Wedding Photography Question

I am shooting my first and hopefully last wedding this coming weekend! This is for a friend who probably couldn't afford a photographer if I hadn't stepped in. It is being done as a favor so no money is changing hands.

I have been considering the lighting and here is what I have come up with:

The church is a stone building with 16' high brown ceilings. Overall lighting is not great. Camera is a 5diii and I will be using the 24-105 F4 and the 70-200 F2.8 I am planning to use the Canon 600EX flash on camera, hopefully bounced off the ceiling. I am planning to use the flash just for a bit of fill. The plan is to set manual exposure to just slightly under exposed - which will mean ramping my ISO up and then using the flash on ETTL probably +2/3

The hall is a little easier in that it is 14' white ceilings and reasonably well lit. I am planning on two 600EX flashes on stands one on each side of the room and one on camera bouncing off the ceiling with my
settings very similar to those of the church.

All 600EX flashes will have portable battery packs attached for more life and faster cycle times.

Does this sound like a reasonable plan of attack?

If you're using the flash for fill, be aware of ambient light source colors. If the interior church lights (assuming you're not being lit by sunlight through windows) are incandescent, you may want a CTO gel for your flash to match. With newer cameras (I shoot a Nikon D750), I been finding the need to use flashes for weddings less and less. The f/4 lens will be a tad slow, but it should still do. Using higher, but still clean, ISOs will save your flash batteries and give you more pops per charge. I'll do that some days so I'm changing batteries less.

So should I consider renting the 24 - 70 F2.8? Also being as I am only using the flash for fill what should I try to keep my shutter speed to for things like dancing?

I shot a wedding a few weeks ago in a chapel that sounds a little like the church you're talking about. It was SO DARK in there. I set the camera at f5.6 (and tried f4 as well) and a shutter speed of 1/125 - 1/250, and for proper exposure, ISO ranged from 12,800 to 20,000. If ambient light is contributing to the shot, 1/250 should freeze walking motion (coming down the aisle). If it's not contributing, you can go slower on the shutter and let the flash freeze motion for you. The high brown ceilings with wood beams weren't exactly ideal for bouncing flash. I had to run my 580EX at full power to get the ISO down to 1600-3200. I used only f2.8 lenses in the chapel, and I think something like the 24-105 f4 would have hunted like crazy in those conditions. When you're shooting the dance floor at the reception, didn't you say you'll have 3 600EX flashes going? If so, and assuming there's more ambient light than at the church, you should be able to play around quite a bit with shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to freeze action..and probably at ISO 400-800 tops.

make sure the rabbi/rector/whatever allows flash photography during the ceremony.

on camera fill can be done with direct flash if you can suck in enough ambient … ettl makes sense here.

If i were using manual on camera i would also be using manual for the bounce flash … as said above the flash will probably be running full power anyway.

you don't have much time to mess around but if you get a chance, test shots are always the best idea.

Thanks! Even though this is a favor I really don't want to screw it up! Good point about asking permission first although the minister is the Groom's father and it is a decommissioned church so I am not expecting much of a problem.

i didn't really read the part about the hall, since it was going to be easer. Honestly, if you can use flash in the chapel, i would set up the flashes at the back of the room (16 foot ceilings = small room right?) and run ETTL triggers if you have them.

Otherwise just set them to let you get a little more light and go for it.

Northwoods Bill wrote in post #17735459
Thanks! Even though this is a favor I really don't want to screw it up! Good point about asking permission first although the minister is the Groom's father and it is a decommissioned church so I am not expecting much of a problem.

my wife and I got married in an old church that was no longer being used, minister did not let the photographer use flash during the ceremony.

fwiw.

So you are suggesting running all three flashes in the church as well. So then a question, and I need a quick answer... What is the best way to trigger the 600EX. If I am facing the ceremony with the 600 on camera facing forward will the optical triggers on the other two flashes see the flash assuming I have the optical sensors facing forward as well?

I really don't expect a problem using flash in the church.

Also for a typical wedding will three sets of batteries per flash (running 12 per flash - 4 in the flash and 8 in the pack) be enough?

I am texting right now to verify there not being an issue with flash.

Didnt read anything anyone else posted but.... Have a written contract, even if it is for free. Outline what they are getting. There are too many stories of these things going bad and "friends" bringing each other to court. Treat them like a client. They are already going to expect special treatment because you are friends. You are doing it for free so they are going to expect EVERYTHING for free. The RAWs, edits, re-edits.... Just do yourself a favor and get a contract together and cover yourself.

Northwoods Bill wrote in post #17735477
So you are suggesting running all three flashes in the church as well. So then a question, and I need a quick answer... What is the best way to trigger the 600EX. If I am facing the ceremony with the 600 on camera facing forward will the optical triggers on the other two flashes see the flash assuming I have the optical sensors facing forward as well?

I really don't expect a problem using flash in the church.

Also for a typical wedding will three sets of batteries per flash (running 12 per flash - 4 in the flash and 8 in the pack) be enough?

Don't the 600's have built in radio transmitters?

if you have three, then sure, use one on camera and two off. You can do groups and all that with the 600, right? or do you need the dedicated transmitter?

edit: what blake said. you can call it a letter of agreement rather than a contract, having something that set out expectations (on both sides) is crucial.

If I am correct the 600EX won't control another 600EX. The only way to do radio would be no on camera flash, only the transmitter which I have and everything else off camera. Along those lines I could set up four off camera and just run the transmitter on camera.

Absolutely understood about the letter of agreement. We are getting together tomorrow for a final review and I will have them sign off on the details.

600EX on camera can control your other flashes.

see "Wireless Flash" about half way down the page: http://www.the-digital-picture.com …eedlite-Flash-Review.aspx

Crap so now I am scared. I just learned something new about the function of these flashes and now I feel like a complete idiot! Thanks for the help!!