First wedding HELP! Lighting etc..

I need some input/advice from you all. I have been "hired" by a friend on a budget, to do his wedding photography. I want to eventually get into wedding photography, but I am not sure I am really ready to step up to the plate yet. We are going to find out next weekend though! Any advice you can give to a beginner is greatly appreciated, but my specific question is about lighting. I am going to list the lighting I have available and ask for your suggestions on how to best use it for the things like bridal party pics before the ceremony. Not sure I will need/want to use any of it for the service or reception, but input on that could be helpful too. I haven't seen the loaction for the service or reception yet. All I know is the ceremony is going to be outside but in the shade (under a tent I believe), and the reception is indoors. I am meeting with them Tuesday to discuss specifics, but trying to get thoughts together ahead of time. Anyway, this is what I have to use right now, it is relatively limited, but hopefully can get the job done with decent results.

1 (have 2, but one isn't working..) Calumet Genesis 200 strobe.
Calumet Nova 32 softbox
Calumet umbrella
1 Canon 580 EXII flash
1 Canon 430 EXII flash

Camera will be either mounted on a tripod or in my Custom Brackets Digital Pro flash bracket.

strobe can be fired with sync chord or by my on camera flash, I don't have a remote flash yet.

since you say its this weekend I am guessing you mean tomorrow?
What you are asking could literally fill a book.
First, scout your location. You should have spots picked out before the day. You don't want any surprises.
If this is your first attempt at this type of work, I would keep it simple. Flat light, Keep them in the shade and or back lit with the sun.
If you have an assistant, you can break out the umbrella, if not leave it in the trunk.

If it were me, I'd leave the studio lights home. Even under a tent, you may want some flash. I've worked under some tents that were darker than any church I've ever shot in. That and the surrounding area is so much brighter that it tends to blow out. For the reception, bounce if you can with the help of a large bounce card. If you have an assistant, use the two flashes together in a 2-1 ratio, at least for the important shots.

Thanks for your responses.. please keep them coming. The wedding is next weekend. The location is about 4 hours away, so it's not a cheap easy drive to make for a wedding that I am doing for free. I won't have an assistant per se, but I'm sure friends would be willing to help if need be. When you talk about using the two flashes in a 2 to 1 ratio, I assume you mean one on camera and one off camera and off to one side or the other? ANd 2 to 1 meaning the power settings? Which would you use at which setting? I was thinking the same thing about not using the studio lights. My plan was/is for now, to take it just in case I need it, but plan to leave it in the truck. I did however rig up a way to mount the 430 EX in the umbrella if I chose to use it that way. This will more or less be my first experience with any kind of lighting other than straight out on camera flash. I told them that I make no promises because this is my first try, and that I definately don't feel like I am ready for it. That being said, they are both good friends and I don't want to let them down!

I guess it also wouldn't hurt to mention what I will be shooting with. I have a Canon 50D, and the glass that I will take with me is a Canon 50mm f/1.8, Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS, Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS, and Tokina 12-24 f/4.

For my first wedding, I certainly wouldn't worry about dual flash ratios or umbrellas - especially if this is outdoors. You'll have your hands full just composing "live" shots without having worry about balancing manual flash settings for artsy exposures. If that tent is white it will act like a big umbrella anyway.

Ok, given the information you've provided,

AND...

given your gear list (I'm assuming you have the experience to go with it)...

AND...

given this will be your fist wedding...

Here is what *I* would do:

Disclaimer#1: I have only shot a half dozen or so outdoor weddings. They are not that common here.

Disclaimer#2: I only shoot with my camera in manual mode. I never learned Av, Tv or the other semi-automatic modes because I don't agree with how these modes meter especially with flash. I get all panicky in these modes (Yeah, I'm weird. )

Disclaimer #3: There are a thousand ways to do this.

