Remote Camera at Alter - Tips?

On Sept 6 I plan to try a remote camera at the alter probably at a 45 degree angle somewhere beside the officiant angled up at the couple or higher to get some shots of the couple.

I plan to use these items ad fire it from a PW TT1 on another Canon as I waunder around shooting with a 70-200.

1) tripod either splayed out or higher
2) Pocket Wizard TT5 on 5D MKIII in silent mode with keep alive cable.
3) 17-40 f4 at 17mm (This is the widest I have?
4) single focal point?

I am sure some of you have done this many times so any tips or tricks and things to watch out for would be much appreciated.

Silent mode is still not real silent. Consider a blimp.


No. ........ This kind.


http://www.csirentals.​com …mp-for-canon-dslr-hd.html
http://petapixel.com …camera-for-less-than-100/

Might want to run your set up past the person in charge. Some can be quite temperamental. You want no last minute surprises.
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=oReLN5nntKw
Don't even get me started on this guy.

I always ask the officiant where I can and cannot go. I also plan to let the officiant hear the shutter sound to make sure they are ok with it.

I also plan to let the bride and groom know of my plans and if the couple wants this they can help in the discussion with the officiant. If either the officiant or the couple don't want it behind them or off to the side then I will respect that obviously and will plan to place the remote in the balcony or another location.

The other thing is even if you are allowed to place it on the alter don't machine gun the vows, you need only to use it sparingly.

In that video it seems there might have been no discussions on this or way too many shooters behind and that officiant did not set the rules before the ceremony, therefore making it embarrassing for everyone. Its the officiant's fault what a moron.

He ruined the ceremony, embarrassed the couple and everyone else present and made himself out to be a real ogre!

I had a catholic priest one time and during rehearsal while discussing the photo plans with him I casually placed my foot on the bottom step of the alter. He did not like this and told me it was holy and to remove my foot from the step. I then knew this guy was a jerk and steered clear of him throughout the ceremony.

Thanks for the idea. I'm thinking of getting more into wedding photography and think that it's a great idea to have something set up behind the officiant. It's great to discuss with the couple and officiant ahead of time.

Yes they seems to be an interest in this for sure, it would be helpful if more folks would chime in on what works and what doesn't from a technical stand point of doing this. i.e focusing methods, angles low or high these types of things plus some sample shots would be great as well.

I have thought about trying this but have not followed though mainly for the following reason: During a ceremony, or even in general, you can only make a limited number of unique shots with a static camera at a static focal length. I can't imagine giving back more than 1 or two of these photos (the kiss would be a cool one, I admit). So the time spent setting it up, and having it be inaccessible during my shoot (for those with only 3 cameras, it might not be prudent to only have access to 2) for just a couple more photos doesn't seem to be worth it to me.

If I were to do it, though, I'd have it up high (maybe 10-12 feet up), swiveled down and pre-focused where the bride and groom will be standing. I'd probably want a high enough f-stop to have the front row 'within' the focal plane to get reaction during the first kiss.

@OP: Also--I know most photographers have overlapping redundancy of focal lengths, but if you use the 17-40 on the remote camera setup, do you still have something wider than 70 or 50 to actually shoot the main photos for the ceremony ?

It would probably help greatly if you didnt think the officiant or priest or minister was a jerk. sigh Respect whatever their wishes are. The ceremony is more than a photo op for many involved.