How to shoot candle lit procession

Someone asked me to shoot a candle light procession
outside and inside a church next weekend.
Any advice?

F/1.4 and high ISOs are your friend. That's pretty dark O__O

I'm guessing that you won't be able to use a flash or won't want to. How much ambient light will there be? I'm guessing that you will need at least ISO3200 and f/1.4. You may not be able to get the SS high enough to get sharp shots. Maybe try a monopod to try and eliminate camera shake.

Find out if you can do a trial run at the same time of day. Take a friend with a candle and see how it goes.

Candle lit may be pretty tough depending if there is any additional ambient light. If you can't get your shutter speeds high enough, you can resort to using flash to add some additional light. Just be careful to balance it properly with the candle lit scene so that you don't loose the "feel". Too much flash and you'll easily drown out the candles....if you can practice a bit before actual "go time", you should be able to achieve a decent balance. Good luck!

I would shoot with a wide aperture and in high ISO to keep shutter speeds up and use M mode from a metering of light just off the flames.

Throw a gel over your flash head to match the candle light and use it direct, doing your best to balance out the two sources intensity-wise. The harsh shadows from the flash won't matter because the candles will be throwing their own harsh shadows as well. Without flash, you'll be hard pressed to get any usable shutter speeds.

Thanks for the ideas.
3200 and 50mm f1.4 sounds like a plan.
Flash is probably out but I'll take a couple with some gels and gadget infinity poppers.
I think there'll be enough room to drop down a tripod and shoot then move and shoot again.
Thanks again.

Off camera lighting, gelled. F1.4 has no margin for error, and I don't like the look much when people are different distances from the camera.

that sounds like tuff one. at f1.4 u will get like half a person in focus so u have to focus carefully. id try go to the spot day before at that time and see how much light u will get. i doubt u will get any if only candle lights. id aim for some flash or u will get black pictures with tiny glowing blobs .....

A procession is going to be tough with everyone moving & I'd try some fill just to get the shorter exposure time. See if this gives you any ideas: post #3
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