wedding togs,flash question

powell7

powell7

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chris
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hi all,
if you had a wedding that you had to use a flashgun inside what setting would you use on the camera and flashgun ??

would you fire the flash up,behind or forwards?

any help would be great,thanks chris.
 
Totally depends on the circumstances. If the ambient light is from the top (for example spots), I'd push light in from the front. Otherwise I might bounce it. You also need to think about the inverse square law of light (light from the front will probably create a darker background).

Be careful of light temperatures and try to match them using gels if you want your flash to not be too noticeable. Also be careful of the colour of any walls that you're bouncing off. Don't try to bounce of a very dark wall or ceiling :)

Unfortunately there isn't a one size fits all with this stuff - it's about seeing what light is available and using your flash to fill in or overpower the light as you need to do..
 
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Hi Powell,

Phil is totally correct and obviously speaks from experience. No two venues/locations will be the same.

Whilst I am not a professional wedding photographer I would not shoot a wedding unless I had seen the location and experimented with what I think works well.

Just after Christmas I shot a wedding and arrived two days early at the hotel - made a break of it with the family - I looked around and got the hotel staff to turn lights on. Messed around with various lights in the room that the make up artist and hairdresser would be using.

Come the wedding day I walked into the room that was going to be used for the ceremony to find a whole set of lights being used that weren't switched on for me! Aargh. Fortunately I had time to try a few things out!

During the evening the room that was used for the party was so poorly lit that even with a D3S it was hard to get shots that were going to be any good. So I slowed the shutter down and used a flash. This way I got the crispness I needed for the subjects but the slow shutter speed meant I also got the disco lights. Sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs, but if you have not tried this give it a go. Creates some nice images.

Best regards


Chris
 
If there was a simple answer to this, my job would be pretty easy. If I told you that answer I'd be pretty stupid ;)

Like everybody else says - it depends. Some stuff I do with on camera flash (!), some with static off camera, some with off camera controlled by a really good assistant, some with studio flash. Lots with available light.

Others do things differently.
 
JonathanRyan said:
If there was a simple answer to this, my job would be pretty easy. If I told you that answer I'd be pretty stupid ;)
Click to expand...

Can you explain what you meant by that?

Are you saying that sharing your knowledge makes you stupid? if so I must be a right thicko!!
 
ryanyboy said:
Can you explain what you meant by that?

Are you saying that sharing your knowledge makes you stupid? if so I must be a right thicko!!
Click to expand...

Exactly. The sole point of my post was to call you an idiot. #busted.
 
Well maybe a photography forum is not the place for you then - as generally it's give and take. You learn a little, you share a little.

Taking that stance suggests you're just in it for what you can get.

How sad :(
 
ryanyboy said:
Well maybe a photography forum is not the place for you then - as generally it's give and take. You learn a little, you share a little.

Taking that stance suggests you're just in it for what you can get.

How sad :(
Click to expand...

Hi Ryan,

er......... may I point out that Jonathan actually does a great deal of teaching. He teaches on behalf of several companies including Lencarta (Please check Jonathan's signature). He also presented daily demonstrations at Focus.
If you go through Jonathan's previous threads and posts, you will find he has provided a wealth of information freely.
The sentence you asked him qualify, as I see it, basically translates to "If there was an simple answer, I'd be a millionaire!" or something similar.

However, I'm fully aware Jonathan has a particular gift when it comes to winding people up.

Please remove the hook from your mouth, as I believe you've been "had"
 
As an expert of almost ten days, I would advise you to look at what reflective surfaces are indoors, on site and what angles to them, you feel you can use to reflect your flash. Pace out/plot, the likely camera positions and assure yourself that you will be able to arrive at that point and know what the reflected light will do when you shoot.

My son is getting married in Leeds castle in Kent, next year, I shall be all over the grounds of that place prior, and inside if I can. I will know my ground intimately before I arrive.

Homework, priceless.
 
As a professional I always check the venue out beforehand - saying that, sometimes you really just have to `wing it` on the day, if you know your equipment and how to get the best results out of it then any lighting situation should be relatively easy to deal with.. that's what the client pays me for.
 
Michael Sewell said:
Hi Ryan,

er......... may I point out that Jonathan actually does a great deal of teaching. He teaches on behalf of several companies including Lencarta (Please check Jonathan's signature). He also presented daily demonstrations at Focus.
If you go through Jonathan's previous threads and posts, you will find he has provided a wealth of information freely.
The sentence you asked him qualify, as I see it, basically translates to "If there was an simple answer, I'd be a millionaire!" or something similar.

However, I'm fully aware Jonathan has a particular gift when it comes to winding people up.

Please remove the hook from your mouth, as I believe you've been "had"
Click to expand...


wow.. seems like a lot of hard work just to read someones post. if we had to do that with everyone who replies just to check if they are winding us up or not it would make for a long day .. just sayin :)
 
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