Lighting the first dance....

G

gpc1

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,289
Name
Greg
Edit My Images
No
Hi all and TF its Friday !!

Anyways, I have been looking at few blogs / sites recently at the various methods of lighting the first dance. I am shooting a wedding soon and was wondering whether to try something new (albeit after practising the set up beforehand).

Normally I would stick to on camera bounce flash / ambient light but I was thinking of adding an additional 2 speedlights on stands in the corners of the room as well as the speedlight on camera. I think the ceilings are perfectly suitable for bounce flash ie not too high and fairly light coloured.

Out of interest, how do you wedding guys light dance floor / first dance etc. Are the lights diagonally opposite, same end of room, by the dj stand, bounced, direct, ½ power, ETTL etc.

There are a myriad of set ups but what’s your preferred method and what’s your starting point before deciding whether to tweak / adjust to suit?

Cheers all,
 
My preferred option (some venues don't lend themselves):

  • One off camera flash on a stand in the corner of the dance floor (ettl triggered).
  • One flash on the on camera trigger
  • One camera with just on camera to bounce (camera 2).

That gives me:
  • On camera bounced flash (camera 2)
  • Backlit B&G with no fill (shooting into the OCF)
  • Backlit B&G with fill (shooting into the OCF)
  • Side / frontal lit B&G with fill
all with the minimum alteration of ratios from camera position and by altering my position relative to the OCF.

caveats: My PW's have been flaky in this situation, I've replaced them with YN 622s which appear much more stable, some venues don't work well for getting no light on the background.
 
cheers phil, that sounds like a good set up. May give that a go.
 
just a thought, do you use an umbrella.

Also, when you same minimum alteration of ratios? If both are firing ETTL do you set a 2:1 ratio or just let the ETTL take over?

I havent really used rations too much as any OCF i have set up manuall;y to taste. But in a moving environment ie first dance, im not sure what to do for the best..
 
Just a thoughth...again...do you know if you can set the off camera flash to manual and have it at say...1/32nd and the on camera in ettl ? or do both have to be in the same mode?

Need to have aplay with this set up i think
 
I do two off camera, and non on. Normally set at diagonals over the dance floor, but that depends on the room. Pw tt5 on Camera to trigger, and ac3 for on the fly adjustments. Both bare flash.
 
I use the yn622 so can adjust on the fly on the back of camera.

I think the one off and one on would suit me as I can revert to on camera bounce if its not working out.

I googled to see if you can set them in different modes but haven't come up with anything yet.
 
gpc1 said:
I use the yn622 so can adjust on the fly on the back of camera.

I think the one off and one on would suit me as I can revert to on camera bounce if its not working out.

I googled to see if you can set them in different modes but haven't come up with anything yet.
Click to expand...

The unofficial user guide to the YN622s gives you all the answers.

But simply, yes.
 
Cool. Cheers Phil.will have another google and set them up at the weekend.

Found it....does exactly what i want it to do. ETTL on camera, manual off. So i can set the off camera to 1/64th, on camera at etl, get someone to stand in the dance floor and adjust accordingly.

I dont want to overpower the ambient but just need a hint of rim light / directional.

Just need to get hands on and test / practice.

Thanks again...

Rgds
 
Last edited:
and it worked...lol

on cam ettl, off cam 1/128 at 105mm zoom.

do you zoom the off cam or have it wide?
 
Flash on a stand by the DJ pointing straight at the dance floor, manual 1/64 or 1/128 power. Flash on camera, iTTL, pointing straight at the ceiling with bounce card up. Camera on manual, something like 125th f8, ISO 800. Shoot with the manual flash in frame behind the couple, perfect results every time....well...most of the time :) That's basically where i start, then fanny around. Need to buy some more flash units so i can play around some more!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top