What Is Your Method In Rushed Cake Cutting Ritual?

I have been completely frustrated at the weddings I've shot when it comes to the cutting of the cake portion. I always tell the B&G before hand to take it slow or else I can't catch it all. Granted, it is probably the only time in the festivities that there is payback and it's expected, but I can never get it right. Can anyone tell me how to take pictures in this situation that will be worth making prints? 1. I use a flash, can't avoid it, but when I want 3 frames/second, flash just doesn't cut it. 2. Bad angle no matter where I stand. 3. People standing around trying to see or trying to take their own pictures and you end up blocked. 4. Is it too much to ask if you can have your tripod set up with so many people close by and can knock you and your camera over? Thanks in advance for help.

Suzy...i did a really good thing 3 weekends ago at my most recent wedding,t he B&G went into the hall to see how it was and comment on if they wanted anythign changed (20 mins before reception started) and they told me to get them cutting the cake then and there because they had time. This worked out excellenty because all the lights were on and i could focus for a while.
They cut the cake againa nd i got that too because in the moment - they kissed etc. but i wasn't so UNDER pressure because i already got the shots! Im glad that they told me to do it that way
Usually i dont have a problem though...the B&G always go slow for me?
I jsut realised your from the USA so cake smooshing is 99% of the time goignto happen - still get the mock cake cutting and then just try your hardest to get in front (Talk to the MC get him/her to mention that the photographer will need to have right of way etc.)
Hope this helps!
Del

Del, you are a genius! I have never been at the reception early due to the fact that I am PP the 1-2-3 shots I took after the ceremony to print out 8x10 or 11x13 for the reception. You see, LDS weddings don't allow everyone to be at the temple for the ceremony itself, so I take the after wedding, outside shots that are the same every time and makes wedding photography a little boring for me. Anyway, I digress, I take groups shots and then print them at home, so at the reception, there are at least pictures of the temple and all the people who were there. Most of the people at the reception weren't there and always want to see the "wedding" pictures, only chance they get. By the time I get to the reception, I'm usually not dressed up, didn't eat, didn't go to the bathroom, made it just in time to see the line going. I take very few reception pictures because that's the price the B&G pay to have those pictures there on the display table. I buy nice wedding frames in bulk and that is usually the present I give the couple. I also charge if they want more, like a nice album, etc., but usually I know their family and I charge for cost only. But I may just have to rethink my methods as I seriously cannot stand being unprepared for the reception in case there isn't anyone with a camera. I did shoot a wedding last October where the reception was right after the ceremony and I got there so late, and no one had a camera except me. The couple ended up having very few pictures of their reception. I felt bad. I did their pictures for free because the bride is my best friend's daughter.

I don't ever run into a situation where the couples cut their cake to fast for me to keep up...unless it's a flash recycle issue. In that case, you will have all of your problems solved by spending $150 on a BP-E3 battery pack. I bought one and it can recycle the flash as fast as I can pull the trigger. Just be careful you don't burn out the flash! As for the friends and family gathered around, buy the 17-40 you're pondering and be the closest person to the B&G when they cut the cake.

As for the printing, sounds like you need an assistant to handle the printing while you shoot!

Oh, and Del, in the 27 weddings I shot last year, I only had one cake smooshing!

Really Jamie? I thought they were really popular over there, most that i see have cake smooshing lol but maybe it's not as popular as i think?

Only one of the weddings I've done did the couple have any kindness toward each other. One couple smooshed it and then threw it at each other.

they THREW IT? hahaha!!
Well see that's the problem in Aus, most cakes are the traditional sort with the fruit cake underneath and thick heavy white icing that doesn't smoosh at ALL lol
Only int he recent years has choc cake or cake that isn't the traditional fruit cake has starting coming into fashion!

I dont know so far the cutting hasnt been a problem. I usually go to the cake to take pics of the cake beforehand anyway and that gives me a chance to figure out the setting to use there.
They usually cut slow anyway so far I always had a chance to snap a pic with each one of my cameras, one with focus lense and one to have the whole pic ...

My problem is more the "smushing" as you call it because that goes so fast and they move around so fast that you can harldy follow it

So, you have shot some where the B&G "go at it" with the cake too? I was wondering if I was the only one.

I always ask the couple the timetable at the start of the reception or just before so I know what's going on. I ask them to give me a couple of minutes warning so I can get the right lens onto the camera and get into position. Sometimes they forget, I grab the camera I have closest that has a vaugely reasonable lens (ie not the 70-200) and get over there pretty damn quick if that happens. They always wait for me if they see me coming. If they don't wait they can do it again when i'm ready, or not. It's not really a very exciting photo usually anyway.

I've only ever had a B&G feed each other cake once, it's not common here, even when I mention it.

Just to give you an example. This is the 3rd of a series of 8 I took in about 15 seconds of this couple who renewed their vows and had the party at their home. Only 4 did the flash go off because they did it so quickly. It was fun, but as for me, I didn't get it all, maybe next time, my miniDV would have been better.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

i agree with those that stated that they get pics of the cake before hand. i think its interesting that you (del) shot the cake cutting before the actual! thats a good idea. usually its not very exciting unless they 'smoosh' it or feed it to eachother in a full-face way. but DO go ahead and take pictures of the cake before hand so you can set exposure and see whether you need flash or not.

I shoot ISO 400 without an external battery pack, my flash always recharges in time. The CP-E3 battery pack is fantastic though, I use it quite often when i'm using my speedlites like studio units. Batteries and flash heads all get pretty warm. A combination of ISO400 and a battery pack you'd be good to go for this type of thing, if you often get fast action sequences in low light it'd be a good investment. Be aware the cord isn't very long, if you use a 20D and grip you'll have to strap the CP-E3 to your flash bracket, if you don't use a grip it screws to your camera base.

Here are a few from my niece's NYC reception. There were about 50 Chinese photographers there with 50 different kinds of cameras. It was a picture filled day as well as a wonderfully delicious experience. The cake was strawberry chocolate chiffon. Very nice with frosting no one could eat.

I told them to "go slow" and they did.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

And the groom's turn.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.