Please Help! :)

Well my wonderful wife volunteered me to photograph a wedding for a co-worker of hers. I've helped as second-shooter on a couple of events so I think I know a little bit of what I'm getting myself into.

Here are my questions:

1) The B&G have informed me that they would like to take a large group picture with both of their families together (24 adults & 9 kids = 33 people total). I'm thinking that the best place to take these pictures will either be inside the church at the alter area because there are three layers of steps that could be used or outside in front of the church entrance. Which of these locations look like it would work better for that large of a group?

2) If you think it would be better to take the pictures inside at the alter, what type of lighting do you think would be best to set up for this kind of shot? I'm pretty familiar with studio lighting but have never shot anything more than 3-4 people at once. Would one or two of my AB800s work well in softboxes for this type of shot? Do I just use one strobe up high near me or one on either side out wide?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations you can give me. The wedding is this Sunday early afternoon!

Alter:

what did u shoot those pictures with? exposure looks good enough with that lighting. i would get a ladder and shoot down at them to see everyones faces.

Exposure does look good. Inside you may have a problem with the pews getting in the picture. You definitley need a ladder insinde. It will probably be the easiest to pose that many people though. I think If you have a ladder, a 3 or 4 step will work, why not shoot both inside and out. By the way I always bring a 2 step ladder to all my weddings. If need I put my camera on a monopod and set it to timer and raise it as high as I can.

I'd definitely do the shot outside with a ladder. The interiors of those newer churches don't lend much to the image.

Thanks for the help! Those pictures were taken with my 1Ds (MK1) at f/4, ISO 800 so noise will be an issue at full resolution.

I'm going to see what the B&G want to do the day of but I'm planning for both options. I think for the inside shots I'll bounce a couple strobes off the ceiling and get on a ladder for the shot. Outside might be tricky because everyone would be looking into the sun if I took it in front of the church doors. We'll see...

THANKS AGAIN!

liza wrote in post #3785235
I'd definitely do the shot outside with a ladder. The interiors of those newer churches don't lend much to the image.

Same.

I really don't think noise will be much of an issue. If nothing else run a little noise reduction. It looks like you've got a white ceiling and it doesn't appear to be all that high.

I think you'll be fine.

Thanks again for the assistance! Does anyone else have anything to add?

Have a good time... Remember you were drafted not hired...

from the top one i would get lot down when its full and get a shot of them two standing there when they first get together so to speak so you have enough time to take shots of the exchanges of the rings

for me and i know nothing about weddings what i would do is arrange the wedding party near the door and have the couple a lot further forward and get DOF on the wedding party but not that shallow as to loose all detail but know they are there, ie shoot from a little higher than ground standing level if that makes sense

Matt@EMW wrote in post #3785497
I'm going to see what the B&G want to do the day

That's the first (and easiest) mistake of the newbie wedding photographer.

You have to be confident that you're shooting where you'll definitely get results you'll be proud of. If the B&G aren't happy with the pic's they'll not be thinking 'Oh well it's our fault, cos we told him what to do'. They'll just be thinking 'ugly background - what was he thinking?'.
Oh - and good luck.

What time of day was the outside image taken and will the lighting be the same when you do the actual wedding?

Yes, that picture of the outside of the church was taken at about the same time as the formals would be taken.

Matt@EMW wrote in post #3791410
Yes, that picture of the outside of the church was taken at about the same time as the formals would be taken.

Looks like it could be a tough lighting situation... bright sunlight right in everyone's face... I think you could get away with doing it inside using the 3 steps, up close with a wide angle so you don't get the pews. If you do get the pews, maybe you can crop or clone w/PS.

Well I ended up shooting with two strobes. One camera left at an angle (key) and one behind/above camera (fill) with at 2/1 ratio. Let me know what you think...

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