Shooting wrote in post #12539132
Colored lights? Other than gelling my shots, I have no problem with colored lights, the brides like the different colors on the floor, in her hair, etc. Spot meter the face or chest that has part of the gown in it, don't have any problem. If shooting portraits, use partial metering that covers part of the face plus clothing and you get a more accurate reading, at least my 50D does. I use spot and partial about all the time. I let the few thousand dollars worth of technology built into it produce what I want, I like what the camera does, I processed raw and they ended up not too far from produced jpegs. Sure I make some mistakes but the info in the jpeg is more than enough for me to make any adjustments if needed. Plus I use live view shooting alot for landscapes and portraits. I also use the technology behind the FEL. Lots of technology there you paid for, if used you would be surprised. You have auto lighting optimizer also.
But use what you will and don't cut down those who are "different". I guess all the pros that shoot jpegs are wrong? Don't think so.
Shooting
I guess what my initial concerns were was that you have more contro over your lighting and exposures by not using anything on the pre set side of the dial. While they will work and get you somewhere in the ballpark, they are not typically a side of the dial that experienced photographers will use. Furthermore, you have no control over the exposure triangle which is ISO,Shutter speeed, and aperature.
My opinion is that if your taking peoples hard earned money to photograph a wedding, or anything for that matter, you should be able to use your camera well enough to get a client the very best exposures possible for the lighting that you are shooting in. You cant do that on the prepaid side of the dial. All professionals that i work with shoot in M, AV, and TV modes to obtain best exposure results.
In the long run, you are not doing yourself any favors by using that side of the dial that you suggest. The creative side, M, AV, TV is where you really gain a great understanding of the exposure triangle and you will become a better photograher.
As for raw v/s JPeg, if you can get your color right and exposure very close, nothing wrong with it at all. Your digital camera has about 6 1/2-7 stops of dynamic range, so the presets are going to keep you in that ballpark. As mentioned, picture styles only come into play for a jpeg settings and has zero affect on raw files. If you continue to shoot jpeg format, play with the setting and get them where you like it. Typically more sharpening(+2 or 3), slightly less contrast (0+1), less saturation(-1) seems to work for most people.
Personally, i think you should get out of the prepaid side of the dial, and put it in AV and manual mode and learn how to use them. In the long run, you will be a better photographer and your work flow and setting selections will be faster, more importantly, you gain tremendous insight to what a camera really does despite all the technology that they out into them. Cameras do one thing, and one thing only. They capture light.
Your ability to capture that light, and how you pose your clients is ultimately what seperates you from you from everyone else. Money has no factor in the equation. Understanding what you are doing keeps you off the prepaid side. You will be happier and better off in the long run and your clients will apprecaite the better quality of your work by using the creative side v/s the inexperienced side of the dial.
MY $.02 cents for what it is worth
