wedding photography help

Mark-Anthony

Mark-Anthony

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Hi All

Firstly...I say help, it's more like advice.

I have a few weddings booked this year, but one bride messaged me today regarding her wedding in September.

This morning she booked an owl bearer to deliver the rings down the isle.

I've never shot pics of a bird in flight, so looking for some tips (I.e focus modes, where to aim etc)

please don't say "aim at the bird" even if it is that simple.

I find my camera to be set on AF-S but obviously it needs to be on af-c for the bird shots.

suggestions welcome
 
Possibly best to `video` it? At least you should then get something. (presume there won't be an opportunity to have a trial run?)
 
Sorry, nikon d7000 it'll be on.

Yeah, no trial run, as only me, the bride and groom only know about it. It's a surprise for the family.
 
I think that it would be a stretch to get much useable in a church setting with a bif heading towards you. You will struggle to focus on it as it flys towards you and the light most likely won't be good enough to let you have a fast enough shutter speed. What sort of owl is it? Some do fly slower than others.
You could maybe get some practice with the handler in the venue before hand?
Oh, and good luck!
 
You've asked the wrong group. It's not a 'wedding photography' question, you'll get better help from the wildlife photographers.
 
Just a thought, but what about pre-focussing about a foot in front of where it will land, then, with your shutter on continuous, you should get at least one or two in focus as it stalls prior to landing.
 
FWIW I think you need to confirm the proposed flight path of the Owl, you obviously need it coming towards you. You need to check that the vicar will allow you to be in the correct position. Then I would visit the Church to get an idea of available light and which lens to use. Bear in mind the Owl may be flying quite low and the B&G may be between you and it.

I would shoot it on AF-C and you will need a SS of around 1/320 or faster if you want to freeze the wings. I would also shoot it at a high frame rate.
If you use an aperture of around f5.6 to f8 you stand more chance of sharp focus although shot at F2.8 (if you get focus) would look better. You need to focus on the eyes.
You will likely have to have to up the ISO (hence visit to Church beforehand to suss out the light)
Personally I would use a separate camera already set up for the shot.

This is one I shot a while ago:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bbr1245/8491906187/in/set-72157632831621974

Good luck!
 
Phil V said:
You've asked the wrong group. It's not a 'wedding photography' question, you'll get better help from the wildlife photographers.
Click to expand...


I think this is probably true too :D

I've known a few pals have this problem - using fast glass and a D4s (or Canon equivalent), shooting HIGH ISO and max burst rate they get Sod all in focus and sharp :(

If I was trying it on a D7000 I'd pre-focus for a spot I can tell when the bird is getting there, set it to CH on 4000 or so ISO to give me the max shutter speed and HOPE - I'd also pre-warn the couple of two things

1 - its highly unlikely to work as they imagine and the resulting shot will be lucky to be in sharp focus, and

2 - I've known more than one where the owl has not flown at all or gone up into the rafters !!!

Frankly, its a daft idea :D

Dave
 
Little_duke said:
This morning she booked an owl bearer to deliver the rings down the isle.
Click to expand...

Hopefully. :D

Maybe best advising the couple to use a couple of cheap `stand in` rings too, just in case it does decide to disappear ;)


Will the bride have to hold the lure/piece of raw chicken? :)

Also, presumably the vicar knows of their idea?
 
BBR said:
Alternatively use an UWA lens at f8. The shot wont be brilliant but should at least have pretty much everything in focus.
Click to expand...

f8? In a church? Maybe...
 
As a Bird photographer- I doubt the lighting inside the church will give you the fast shutter speed you'll require to get a pin sharp in flight shot- I usually get in flight shots with a shutter speed of around 1/1600th to 1/2000th sec @ f8
in a church that would be almost impossible - even pushing the ISO

Maybe get one of the bird perched with the rings

But good luck fella

Les
 
Ok, never done this but I would approach it like this.

1. Liaise with the owl attendant or whoever is in charge of said 'bird' find out out exactly what's going to happen?

I'm guessing one person will let the owl go, it will fly to another person and land on its hand arm. (Don't they train them to fly to food?)

2) Presumably Vicar is aware of this? He (she) will need to know! I would ask the vicars permission to locate in the aisle and use a flash to freeze the owl in flight close to point of landing.

3) I probably use multiple flash to get the shot. My focus point would be either the Bride & Groom or the owl Catcher with the B&G in frame with the owl close to the focus point. On camera flip up flash isn't really powerful enough so would use dedicated Nikon or Independent ( I have an SB 910) and a 35mm lens.

This is not an easy one to pull off, I've never done it but the most important thing is communication. Prior to this I would definitely take some light reading in the church and take a few shots with the flash.

A few caveats, this success of this is going to be down to good liaison with vicar or owl troop may not allow flash (owls have sensitive eyes!) Recce the church in the first instance and take a few shots / readings.Test shorts prior to will determine optimum aperture / ISO followed by flash tests.

Personally I think that without flash a wide aperture, high speed and high ISO might not be the best combination in this case, but that's just my opinion. That said if no flash is allowed this is the only option.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
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Lez325 said:
As a Bird photographer- I doubt the lighting inside the church will give you the fast shutter speed you'll require to get a pin sharp in flight shot- I usually get in flight shots with a shutter speed of around 1/1600th to 1/2000th sec @ f8
in a church that would be almost impossible - even pushing the ISO

Maybe get one of the bird perched with the rings

But good luck fella

Les
Click to expand...
I would guess the shutter speed you are talking about is more likely to be on quite a long lens which the OP wont need in a church? I worked out roughly the Owl will probably be covering about 6mm in 1/1000 sec, so I would go for an aperture of at least f5.6 but preferably f8 to get a good depth of field, and use a slower SS around 1/320 to 1/500. The wings will have a bit of blur but should be fast enough to avoid camera shake, IMO of course.
 
