A Wedding Question...

Dave450

Dave450

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.... OK so here is the story so far. Please I am NOT looking for a war, just simple advice. If you want to start a war, please do it elsewhere!! :love:

So I am doing my first wedding in 4 weeks time. It is for close friends and is for free. They fully know my photographic experience and capabilities and what we have agreed is beneficial to both parties. Please do not put comments on this as Im not interested!!

Ok so I have been to the church, done some test shots and got some sample settings. My only question is about metering, which do I use, both indoors and outside for formals? Would I use spot metering on the dress or evaluative for the whole shot???

Any advice on metering would be appreciated :thumbs:

:love:Thank you for keeping the thread war free :love:
 
It depends. I'm not being deliberately obtuse but it depends on the lighting, how much dynamic range I'm seeing, whether it is just the bride or the couple, whether it is window lit, if there is an area of the image I want to blow out........

Outdoors I tend to use matrix and keep an eye on the sky too, sometimes you just can't position people to get the lighting as good as you would like because you need to include the venue. Just keep an eye on blinkies and be guided by that.
 
Alison thanks for your comments. This is what I was thinking, and with different situations I came up with different metering modes, so thought it was best I ask for guidance.

Thanks again! :thumbs:
 
Matrix-metering inless the couple are lit by a spotlight in a darkened room. I've found Nikon's current system to be almost faultless ever since it was first introduced with the Nikon F5..
Or in your case, use the Canon equivalent - it'll be easier than buying a whole new camera system...
Variations to the metered exposure will come down to your personaal experience with the kit you're using - i.e. whether to compensate for the white dress/dark suit etc given a certain light set-up.
 
hi dave your biggest problem could be the light in the church, as if its wet and overcast outside the light in side could reduce dramatically. so check if they will allow flash or a break at the end to take shots etc hth mike
 
Matrix every time. Unless you know exactly what you are about exposure wise, and it seems you don't it will make less mistakes than you might.
I am pretty much in the same position as you although it's years since I did a wedding and I almost always use matrix, Even in the most awkward of situations it rarely gets it wrong.
Good luck with the wedding I am sure it will all be OK
 
Thanks all for the comments!! Im assuming Matrix is Nikons name from Canons Evaluative???
 
Dave. ensure that you shoot in RAW. I also assume that you wont be able to use flash so you will need a good lens. Best wishes and remember to relax and smile!
 
andyb1375 said:
Dave. ensure that you shoot in RAW. I also assume that you wont be able to use flash so you will need a good lens. Best wishes and remember to relax and smile!
Click to expand...


I always shoot RAW so that was always going to happen!! Have rented some now 2.8 L glass for the day, so I think im covered, just that one question burning me inside!

Thanks for all the messages!
 
Definitely Evaluative/Matrix - always. Spot metering is really easy to get wrong!

If the viewfinder is mainly black, then set your exposure compensation (EC) to -1
If the viewfinder is mainly white, then set your EC to +1 (check the blinkies too)
If the viewfinder is mainly green, then set your EC to -2/3

This will give you pretty good results...and you're shooting RAW, so it's all good.

Shooting with an incident light meter and Manual Mode will give you better more consistent results, but is a high risk strategy unless you are well practiced at it...it is all too easy to get distracted at a wedding.

Good luck Dave, enjoy your first wedding

Steve

PS oh by the way, if you're using fill flash (EC=0, FEC=-1 or -2) then SHOOT IN "P" MODE. P Mode will not let your shutter speed go below 1/60 (avoiding camera shake) but will also manage closing your aperture down as you reach high-sync speed when the sun comes out. As you progress, you'll want more control over your aperture so "P" won't be for you - but for your first wedding I strongly recommend "P" unless you have drilled for Av or Manual with flash during changeable and bright lighting.

Good luck and enjoy!
 
stevedunster said:
Definitely Evaluative/Matrix - always. Spot metering is really easy to get wrong!

If the viewfinder is mainly black, then set your exposure compensation (EC) to -1
If the viewfinder is mainly white, then set your EC to +1 (check the blinkies too)
If the viewfinder is mainly green, then set your EC to -2/3

This will give you pretty good results...and you're shooting RAW, so it's all good.

Shooting with an incident light meter and Manual Mode will give you better more consistent results, but is a high risk strategy unless you are well practiced at it...it is all too easy to get distracted at a wedding.

