Weddings.

Thanks Al for your advice, I also tried the flash in the ceremony room but a lot of glass showcases with wooden frame make reflection unvoidable. But I prepared just in case.
 
This is the staircase which leads everybody up to the dinning and ceremony rooms. Natural light from the top and pure light bulbs from below. Any recommendations for me?
Thanks.
Cheers,
D
 

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Haigh said:
I do shoot a lot of loose docu type shots at some weddings where I know some of the people involved but keep out of the way of the pro who will at least produce something for the couple whereas I take such chances that it is more often miss than hit.
Anyway, with the pro getting the safe shots I can feel free to take anything than catches my eye. I need little gear; just the m4 with 35m lens instantly ready to shoot.
I realise this might not apply to you but I thought I'd throw it in amongst the many excellents replies. Good luck with the shoot.
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I always encourage the guests shooting to use this approach, I can not possibly know who many of the important friends are, and my job is to get the most important shots of the B&G, Wedding party, ceremony, and what family I recognize or anyone with a flower. ;-)

As a guest at the last three nephew's and niece's weddings I was in a total of one photo, but perhaps not by accident. Photographer did not look carefully at the family table. ;-)

Regards, John
Regards, John
 
5 days away and I'm getting nervous. Still debating how much film vs digital, no idea who is going to direct the traffic for me for the 'standard shots', film type (BW, color, ISO), lens selection.
Currently I'm thinking of M5 with 400 NC (I never shot with, I've only done 400 UC and VC) with my 40mm Summicron or 50mm Cooke Anagstigmat. For digital will be M8 + 21 SA + 35 Summicron + 50 Summilux (?Canon 50/1.2). As the rooms are tight, I may have to leave my 9cm Elmar at home. I love to have my CL but it is still under CLA. Accessories will be SD cards, extra battery, charger, film and flash.
Any suggestion and advice for me please!
Thanks.
Cheers,
D
 
Dennis,
What type of flash do you have and have you already used it with the M8??
The only reason you should bring the M5 is because you do not have a digital backup in case the M8 should fail for some reason, or your batteries have all gone dead.
 
kshapero said:
Would should you do when you are the official photog at a wedding and someone keeps getting in your way shooting a digi P&S?
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It is a little like being a teacher, you have to assume charge in the classroom.

You can make an announcement when you are taking posed shots to hold their flashes for yours, and if there are polite people, I may actually snap their shots for them, --- if I am rushed, or if folks are intruding, I will shoot and then step in to the shot to rearrange something, leaving them with a shot of my back. Sometimes you have a small amount of time to generate a number of good photographs working with group.

It is rare for someone to actually get in my way. A tap on the shoulder may be necessary to get their attention.

The first studio I worked for would go ballistic if someone got in their way. It is rare, but a flash into your lens can spoil a shot entirely. Mostly, the big problem is that it can become like a firing squad with about the same type of expression in the bridal party.

I really think there are too many people with cameras at many events, I even had a groomsman at the alter in Champagne pull out a p&s during the service and snap a few.

Crowd shots without a number of people with cameras in their hands are harder to come by.

Wedding photography has always been a specialty-- you do the best you can, prepare, and live and learn.

Many shots can be reposed.

It helps to be well grounded in photography, very familiar with well tested equipment, in duplicate, assertive and focused on the task at hand, sensitive to the needs and wants of the family, and it helps if you prepare by shadowing or working with an experienced pro.

Nothing wrong with shooting some weddings for low or no cost, helps someone who might otherwise have no pro shots, and you will learn-- from your prints.


John
 
Kevin said:
Dennis,
What type of flash do you have and have you already used it with the M8??
The only reason you should bring the M5 is because you do not have a digital backup in case the M8 should fail for some reason, or your batteries have all gone dead.
Click to expand...

Dear Kevin,
I got the SF20, I know it doesn't provide TTL to M8 but I tested out on prior visit to make sure it works as fill-in flash.
Yes, the other M I have is M5 and the CL is having a CLA.
For sure I'll bring an extra battery and charger just in case.
Cheers,
Dennis
 
JohnTF said:
It is a little like being a teacher, you have to assume charge in the classroom.

