Wedding photography and ring flash OR flash bracket? ... hear me out :)

Hi all;

I have a question that may have been answered before but I couldn't come up with much during a search.

In wedding (or event) photography, we often just use our 660RT's on camera (or off camera if we have time and room for carefully placed shots).

The issue is when we're moving around a lot. One thing that I cannot stand is the portrait "side lighting" that one produces with a flash that has no bracket, BUT I also hate flash brackets ...I know I really can't have it both ways, but I am trying to look for a reasonable idea.

1. Would a ring flash be pretty good for a wedding. I have seen shots that look pretty good. I know the lighting is flat, but the shadow detail can be cool, and if the exposure is set well, you can possibly modulate the ring flash effect as a fill light while still getting those shadows around faces.

Do you guys agree with the above statement? If so, what ring flash would you recommend for this purpose?

2. If not a ring flash, I would use a flash bracket as long as it's not huge and clunky. I have 2 cameras and so does my partner, so they would have to be small enough to sit on a Spider hip holster and still be able to rotate well.

I have never used a flash bracket and the market has TONS of them, so it's hard making the right decision on that.

So looking for recommendations on this. And thanks to everyone for providing great advice over the years!! I really appreciate this site.

Thanks in advance!
~T

tried the mobile ring flash at an event once (Halloween-themed stag and doe) and the work wasn't worth the effort. Still had remote flashes scattered throughout the massive room, and the output was decent.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #18952768
tried the mobile ring flash at an event once (Halloween-themed stag and doe) and the work wasn't worth the effort. Still had remote flashes scattered throughout the massive room, and the output was decent.

When you say the result was decent, but the work wasn't worth it, could you elaborate a little....Thanks for responding BTW!

~T

Lots of extra weight for the ringflash
a battery pack hanging off my shoulder
a cord from that pack to the flash
no easy/quick method to change the lens

I'm not sure the "alien" catchlight from a ring flash would be a plus at weddings.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #18952792
Lots of extra weight for the ringflash
a battery pack hanging off my shoulder
a cord from that pack to the flash
no easy/quick method to change the lens

Also sometimes in certain location or condition you need to bounce the light to the wall or ceiling, and you can not do that with ring flash.

The concept I was going for was a pretty edgy look to some of the candids around the reception and things like couples dancing (sometimes looking into the camera). We have 4 total cameras at the wedding, so one for some "concept" shots seems like it's doable at the right time.

My main concern is, does a handheld ring flash provide enough lighting to get a good effect from 8-10 feet away?

What do you guys think?


~T

tfitz wrote in post #18953082
The concept I was going for was a pretty edgy look to some of the candids around the reception and things like couples dancing (sometimes looking into the camera). We have 4 total cameras at the wedding, so one for some "concept" shots seems like it's doable at the right time.

My main concern is, does a handheld ring flash provide enough lighting to get a good effect from 8-10 feet away?

What do you guys think?


~T

What’s the GN or WS of the unit?

400ws enough?

https://www.adorama.co​m/fplfrf400.html

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Xfs2dZkBoEg

That unit is a Manual exposure flash unit, no nTTL, and it only has Guide Number = 82, according to it's specs
--shoot at f/8 to Max distance 10' at ISO 100
--at ISO 1600 max distance at f/8 increases to 40'
...but you will need to compute proper f/stop for every shot at a range change greater than 1.4x or 0.7x different from the last shot!

IMHO Flat lighting SUCKS for any facial flattery via lighting!!! Leave it for the NYC fashion dudes looking to be 'unique'. (and since so many use it, it is no longer unique!).
Flat lighting works fine for wedding candids, which is something that pros know who were shooting back in in the 1980s and 1990s with their flash elevated on a bracket directly above the lens axis.

Lotto wrote in post #18953140
400ws enough?

https://www.adorama.co​m/fplfrf400.html

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Xfs2dZkBoEg

Three pounds ... would be like carrying around an additional camera and lens.

Left Handed Brisket wrote in post #18953144
Three pounds ... would be like carrying around an additional camera and lens.

except that extra weight would be attached to the current camera/lens being used!
adding 3 pounds to strap on your other shoulder isn't the same as adding 3 pounds to what's already in your hands