Speedlights at a wedding

[Blasted]

Ok I’m soon to be shooting my first wedding, August bank holiday weekend and I’m just thinking about the different lighting scenarios I might be facing. The wedding is kicking off at half twelve and should be chucking out about by about half one. Assuming the weather stays clear there’s going to be some pretty harsh lighting to contend with.

They aren’t going to be hanging around at the church for too long afterwards before moving to another location. The plan is to shoot a few simple bride and groom shots arriving at the church, along with friends and family arriving. There will then be the indoor stuff followed by a few small group shots afterwards. The bulk of the formal and group shots will be shot at the place where the reception’s being held, giving me more time to arrange and organise.

Dealing with the first scenario, harsh light around the church. The obvious choice seems to be, find a nice shady area, failing that use an on camera speedlight as fill. When using a speedlight for fill along with a flash bender is it preferable to stick the camera in manual and leave the flash in ETTL, with a FEC reduction of about a stop? All I want to do is fill shadows around the faces and have the flash blend in so it’s not really noticeable.

Second scenario, outdoor groups at the reception. It’s a nice garden area and people will be milling about in the sun. Again shade would be nice. I’m thinking find a nice spot, camera in manual and expose for dress. Two speedlights, 45 degrees either side with a shoot through umbrella, flashes high up and pointing down slightly past the center of the group so the flashes overlap slightly.

Lastly, Single and double portraits, shade again, this time I have a sun diffuser I can get some one to hold. Single speedlight, shoot through umbrella.
Of course I’m going to be looking for good window light and avoiding dappled areas of shade.

As it draws closer to the day I think I’m beginning to over think things slightly. I’m down there this weekend to do a recce of the locations. I appreciate there is no single way of doing things and everything can go wrong, but its no bad thing to be aware of options.

This is a free wedding for a friend who I have made abundantly clear of my limitations.

Thanks for any input you can offer.

 

[vetonbike]

Remember the KISS method. At this time of year when its so hot most people do not want to stand in the heat for to long. For years I used only one electronic flash to balance strong sunlight. watch the dappled shade. There is always one bright spot in the wrong place. Make sure the background is not to dark. Good luck.

 

[Phil V]

My starting points are:-
Where the flash is fill:
AV with HSS and -FEC

Where the flash is key:
Manual with no FEC as a start point, switching the Manual exp about depending on what I want to achieve.

Flash modifiers will eat much needed light when you just need 'fill', bare flash will do.

Only use techniques that you're 100% confident will work! as above KISS.

 

[Blasted]

Thanks guys,

I completely agree with the keep it simple mentality.

Was also thinking manual for fixed position and AV for when folk are moving about.

 

[Serendipitous Sid]

Second scenario, outdoor groups at the reception ... I’m thinking ... Two speedlights, 45 degrees either side with a shoot through umbrella, flashes high up and pointing down slightly past the center of the group so the flashes overlap slightly.

And I'm thinking ... what shots is he going to miss while he's farting about setting up stands and brollies? Has he thought of the sandbags he'll need in case it's windy? Has he got PL insurance for when some demented child trips over a leg of a stand, breaks his glasses in the fall, and the descending brolly pokes Nan in her only good eye? Has he checked that his flash synch actually works well outdoors?

As it draws closer to the day I think I’m beginning to over think things slightly.

And I'm thinking you're already over-thinking things. And not just slightly!

Phil's advice is (as usual) good, but considering that you've never shot a wedding before and you're not getting paid for this one, I'm inclined to add that as well as only using techniques that you're 100% confident will work, only do what you need to. You're going to have enough to think about on the day from a logistics POV, especially when if it runs late, the bride changes her mind about what snaps where, and it pours with rain.

FWIW I never found it necessary to use anything other than on-camera flash at a wedding, never used a reflector and never even owned a diffuser. But whatever, good luck with it.

PS Beware the cry "Can we just do one more with ..." come groups time, and if you really do end up setting lights up, be prepared for everybody and his dog angling for a free portrait, headshot for the portfolio, passport photo etc ...

 

[HamezUK]

PS Beware the cry "Can we just do one more with ..." come groups time, and if you really do end up setting lights up, be prepared for everybody and his dog angling for a free portrait, headshot for the portfolio, passport photo etc ...

Agree an exact list of group shots in advance that you will have with you on the day to avoid this situation. Tell the couple to spend some time on this as if a shot isn't on the list, it isn't getting taken. Alternatively, if there are too many shots they will need to allow a lot more time for the group shots than they probably already have.

Also make sure the list is in a sensible order. Ie, if nan is in two shots, put those one after the other instead of sending her off then dragging her back.

This technique has worked a charm for me on every wedding I have done.

As for speed lights. Only ever really use one on camera for a bit of fill and for inside the reception. Try to utilise shaded areas as much as possible on a harsh sunny day. Wouldn't even contemplate setting up lighting stands, I would have no time whatsoever to do it.

 

[Blasted]

Thanks guys. the intention is not to jump straight to flash rather be aware of the options I have should things deviate from plan.

I've instructed the couple to draw up a key shot list, start with a big group and then peel them away.

Thankfully this is quite a small event with a lot of time flexability at the location.