Lighting dance shots at Weddings / Events

Gary.D

Gary.D

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Gary Derbridge
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Hi guys,

I would love to start photographing all of my first dance shots with a mixture of off camera flash, to create the stunning images where you have the starlight in the background as well as a fantastic hair light.

How ever I never really have a chance, or the courage to "play" at a wedding, so I always end up just getting the bog standard shots which do lack a bit of punch and something a bit different.

I understand if this is a bit of a hard to answer question, but I was wondering how you guys approach a shot like this. 1 flash, 2 flash? One on camera one off? Manual or ETTL?

As I said, I completely understand that everything varies so much, but I would be grateful for any advice so hopefully I can get a chance to start trying this sort of thing out!

Thanks in advance to anyone that takes their time to comment.

Gary
 
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The best thing you can do here is experiment. Get some mates and a largish room and play. The best way to learn lighting (IMO) is to start of with a picture in your head and work out how to achieve it yourself.

Yes you can cook by following recipes, but the best chefs cook by feel and experience.

You'll probably get a wedding venue to let you practice there if you offer them some venue promotional shots for free in return. Then you just need a couple of volunteers !
 
I use the pocketwizard flex's and 2 flashes.

But if I was buying again tomorrow, I might go Yongnuo - the PW's are very expensive.

This allows;

550ex on camera as only light,
550ex on camera as fill whilst stand-mounted 420ex acts as main for sidelighting.
550ex on camera as main whilst stand-mounted 420ex acts as accent backlight .
550ex on camera turned right down whilst stand-mounted 420ex acts as main backlight .

So with a subtle change of position and altering the ratio's I can produce very different 'looks'.

I use ETTL for this because my flashes can't be remotely adjusted with manual, newer flashes would improve this. I have done similar with the Canon built in (IR) remote system, but much prefer the proper radio triggering.
 
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I use PW flexs for this as well, and two or three lights. Depending on venue/mood I'm in etc.

Normally a combo of a portable studio head, out of shoot to provide light and one sb-900 of camera in manual mode to provide backlighting and possibly a starburst. I may swap the studio head for a second sb-900 and increase the power on both.

I'll sometimes keep an SB-900 on camera to push a little light forwards. One of the things I like about the flex is it allows me the ability to control flash power via an AC3 or on camera sb-900.
 
My setup is one speedlight on an 8ft stand next to one of the DJ's speakers, one on a monopod carried by an assistant on the opposite side, both angled down towards the dancefloor. Camera set to manual, ISO800, f4, 1/30-1/60s and speedlights to ETTL. Assistant moves so that they are opposite the other speedlight with the couple between them to maintain the crosslighting. Adjust shutter speed for more/less ambient light, can stop down the aperture for starburst effect if you get one of the speedlights in the frame.
 
I use 3 speedlights in general. I place two on light stands, on opposite sides of the dance floor, either bouncing off the ceiling or pointing down over the dance floor. They are on 8ft lightstands and usually at -1 FEC.

I have one on camera as well which is usually turned off. I turn it on if I need a little fill or if I end up talking a little wander to an area of the room the other two speedlights don't light as effectively. I use the YN-622C tranceivers to trigger the off camera flashes. Camera on manual at ISO 400-1600, 1/80 - 1/30 depending on how much ambient I would like and aperture at whatever I feel I need. ETTL.

I seldom play with second curtain synch but it's a great way to get some movement into your shots.
 
Gary.D said:
Thanks for your comments guys! Looking forward to trying some of these bits out!
Click to expand...

Just practise quick - "Amazed" by Lonestar runs for like 4m 02s but bridesmaids usually rush the dancefloor before then ;)

Between 1 and 3 lights, usually gridded, either locked into the corners or with a well trained assistant holding one. Remote power adjustment is a must for me.

I usually ask the DJ for smoke and lasers - but the good lasers not the "police firearm team" lasers.
 
Used to use multiple strobes, but decided one is enough. The more lights, the more stands, the more chance of a guest tripping over.

No ETTL. Simply don't trust it.

Dav
 
Last wedding we used 3 speedlites, 1 in a softbox next to the dj booth up high lighting the centre of the dance floor, 2 bare in opposite corners ( so effectively all 3 made a triangle). All in manual and set up before the dance.
Then we just moved around to change the look of the resulting pics, or killed a lite as required.
 
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