hard time with groups)

What lens kills me also. I haven't got much to choose from. Think I'll just use the 100-400 and the 28-135. These I use most anyway.

Your right, maybe I'm overthinking light already. Done got out the umbrellas and I'm not real good with them.

I've never done a wedding, mostly just wildlife. It a small wedding for the kids that don't have much. Married a few times I would say don't do it. But they live and learn. So I'll help get them something to remember it.

Just setting up the shots will be a challenge for me. Maybe I'll get some good candid shots to help. Maybe they'll research and ask for the special one's.

Thanks Trent.

supfresh,
the whole thing.

Hardrock40 wrote in post #16375648
supfresh,
the whole thing.

Honestly, the easiest way for me to fill is to use a Lightsphere. I almost never use direct bare flash from my camera. If you have Amazon Prime, I would highly suggest getting one of these, there arecheap alternative lightsphere for ~$15 which do the trick. Just put it on, aim it at 0 degrees and shoot away.

If this were me, I would plan to shoot primarily with the 50mm f1.8, it is a very capable lens. For group shots, I would suggest using the 50 as well, stopped at f4/f5.6, depending on how many people there are. A very important thing on groupshots: make sure they don't start forming a crescent, keep them all in straight rows. If you decide to shoot with the 28-135, I wouldn't recommend shooting it wide at 28, since there will be unflattering distortion. You can place two speedlites on the left and right of the group at 45 degrees, and shoot in manual ~1/4, 1/8, bare and direct.

If you're allowed to use flash during the ceremony, you can set your speedlites on a stand and place them 180 degrees from each other, and shoot in manual at around 1/16, 1/8. This will give you the bare minimum coverage to be able to walk around and shoot from almost wherever, and gives you the flexibility of controlling your settings from your camera instead of relying on ETTL (which never works for me).

Your 100-400 for telephoto will produce some great shots, if there is enough light.

Hope this helped, at least a little bit.

I like the thought of setting up 2 speedlites then moving around. My gear covers that. I also wouldn't mind some bounce off a white umbrella. but it would be in the way.

I know the 50mm is a capable lens but I have no experience with it, might get some tho. I do hope the weather / light is good for the long lens. They are the kind of people who don't nick pic photos. That's good for me, if I can just get some nice shots they will be happy.

Its one of those things where they think am real big time pro but I don't have wedding skills or people skills for it. I just found out today they want photos taken at a civil war battlefield / park and the event is on a farm.

Wish I had a 70-200L and a 24 -105 and a 7D to prevent lens swapping. But all that ain't gona happen.

Yea, you helped, I'll be reading this for a couple days. I took the 1-400 out today for awhile to try some hand held stuff. Its a beast and most always is on a tripod with a remote. Gives me confidence like that.

Thanks again.

Good luck, and share your experience and photos with us!