Help with a crappy wedding scenario please!

[KAikens318]

I am shooting a wedding in September and had a chance to visit the venue yesterday. The hall where the ceremony is taking place is moderately lit, so I should have an issue there if I use a 2.8 or 1.8. However, the ceremony begins at six and is expected to be 20 minutes long. So they will be ready for formals around 6:40 I am going to say. Sunset is 7pm. That gives me 20 minutes barely for formals...I am thinking of doing some of the formals before the ceremony just in case, and have okay'd this with the bride and groom. I will do the bride and groom together after the ceremony and all the separates before. So that problem I hope is taking care of.

HOWEVER, after the ceremony at the reception, I think we are going to have an issue. There is a yard with a gazebo and bridge over a stream in the back outside where everyone will be. Best part? NO LIGHTS. The only lighting that they offer at this venue is a few tiki torches around the perimeter and rope lights along the path. WTH!!! So I am bringing all three speedlights with me, along with the wireless triggers and brollies for the two that I will set up on stands.

In your opinion...what the hell would you do with this? Would you position the lights somewhere where they could be kept all night, or would you only use them when absolutely necessary? I am going to play around with the flashes and triggers at night with a model before the ceremony to ensure they will be bright enough and to get the distance down, but I hate using flash, so this is going to suck either way!!!

 

[jake337]

Have you though about renting a better low light camera for the event. D3S perhaps with 50 f1.2 for the reception.

 

[KAikens318]

Have you though about renting a better low light camera for the event. D3S perhaps with 50 f1.2 for the reception.

If I could afford it I would. I used the last of what I had to rent the 85mm 1.4 Nikkor

 

[gsgary]

I would take all my studio gear, no problem then

 

[KmH]

Speedlights and brollys won't cut it.

You lose substantial light in the brollys.

 

[KAikens318]

I was thinking of the brollies only to soften the light. I hate using flash, it is so harsh. The photos I will take in the tent won't be bad because I can bounce the light, but I have no idea what to do outside of the tent.

 

[IgsEMT]

I was thinking of the brollies only to soften the light. I hate using flash, it is so harsh. The photos I will take in the tent won't be bad because I can bounce the light, but I have no idea what to do outside of the tent.

I'm still not sure what the problem is. Who ever said that u arent allowed to use lights during the ceremony ?
Every wedding I've shot NO ONE told me to turn of my lights.
Speedlights are harsh if u don't know got to use them. I have sb600 and/or 800 as a portable light and 900 on my camera. Portable light is often with built-in wide angle diffuser and 900 with nikon-stofen thingy - no harshness.
To add more flavor I set 2 ABs and light up the room - usually room lights r set 1/2-1 stop less then my main exposure is (on the dance floor). During ceremony ABs are half way the walkway on both sides of the isle pointing towers middle ; when all action goes to the front, lights turn to the front.

EDIT
I recently read a book by David Ziser Captured by the Light. I was very interested to learn that way back when I was taught lighting this guy says the same thing in his book.
Read that book

Good luck

 

[KAikens318]

It's not that I'm not allowed to use it, it's just that I am a natural light shooter. I don't work with artificial light very often, and to be honest, it scares me a little. I visit the strobist quite often for ideas, but every situation where I have had to use flash, I fail at. I just don't want there to be shadows, or the light to be too harsh. I guess we will see when the time comes.

 

[tirediron]

I am a natural light shooter. I don't work with artificial light very often,

RUBBISH! You're shooting a WEDDING. A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT (Hopefully). This is NOT the time or place to try and be artistic. You do whatever you need to do to get the shots the way the couple wants them.

...and to be honest, it scares me a little.

Ahh, now this makes more sense. I am going to choose to loosely translate this as, "I haven't yet learned enough about strobes & speedlights to be confident in what I'm doing".

So, here's what I would do in that position. Based on your consultatin with the bride and groom (You have done this at least once already, right?) you know what sorts of formals they want how many people will be in the various shots, and what colour(s) the wedding party will be wearing. Do the math to figure out what "light time" 45 minutes after the ceremony will equate to now (don't believe the 20 minutes, and allow at least 10-15 to "herd the cats". Then set up your gear at the location, at the time. Bring enough friends in similar coloured clothing that you can simulate the wedding party (You don't need 20 friends, just 2-4, spaced out). Now, set your gear and shoot and chimp 'til you get it right. Then record EXACTLY where your equipment was and what settings were used. On the day, whip things out, set them up, verify and your ready to shoot in less than five minutes.

I agree that a couple of speedlights are not really sufficient to light a wedding party. I would strongly suggest trying to beg, borrow, or otherwise acquire at least two good monolights, preferably in the 4-600 w/s range.

Good luck!

 

[quiddity]

hire a second shooter with better rig and more self confidence

 

[KAikens318]

I have a second shooter. Who is there for free. Who has a D40 and SB-400. I have shot three weddings before, no flash whatsoever and they came out very much to the bride and grooms' liking. Then again they have all be during the day.

I am just going to have as much practice at home or in a park before hand as possible (I do not have the option to go back to the venue so that is out) and will have to make it work.

 

[table1349]

A couple of White Lightning 3200's, a, couple of 13' stands, a 16 X 48" Lite Strip box for lighting before and after the ceremony. A couple of large, white PLM's on the White Lightining's for for the reception outside. Either something in the area of 73" to 86" PLM's Oh yeah, bring your wallet, none of this is cheap.

The situation you are describing is not one that sounds like you are prepared for, either equipment wise and experience wise. As tirediron has already stated, a wedding is a once in a lifetime event. If you do not believe that you can get the necessary shots, you possibly need to reconsider this assignment. There are not mulligans, no do-overs, on all ye, all ye in come free's.

Good luck.

 

[IgsEMT]

It's not that I'm not allowed to use it, it's just that I am a natural light shooter. I don't work with artificial light very often, and to be honest, it scares me a little. I visit the strobist quite often for ideas, but every situation where I have had to use flash, I fail at. I just don't want there to be shadows, or the light to be too harsh. I guess we will see when the time comes.

I'm taking a slow deep breath in.... and out. Most often when people claim "I'm a natural light shooter" it means " I don't know lighting. I don't know it's quality, temperature, it's ability and worse - I don't know how to use it." I have seen some beautiful work using ambient light but those are people who KNOW how to use it. From what you described u seem like the person who needs to learn a lot bout lighting. Forget me and other pros and anyone else with 6x more experience then me - think Hollywood films: lighting is a HUGE part of the gear!!! Another example is Joe McNally's exhibit 'faces of ground zero' (it's fairly recent so I'm using that example) - lighting is one of the KEYS to successful image.
Your excuse that flash is harsh comes from inexperience and lack of knowledge. Today is Aug28th you have very small amount of time to step up your game and provide quality results.
As was mentioned - you shouldn't undertake project you don't know how to handle. Make sure u have backup gear w/ u as well as lighting gear - it's important!
Good luck.

 

[KAikens318]

I have already explained that I do not have the best equipment to handle a reception in complete darkness to the bride and groom. They said do what you have to and we will understand. Apparently I am the only one they can afford. We had a contract made up that has a clause about this in it, so I will just have to do the best that I can with what I have.

 

[quiddity]

run, not walk away.people who cant or wont afford the best usually are more demanding and needy.i am web developer who used to do "favors" type work. notice the "used to" ... those damn people demanded more of my attention and azz kissing than some of my 5 figure clients. different profession ...same issues, lots of people want what we do free and loads of people unqualified to give it to them.