Outside the tent (formals and such):

Put the 580 on your camera bracket like you normally do. Set it for eTTL mode and automatic zoom because all you want to do is fill in eyes sockets. If you are using the 17-55 within 10 feet of what you are shooting, use direct flash but maybe pull out the diffuser flap.

And being that you're outside with some leg room, I'd defiantly work that 85mm in for B&G portraits as well as the 70-200. Direct flash again but don't use the diffuser flap since you're back so far. That 580 will only zoom to 105mm in auto anyway. Experiment... touch nothing except your flash exposure compensation.

When outdoors, always put your 580 in HSS (High speed sync) and leave it there. Without this, the 50D limits you to a maximum SS of 1/250 which means you'd have to shoot at f/16-f/22 in sunlight. HSS will allow you to open up that aperture for a nice creamy background blur. (Note: when using HSS you lose some flash power though).

Inside the tent (ceremony):

If this hasn't been mentioned, you really need another body. You can rent another 50D for about $75-100. (I'd ask the couple to pay for this). I'm sure you know better so no more lecturing on this. Anyway...

...not sure about the limitations for using flash but I'd use the 17-55 for the processional and bounce the flash off the ceiling - straight up if I could. Same for the first kiss and maybe a ring shot or two. And speaking of a "tent", A stoffen diffuser with the flash head pointed 45 degrees forward would work nicely. (This is probably the only time I'd ever advocate using one of those light eating and generally worthless bastards).

For flashless shots, even though it looks like the fastest lens you have in your arsenal is f/1.8 I'd still stay with the 17-55 as my main lens and I assume you have some latitude with movement (much more than inside a church). The IS on the 17-55 will still be better than the non-stabilized 85mm prime. (I would put the 85mm on my 2nd body though).

Reception:

By now the sun is setting or it's dark.

Like I mentioned earlier, if the tent is white it will act like one big freaking umbrella anyway so if you want to throw that 430 in the fray, (while still keeping the 580 on camera and in eTTL)...

... put the 430 in slave mode and set it up in a corner pointing at the tent ceiling. Find a spot for maximum diffusion. Make sure you 580 is in "Master". I'm sure you have a light stand for that softbox so use it.

Keep in mind you will be firing the 430 using the infrared from the on camera flash which is crap but SHOULD be ok bouncing off of tent walls. (I use cybersyncs)

If this dual flash setup is not giving you the desired results then take that 430 out of eTTL mode and put it in manual at 1/4 power (or thereabouts). Your on camera 580 will fill in the rest.

There is so much you can do with 2 flashes but I don't know how much time you have to experiment so I'm keeping it simple. Remember, you can fix a lot in post but you can't "recompose" the shot once it's over. Concentrate on that.

Just my nickel's worth... take it for what it's worth.

RT.. thanks for your input. I'm not sure where you got that I have an 85mm, but unfortuneatly I don't. I'm guessing I will likely be using mostly the 17-55 unless I need more reach than that depending on where I can and can't go. Also, the reception is inside, so the tent is out of play, but I am hoping it has a nice white ceiling good for bouncing off of.

golfingguy27 wrote in post #10395362
RT.. thanks for your input. I'm not sure where you got that I have an 85mm, but unfortuneatly I don't.

Oops. I read somebody's sig and thought it was yours.

You can do a whole wedding with a 17-55 but you'll be in people's faces a lot.

I really enjoy taking flashless candids with a 70-200 from a distance if there's enough light.

Also, I would never "hope" a ceiling is white anymore than I'd expect a DJ to keep the lights up. Plan for the worst - adapt to whatever you find. I still think that 430 off in a corner somewhere is a good idea.

RT McAllister wrote in post #10395641
Oops. I read somebody's sig and thought it was yours.

You can do a whole wedding with a 17-55 but you'll be in people's faces a lot.

I really enjoy taking flashless candids with a 70-200 from a distance if there's enough light.