BBR said:
I would guess the shutter speed you are talking about is more likely to be on quite a long lens which the OP wont need in a church? I worked out roughly the Owl will probably be covering about 6mm in 1/1000 sec, so I would go for an aperture of at least f5.6 but preferably f8 to get a good depth of field, and use a slower SS around 1/320 to 1/500. The wings will have a bit of blur but should be fast enough to avoid camera shake, IMO of course.[/QUO

Or use as flash, but that would frighten the bird and who knows where it would go lol

Les :p:p:p:p
Click to expand...
 
Adam J said:
Fof W I think you need to confirm the proposed flight path of the Owl, you obviously need it coming towards you. You need to check that the vicar will allow you to be in the correct position. Then I would visit the Church to get an idea of available light and which lens to use. Bear in mind the Owl may be flying quite low and the B&G may be between you and it.

I would shoot it on AF-C and you will need a SS of around 1/320 or faster if you want to freeze the wings. I would also shoot it at a high frame rate.
If you use an aperture of around f5.6 to f8 you stand more chance of sharp focus although shot at F2.8 (if you get focus) would look better. You need to focus on the eyes.
You will likely have to have to up the ISO (hence visit to Church beforehand to suss out the light)
Personally I would use a separate camera already set up for the shot.

This is one I shot a while ago:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bbr1245/8491906187/in/set-72157632831621974

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, that's some great advice and a very good pic from yourself :)

OldCarlos said:
Hopefully. :D

Maybe best advising the couple to use a couple of cheap `stand in` rings too, just in case it does decide to disappear ;)


Will the bride have to hold the lure/piece of raw chicken? :)

Also, presumably the vicar knows of their idea?
Click to expand...

yeah the best man will hold some chicken, the owl will fly directly down the alter

Trying to answer all points

the vicar is aware of the owl being there

its not a church, ive attached a pic

View attachment 36460
 
Forgot to mention, I was looking at lending a d4s for the day as a last resort.

lens wise, I have

a 60mm f2.8
a 70-200 2.8
17-55 f2.8
30mm f1.4
 
There is plenty of available light in there but think where the sun (if it's out) is going to be at the time of the wedding. I'd definitely get down there and do a recce prior to. It will help determine your lens to. I be in the centre of that isle with a 35mm (FF)


If you've never used a DS4 before it's no good just picking it up in the the day of the wedding - ideally you need to familiarise yourself with the camera before had. This goes for any kit.

Rule 1 in professional photography never use a bit of kit for the first time on a job.
 
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Blank_Canvas said:
There is plenty of available light in there but think where the sun (if it's out) is going to be at the time of the wedding. I'd definitely get down there and do a recce prior to. It will help determine your lens to. I be in the centre of that isle with a 35mm (FF)


If you've never used a DS4 before it's no good just picking it up in the the day of the wedding - ideally you need to familiarise yourself with the camera before had. This goes for any kit.

Rule 1 in professional photography never use a bit of kit for the first time on a job.
Click to expand...

No, Rule 1 a pro should be prepare for everything & anything :D
 
Even with that much light you may struggle to get fast enough speeds to freeze the bird in flight indoors - I'd tend to say use flash , or alternately go for a longer exposure and a creative motion blur of bird (maybe combining exposures with a shot of the bird after landing) - imo you need to warn the B&G that you can't guarantee to get the flight shots as its quite possible you'll get nothing sharp and it will be over in seconds

i'd also suggest going to a falconry centre or similar and practicing head on in flight shots
 
big soft moose said:
i'd also suggest going to a falconry centre or similar and practicing head on in flight shots
Click to expand...

THIS, THRICE!! if you have never shot birds in flight, go and start practicing now, do not expect to be able to just pull it off on the day. The hardest thing for your camera to auto focus on is a moving object that is moving directly at you, so it really will be spray and pray unless you go for the set focus point method, but at least if you have had some practice you have a greater chance of success. You can have a go at both methods and see which will work for you.
 
Agree with Madwoman you may be better to concentrate on the landing rather than the flight and let the video guy capture the flight part.
 
Blank_Canvas said:
Rule 1 in professional photography never use a bit of kit for the first time on a job.
Click to expand...

I thought rule 1 was don't get caught shagging the bride in the toilets :lol:

(it was only once and actually i was helping her do her dress up, not undoing it... when the grooms mother happened to walk in... but i'll admit that it didnt look very good)

That aside on topic i'd say by all means try for flight shots but don't be suprised if you don't get anything useable so don't promise the B&G that you will
 
not doing it is a guideline, not getting caught if you do is a cast iron rule ;)
 
Well, I've shot an owl, a barn owl to be precise, in a dark church delivering rings. Vicar wouldn't let us down near B&G so we were behind and more or less on flight path.

Said owl took off and flew halfway down to best man, stalled, and flew up into a window and took a few minutes to fly back to handler.

I shot a 70-200mm and failed to get it at all until it landed on the videographers shoulder at the side (owl's 2nd attempt). My 2nd shooter, shooting on a 16-35mm got some shots, not that great with wings blurred but the effect was good, the guests faces looking back were excellent.

Overall, we (and the damn owl) failed to perform that well. Your venue looks brighter than our church but my suggestion having gone through it would be to shoot pre-focussed on a point and hope you're lucky.

We were lucky as it was arranged by a guest and I only found out while doing the morning getting ready shots. The B&G werent bothered that much but thought the failure of said bird to make it to them was quite funny. The rings it carried weren't the real ones and best man had them in his pocket all along...
 
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