You can make an announcement when you are taking posed shots to hold their flashes for yours, and if there are polite people, I may actually snap their shots for them, --- if I am rushed, or if folks are intruding, I will shoot and then step in to the shot to rearrange something, leaving them with a shot of my back. Sometimes you have a small amount of time to generate a number of good photographs working with group.

It is rare for someone to actually get in my way. A tap on the shoulder may be necessary to get their attention.

The first studio I worked for would go ballistic if someone got in their way. It is rare, but a flash into your lens can spoil a shot entirely. Mostly, the big problem is that it can become like a firing squad with about the same type of expression in the bridal party.

I really think there are too many people with cameras at many events, I even had a groomsman at the alter in Champagne pull out a p&s during the service and snap a few.

Crowd shots without a number of people with cameras in their hands are harder to come by.

Wedding photography has always been a specialty-- you do the best you can, prepare, and live and learn.

Many shots can be reposed.

It helps to be well grounded in photography, very familiar with well tested equipment, in duplicate, assertive and focused on the task at hand, sensitive to the needs and wants of the family, and it helps if you prepare by shadowing or working with an experienced pro.

Nothing wrong with shooting some weddings for low or no cost, helps someone who might otherwise have no pro shots, and you will learn-- from your prints.


John
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thanks john. I have a press pass, I think I'll use that to be more "official".
 
kshapero said:
thanks john. I have a press pass, I think I'll use that to be more "official".
Click to expand...

It has not been a big problem, but as there are so many more cameras around, things have sometimes gotten out of hand.

I would think more of a problem after the guests have a few drinks at the reception. ;-) -- Maybe they will forget where they put their cameras- one good thing about them becoming smaller.

What used to brass me off was a wedding official who would limit my use of flash in a room with 50 amateurs popping off with p&s cameras. Depending on the wedding, I do not shoot much flash as available light during the service, and may walk around the whole congregation to avoid people's sight line, or in some Catholic Churches the back passageway.

Part of the game. ;-)

John
 
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Al Kaplan said:
Then there's the old "pro trick" of setting up a couple of 200, even 400 watt second slave lights on stands. The other photographers will have very overexposed images.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com
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You are so bad. ;-)

Normally, no one really bothers me, but sometimes there is a time problem when you are shooting some formals, folks expect you to stop to let them shoot at distances no p&s flash will work, and people are waiting outside the church, or another event is up.

In Prague, I once captured a beautiful back lit B&W shot of the B&G about 25 feet away under a graceful arch.

Then I found out that as there were weddings every 30 minutes I had shot another B&G-- I was just snapping a few for a friend and had not met them, so did not know.

Still, a great shot. ;-)
 
sojournerphoto said:
and her Mum

Mike
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Mike,
Spot on. That's why I kept asking the B&G what mums want to shoot.
They asked me what I want to eat during banquet, I just told them I might not have much time to eat, maybe just a sandwich. Just don't forget a couple pints of beer when things are done and camera bag is pack.
Cheers,
D
 
DennisPT said:
Dear Kevin,
I got the SF20, I know it doesn't provide TTL to M8 but I tested out on prior visit to make sure it works as fill-in flash.
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Hi Dennis, the direct flash from the SF20 will make your images look flat. This is probably not what you want at all.

You really need another flash that can swivel and tilt so that you can position the head to fire towards the top of the walls beside or behind you, where these reflective surfaces meet a low light-colored ceiling. Bouncing the flash off a large light surface will allow you to better blend it with the ambient light already inside, resulting in images which look more like they were taken with natural light only.

In addition to taking the SF20 as a backup, I strongly suggest you quickly find a better, more powerful flash with swivel/tilt. Bring lots and lots of fresh AA batteries as well, at least 30 of them.

Good Luck!
Kevin
 
DennisPT said:
They asked me what I want to eat during banquet, I just told them I might not have much time to eat, maybe just a sandwich
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Dennis, you will be on your feet working all day long. You also have to eat like everybody else.

During the banquet there are certainly things going on but you cannot capture every interesting moment of a wedding anyways.

So I suggest you take a meal. Just make it shorter than everyone else's.
 
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