Also, I would never "hope" a ceiling is white anymore than I'd expect a DJ to keep the lights up. Plan for the worst - adapt to whatever you find. I still think that 430 off in a corner somewhere is a good idea.

All very good thoughts.. I just rigged up my 430 to my light stand in a way that I can use it aiming up to bounce off the ceiling, or mount the umbrella and aim the flash back into the umbrella to use that way if I want. I will definately keep the 70-200 handy for candids, etc.. I unfortuneately only have one body to use, but I may wear the belt that I have for airshows etc and keep the second (or third) lens(es) in pouches on that for relatively easy access.

golfingguy27 wrote in post #10394376
When you talk about using the two flashes in a 2 to 1 ratio, I assume you mean one on camera and one off camera and off to one side or the other? ANd 2 to 1 meaning the power settings? Which would you use at which setting?

A couple of thoughts. During the reception, I'll use two 580's in ETTL via the built-in infared. Canon offers ways to set up the two flashes in different groups at different power levels, but the easiest thing to do is NOT do that and just have them at the same power level and distance from the subject.

The idea of 2-1 is that if both lights are the same power and distance there are areas of the subject that will be hit with twice exactly twice the light as they elsewhere creating the highlights and shadows of good portraiture. I typically go for something more around 3-1 which you can do as simply as have your assistant step a little closer. This allows the light to become a little more directional. Here's an example of something at about 3-1

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First wedding?

Leave the studio lights/umbrellas/etc at home.
Forget about slaves.
Keep your flash on-camera. Bounce the flash if you can.

picturecrazy wrote in post #10398159
First wedding?

Leave the studio lights/umbrellas/etc at home.
Forget about slaves.
Keep your flash on-camera. Bounce the flash if you can.

This also sounds like a good suggestion.. I've been kind of fighting a battle with myself on this all day. I think the KISS (keep it simple stupid) is a very good idea for my first wedding, but on the other hand, I am very much an equipment junky and love the "gadget factor" of getting to play with multiple flashes, umbrellas, etc. I think most likely I will at least take some of the extras, but plan on keeping it simple (on camera flash) for 90% of the shots. Of course this could all change when I see the settings for the ceremony and reception. Hopefully the wedding Gods smile on me and they both are cooperative/easy to deal with settings.

Given your gear list - not a pile of lenses picked up accidentally or via various kits - I'm thinking that things will go forward fine. Be comfortable with the gear, most notably the body.

I would second (third?) the suggestion that you need to leave the studio/mini studio gear at home, and focus on on-camera flash when/if necessary. But given your comment above, i.e. that you will bring some, just keep it as minimal as you are comfortable with.

It is easy to overpower the scene with your gear. While that might sound like a cool idea when doing a portrait session on location, brides typically think it is less cool when it is their wedding day.

Good luck!

Peter
--
http://www.hanowellpho​tography.com

peterhanowell wrote in post #10399679
Given your gear list - not a pile of lenses picked up accidentally or via various kits - I'm thinking that things will go forward fine. Be comfortable with the gear, most notably the body.

I would second (third?) the suggestion that you need to leave the studio/mini studio gear at home, and focus on on-camera flash when/if necessary. But given your comment above, i.e. that you will bring some, just keep it as minimal as you are comfortable with.

It is easy to overpower the scene with your gear. While that might sound like a cool idea when doing a portrait session on location, brides typically think it is less cool when it is their wedding day.

Good luck!


Peter
--
http://www.hanowellpho​tography.com

Thanks for the input.. I am thinking that I will plan on using the on camera flash for almost everything, bring the 430 mounted on the light stand with the intentions of just sticking it in a corner to bounce off the ceiling, and have the umbrella available if I want to get creative with some of the pre ceremony B&G shots. I will take the strobe just in case all else fails and I really need it for something. Good thoughts??

By the way, is it normal that it's only Monday and I am already nervous/stressed about the wedding Friday night? I should be fine, but I don't want to mess up on my buddy's big night...