Christening challenge!

jsyjoel

jsyjoel

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Joel
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Hi guys!

I've just joined the forum so i guess that classes me as a noob, but ive been into photography for a fair while now! I have mamanged to get myself roped into photographing a friend's christening for their 1 year old son. At first i was excited, but then realised that the two places i'm going to be taking photos are rubbishly lit.

1. A church
2. A large seafront bar with relatively dark coulored walls/furniture etc.

This got me reading about the possibility of using a flashgun (having never felt the need for one before, usually doing motorsports photography). I have managed to borrow my friend's 430 speedlight to fit my canon 500D and have played around with it a bit getting used to setting and positions using bounce etc.

Basically, I was just wondering if anybody has any tips or tricks they use for event photography in general, and specifically these two locations as I would really like to give the family a lovely set of photos to remember the event by.

ANY help whatsoever would be greatly appreciated and im all ears to any suggestions.

Cheers!
Joel.
 
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A church *probably* won't let you use flash during a christening, so you may need to think that over again, basically get the a fast lens instead and work out how to use it in low light - a 50 f1.8 may be a better investment then a flash,but you'll probably be to far away for that at a christening
 
I would check with the church they tend not to have any problem with it.

Also would be worth hiring a 70 - 200 F2.8
 
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Flash in churches really comes down to the vicar, I have always made a courteous pre-shoot visit to ask all the relevent questions. Also ask to sit at the back of the church during someone elses christening. Lots to be gained from this small amount of time spent observing and checking light levels etc etc ....Fast primes for me every time...Do your homework ! Good luck.
 
I've never used a flash in church and have yet to find one that does allow it (I know they do exisit but they are rare) and having learned to shoot without them I'd much rather not use flash at all.

Hiring is an excellent solution, not sure what the crop factor os a 500 is but you could look at the 70-200mm f2.8 which is stunning.

If you want to expand your own kit collection then do a recce and look at the 50mm f1.8 or the 85mm f1.8. The 50mm is as cheap as chips and the 85mm is very very good value for a non L lens. Optically it is fabulous.
 
AliB said:
I've never used a flash in church and have yet to find one that does allow it (I know they do exisit but they are rare) and having learned to shoot without them I'd much rather not use flash at all.
Click to expand...

the ones I've come across that allow it give you positions so far away its of little or no use anyway
 
Talk to the vicar / whoever's in charge on the day regarding photography and flash.

In my experience, often Christenings are no photography during the actual ceremony, but allow set-ups afterwards where you can flash to your heart's content. I've also been to ones where you can do what you want, when you want providing the usual caveat that you 'don't get in the way'.

If it's crap in the church, or even if it's not, do a few quick group shots out the front to make sure all the important people are covered.

Assuming it's still daylight, the seafront bar may have some nice windows to take advantage of the view (just guessing) use them to your advantage for some natural light portraits.

You can look at hiring stuff if you want, but I'm pretty sure it's possible to deliver acceptable results with the kit you've got. After all it's a mate asking you to take a few shots, not a commission for Jeff Ascough's kid, just relax and enjoy it.
 
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