Second Wedding - trying hard not to blow highlights

Hi all,

Long time lurker here. I have recently shot my second wedding for friends and would value your opinion.

http://www.hogton.com …-%20Ben%20and%20Carol.h​tm

The day was perfect for the couple, first day of bright sunshine this year. I had a hard time trying to control the exposure so as to not blow the highlights all the time. My 300D loves to overexpose in bright sunlight.

I ended up shooting in TV mode and adjusting the shutter speed till the meter was -2/3 in the viewfinder then double checking the histogram afterwards. Fill-in flash didn't seem to help much on my test shots, so I didn't bother for most. Thankfully, shooting RAW and the Photoshop Shadow/Highlight tool saved the day.

Indoors, I used 550EX where possible with an Omnibounce except the reception room had a high, pointy ceiling and obviously the church was a no go.

Still, we all had a great day and the couple love the photos, I am busy printing them for their album now..

All the best,

Stu.

I really like the ones inside the church... you used flash for those, right? Did you bounce or had it straight on?

Nicely done-you are brave putting such large, unprotected pics on your site.Unscrupulous clients could get a 7 x 5 off them without paying you!

You had a nice old church location and from what looks to be a bright and sunny day so you were already ahead before you started but some nice shots. Good job.

Thanks all for the responses.

The bulk of the church ones were done without flash and high ISO due to the vicar not wanting to be put off with flashes during the ceremony. I was allowed flash down the aisle and after the actual signing of the registry. I used my F2.8 100mm Macro USM for some and the 18-50mm kit lens for the rest.

I put the images on large so people could see the details, but I understand the risk with my copyright notice being so discreet. Perhaps I should make them a little smaller in future - very easy to do as the gallery is automated via a program I wrote.

I hope to make weddings another branch to my business tree, so this was a great test for me to see how I held up.

All the best,

Stu.

Hi! I' was wondering the same thing as "Song4themoon". I've done my first wedding this weekend and using Flash in a old portuguese church with no light was very difficult. What was the iso that you've used? i promisse to put my photos for you to coment!

Bests

Great photographs. The only thing that drives me crazy is when Men hold their crotches in a photograph. I sometimes tell people to not look like they have to go pee.

Great pictures! I am also wondering about the same thing as "Song4themoon" and "Nuttcraker". What ISO did you use? What was the shutter speed? Tripod?

Also, when taking the attached picture, did you use flash light bouncing off the ceiling?

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OK, here is a comparison of two of the shots..

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The biggest thing that bothers me in the pics is that the group shots, they all have shadows on their face ("bags" under their eyes).

Good point, I guess I really should've used fill-in flash or changed the location.

Another good reason to use the flash even outdoors was that it lets people know when I have taken the shot. Usually, I had taken 3 or 4 before anyone realised I was done

I think you did a great job. I have to fly to California to shoot a wedding June 11th. Will face some of the same problems. It will be an outdoor affair from 1 to 5pm. Sun directly overhead. I'm praying for it to be overcast, but in the meantime, I'm doing a lot of practice shots using a number of reflectors to eliminate to shadows. So far I love the results from a large soft gold reflector. My assistant will be as busy as I will.LOL

Hi! I was wondering if a soft box could solve the problem of the deep shadows, without bouncing the flash? specialy in churchs...

I would have used a flash, at all times....for fill outside, and for my base light indoors. Useing a diffuser is a must as well

Scout out location outside that won't be in direct sunlight. Partial clouds or shade so people aren't squinting their eyes shut.