Anyone willing to help out a noob?

Hi guys, I'm a frequent browser of this section of the forum but it is my first post here.

I've got a small wedding (about 9 people total!) to shoot on Oct 3rd, my aunts wedding by the way.

They rented a section of a restaurant for the event. I have not scouted the location yet.

She wants a few shots of the short ceremony and then a list of group shots with different combinations of people. She only has about 20 shots that she really wants the rest is fluff.

Because the majority of shots that she would like are portrait type stuff would you bring in a set of studio lights?

I've been toying with the idea of either buying a 580 EX II and an umbrella/stand set, or a set of alien bees. I've been planing on setting up a home studio so it's not like this is an impulse thing. I have a wedding to shoot in Nov in Dominican Republic. The 580 would be the most portable set but not as flexible.

As I sit right now I plan to use an XT, 430 EX and my 35mm 1.4 and maybe my 50mm 1.8. I know it would be ideal to have a second body but I'm waiting for the 40D and I don't think I could get one in time.

Any thoughts or advise you would like to share would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

For a wedding as small as that, I would personally bring my AB's to get some nice portraits (since this seems to be what they want most.) However, If the groups are small, I don't see why you couldn't get some nice formal/portrait shots with your 430ex though.

I think it's all a question of convenience. If it's not a bother to drag some strobes, I would always go that route.

Good luck!

It sounds like this is going to be pretty laid back and that she isn't expecting too much. For the group shots, 35 won't always cut it if you've got a few people and not enough room to step back, so I'd probably bring something wider.

Studio lights might be overkill. 580 mounted on the camera and 430 off camera w/ umbrella sounds like a pretty decent / portable idea. But most of the time, you can get away with just the 430, a bounce card, and a ceiling. Check out the resturant before hand if you can to see what you'll need to bring.

50 1.8 is an excellent lens but AF accuracy might be of concern, especially in low light (if that section of the resturant were dimly lit to help the ambiance). It wouldn't be a bad lens to bring, but how often would you use it if you had the 35 mounted?

I hope this helps. Good luck! And come back and post pictures.

-Bernard.

I would say invest in another body for backup. You really can't afford to wait for the 40D right now. You don't want to be the main photographer and not have a backup. This is a huge first step in accepting a wedding imo. Even if it means picking up a used 20D and then selling it once you get the 40D that would be better than getting stuck in the middle of the ceremony with a broken camera.
As far as the flash goes I would recommend getting a 580ex and skip the II version. The older one will be cheaper and will be awesome for your needs right now from what it sounds.
You really need to check out the venue. From your lens selection I would say that you are going to struggle to get any shots without using your flash. Most wedding ceremonies (even small ones) do not allow flash during the ceremony. I would try to pick up the 50 1.4 or the 85 1.8.
Best wishes.

Scout the location first to see if you can bounce the 430 flash off a ceiling or wall and that may save the trouble of bringing in additional lighting.

You will probably need a wider lens and certainly a back-up body.
Mike

Are the groups shots going to be IN the restaurant? Because if not, then I'd take them outside, find open shade, and just use all natural light. Easiest, very pleasing results. I would never bring studio lights to a wedding.

I wouldn't bring studio lights given the distance to travel and the size of the event. If I shot the formals ourdoors I would shoot them with direct flash (I currently shoot most of my outdoor formals this way). Indoors, you can recreate a studio setup with a small reflector and extra set of hands and your 430ex. Ast a guest to hold the reflector just above your left shoulder and bounce your flash off of it. You'll even retain TTL metering!

ETA - Looks like Lloyd types faster than me

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions guys! I'm liking the reflector off the left shoulder thing!

I'm a little worried about the 35mm being to long for the larger group shots and not long enough for some of the ceremony shots. I could always use either of my sigmas if I had to for larger group shots but I wouldn't trust the 50mm 1.8 during the ceremony.

I just got off the phone with a local camera shop that says he might have a shipment of 40Ds in as early as next week. That would be ideal for taking care of the second body issue then maybe a 85mm 1.8 for the ceremony shots. instead of a 580 EX I've been thinking of a Sunpak 383 with an optical trigger. I know I can't use ETTL with it but I could get some added lighting flexibility. I'm all hopped up about the second flash because I'm worried the lighting will be too flat. I'm not afraid of high ISO (800-1600) but I'd like to avoid it. I may not have a choice though if this place is a cave.

Nick_b wrote in post #3907803
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions guys! I'm liking the reflector off the left shoulder thing!

I'm a little worried about the 35mm being to long for the larger group shots and not long enough for some of the ceremony shots. I could always use either of my sigmas if I had to for larger group shots but I wouldn't trust the 50mm 1.8 during the ceremony.

I just got off the phone with a local camera shop that says he might have a shipment of 40Ds in as early as next week. That would be ideal for taking care of the second body issue then maybe a 85mm 1.8 for the ceremony shots. instead of a 580 EX I've been thinking of a Sunpak 383 with an optical trigger. I know I can't use ETTL with it but I could get some added lighting flexibility. I'm all hopped up about the second flash because I'm worried the lighting will be too flat. I'm not afraid of high ISO (800-1600) but I'd like to avoid it. I may not have a choice though if this place is a cave.

Sunpak 383s are great, but I wouldn't use them as an optical slave at events. I'd imagine they'd go crazy if other people there had their point and shoots firing away as you are trying to frame a shot. You might even miss your shot if someone fires before you do and you have to wait for the 383 to recycle.

Keep it simple - use the 35 1.4L for everything you can, the 18-50 for everything else, and ditch the 50 1.8 - the L is so much better it's not even funny. I wouldn't use studio lights in your position, or a reflector, unless absolutely necessary. I do take studio lights to every wedding, but I use them about 5% of the time - only when it's really dark for big group photos, even then I don't always have time. I use slaved speedlites a lot though, both during the day and especially for the B&G portraits and first dance.

Alright so a little bit of an update.

I bought a used 20D, 85mm 1.8 and 580 EX. The wedding is in two days. I'm nervous, excited and scared all at the same time.

That's it for the update for now, back to practicing the controls of the 20D!

Thanks for the help guys and I'll be back to post the results!

Wow, just got back. Damn people wedding photography is tough! lol.

I had a great time. What a high this can be eh! Well I got a few okay ones. I'll post some soon.

Thanks for all the help! It's much appreciated!

Nick_b wrote in post #4059205
Wow, just got back. Damn people wedding photography is tough! lol.

I had a great time. What a high this can be eh! Well I got a few okay ones. I'll post some soon.

Thanks for all the help! It's much appreciated!

Are you Canadian?

Glad you had fun! Can't wait to see them

sblais wrote in post #4059282
Are you Canadian?

Glad you had fun! Can't wait to see them

Yup, I'm from Ottawa too.

Here is one that caught my eye.

Dual flash set up in ETTL mode 35mmL ISO 200 F3.2 SS 250

The bride's daughter.

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These are nice photos you got there. For number one, if you had set the angle such that the sun was right behind her head so it works as a hair light, it would be better, I think.