What Settings Should I use?

I have a 50D and a 580EX flash and I'm doing a wedding in October, its taking place at a winery, outside, and it starts at 5. I'm doing it to get more pictures for my portfolio and I want the shots to come out beautiful. What mode would you use? I would love some input.. thanks!

Sounds like you're planning on using the 580EX on camera, right? Curious if you have any sort of modifiers for it or if you plan to use it "as is." Shooting outside there's no way to really bounce the flash. The flash will either be your main light on the subject or used for fill. At 5pm in October, it'll either be dark or getting dark. So you'll be wanting to properly illuminate your subject with the flash and doing somewhat long exposures for the low ambient light conditions, assuming you want some of the scenic background (and it's not pitch dark). Of course, I'm assuming you're shooting the bride or bride and groom in front of this scenic backdrop. Is that right?

sdipirro wrote in post #8493971
Sounds like you're planning on using the 580EX on camera, right? Curious if you have any sort of modifiers for it or if you plan to use it "as is." Shooting outside there's no way to really bounce the flash. The flash will either be your main light on the subject or used for fill. At 5pm in October, it'll either be dark or getting dark. So you'll be wanting to properly illuminate your subject with the flash and doing somewhat long exposures for the low ambient light conditions, assuming you want some of the scenic background (and it's not pitch dark). Of course, I'm assuming you're shooting the bride or bride and groom in front of this scenic backdrop. Is that right?

Hi, I have a diffuser for the flash, and yes i plan on using it on the camera. The bride asked me to do a few different shots of them, and I haven't seen the place, but from what they tell me there will be lights, but you're right, its going to be dark, and I haven't bought any extra lighting.. and yes about the backdrop....

Pro will use Manual mode all the time to get outstand picture because they know how to control the exposure.

Rookie like me will rely a lot on AV mode so that I can less to worry. 5p.m to 7:00p.m in October should have enough life for outdoor. Flash can be use for fill flash mainly.

After 7:00p.m where the light is low, I will set it to M mode and bump up ISO to get more ambient light into the picture. Will start try with ISO 400 to avoid too much noise. I will set my shutter speed to 1/40 to avoid bluring. I will set my apeature F4.0 at my start point. I won't care underexpose as my flash ETTL2 system will bring my subject expose correctly anyway.

I will also avoid group picture if possible in the low light because I will need small apeature (like F8 or F11) which you may bump up ISO (noisy picture) or slow shutter speed (bluring picture)

It is just my opinion....ignore me if it doesn't make sense

tonytsang wrote in post #8494038
Pro will use Manual mode all the time to get outstand picture because they know how to control the exposure.

Rookie like me will rely a lot on AV mode so that I can less to worry. 5p.m to 7:00p.m in October should have enough life for outdoor. Flash can be use for fill flash mainly.

After 7:00p.m where the light is low, I will set it to M mode and bump up ISO to get more ambient light into the picture. Will start try with ISO 400 to avoid too much noise. I will set my shutter speed to 1/40 to avoid bluring. I will set my apeature F4.0 at my start point. I won't care underexpose as my flash ETTL2 system will bring my subject expose correctly anyway.

I will also avoid group picture if possible in the low light because I will need small apeature (like F8 or F11) which you may bump up ISO (noisy picture) or slow shutter speed (bluring picture)

It is just my opinion....ignore me if it doesn't make sense

thank you! I will put this in my notes and try it out at night time.. thank you!