Good luck Dave, enjoy your first wedding

Steve

PS oh by the way, if you're using fill flash (EC=0, FEC=-1 or -2) then SHOOT IN "P" MODE. P Mode will not let your shutter speed go below 1/60 (avoiding camera shake) but will also manage closing your aperture down as you reach high-sync speed when the sun comes out. As you progress, you'll want more control over your aperture so "P" won't be for you - but for your first wedding I strongly recommend "P" unless you have drilled for Av or Manual with flash during changeable and bright lighting.

Good luck and enjoy!
Click to expand...


Many thanks!! Very helpful! :thumbs:
 
Dave450 said:
.... OK so here is the story so far. Please I am NOT looking for a war, just simple advice. If you want to start a war, please do it elsewhere!! :love:

So I am doing my first wedding in 4 weeks time. It is for close friends and is for free. They fully know my photographic experience and capabilities and what we have agreed is beneficial to both parties. Please do not put comments on this as Im not interested!!

Ok so I have been to the church, done some test shots and got some sample settings. My only question is about metering, which do I use, both indoors and outside for formals? Would I use spot metering on the dress or evaluative for the whole shot???

Any advice on metering would be appreciated :thumbs:

:love:Thank you for keeping the thread war free :love:
Click to expand...

I go for general as spot metering you could be metering the tiniest darkest spot in the image or the equal oposite throwing the whole image way out.

that and shoot in raw, (obviously) gives you some space for adjustments after the fact.

Oh and leave any comments about doing freebies? wouldent dream of it ;)
 
stevedunster said:
Definitely Evaluative/Matrix - always. Spot metering is really easy to get wrong!

If the viewfinder is mainly black, then set your exposure compensation (EC) to -1
If the viewfinder is mainly white, then set your EC to +1 (check the blinkies too)
If the viewfinder is mainly green, then set your EC to -2/3

This will give you pretty good results...and you're shooting RAW, so it's all good.

Shooting with an incident light meter and Manual Mode will give you better more consistent results, but is a high risk strategy unless you are well practiced at it...it is all too easy to get distracted at a wedding.

Good luck Dave, enjoy your first wedding

Steve

PS oh by the way, if you're using fill flash (EC=0, FEC=-1 or -2) then SHOOT IN "P" MODE. P Mode will not let your shutter speed go below 1/60 (avoiding camera shake) but will also manage closing your aperture down as you reach high-sync speed when the sun comes out. As you progress, you'll want more control over your aperture so "P" won't be for you - but for your first wedding I strongly recommend "P" unless you have drilled for Av or Manual with flash during changeable and bright lighting.

Good luck and enjoy!
Click to expand...

I have used spot in the past, mainly so not to blow the dress. But have noted Steves advice, so I'll giv it a go next time I get the opportunity,

Cheers!
 
1. do not meter off the dress, this will give you underexposed shots.
I find it best to use a hand held meter and take a incident-light reading, for me this has given me the best results in low light conditions, as it is not affected by any of the colours in the image.
 
Evaluative does a pretty decent job Dave. Spot metering is useful and I was going to suggest using EC as suggested above if you use it. Even with evaluative you may find that EC will be required but slightly less so depending on the shot.

For a first time, I'd steer clear of spot metering. Might be ok for a few portraits where you don't want the dress to be blown out (RAW is your friend here) but evaluative does a decent job 90% of the time. Using spot metering you need to continually think about it.

As suggested above, a handheld meter can be a great addition. You get perfect exposures every time - but they take time (even if it's only a few seconds) and it can become tedious metering every time the light changes. Depends also what the weather's like on the day. If sunny fill flash helps even out the contrast.

On the whole you will be fine with evaluative metering. I use it on my 40D and 20D.

Jim
 
Chaz Photos said:
I find it best to use a hand held meter and take a incident-light reading, for me this has given me the best results in low light conditions, as it is not affected by any of the colours in the image.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, incident light meter everytime - unless the light is changing quickly in which case I use Av with EC...but Manual Mode with incident light meters takes practice to make sure you don't mess up if you get distracted.
 
Evaluative metering with exposure compensation for me as well... There's generally enough headroom in the RAW files for some recovery as long as you're keeping an eye on things. :)

Si
 
Many thanks for all your responses. Glad to see this thread has stayed a friendly helpful one! Light meter I shall look into, but I think Evaluative with EC seems the way forward.

Thanks Guys! (N Gals!) :thumbs:
 
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