LF tips for wedding shoot.

[sovietdoc]

My friend has asked me to photograph his wedding and although I've been to numerous ones, I've never actually been the primary photographer.

I will be using friends D3s with 14-24 and 24-70 f/2.8 zooms and my 5d3 with 70-200. I will also have 3 flashes total, 2 910's with some stands, and 600 RT + some wireless triggers.

I am just looking for whatever helpful input I can get on how to do this right. I'll be shootig indoors only so we're looking at 3200 iso at f/2.8


As my primary plan, I was going to setup one flash near the podium with the newly married couple, another flash in the back of the hall for extra soft light, and have one of the flashes on the camera.

I was going to use the 14-24 for shots of people at tables, 24-70 for general shots of guests and the couple and 70-200 during the ceremony and for close up portrait shots. Does this even seem right?

Should I try to use lowest iso possible and always f/2.8 or try and push it?

 

[Kerbouchard]

How much time do you have? Do you even have time to learn a completely new system?

 

[Robin Usagani]

Yikes.. are you familiar with your friend's camera? That would hinder me personally. Even the metering display is backward. No thumb wheel. Personally I would keep the D3S in the bag as a back up. Use your 5D III with those two lenses you have. On the top of that, mixing Canon and Nikon files can be frustrating. It is hard to keep them look the same.

 

[Kerbouchard]

Yikes.. are you familiar with your friend's camera? That would hinder me personally. Even the metering display is backward. No thumb wheel. Personally I would keep the D3S in the bag as a back up. Use your 5D III with those two lenses you have. On the top of that, mixing Canon and Nikon files can be frustrating. It is hard to keep them look the same.

LOL...If we aren't careful, we are going to end up looking like we agree sometimes.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Yikes.. are you familiar with your friend's camera? That would hinder me personally. Even the metering display is backward. No thumb wheel. Personally I would keep the D3S in the bag as a back up. Use your 5D III with those two lenses you have. On the top of that, mixing Canon and Nikon files can be frustrating. It is hard to keep them look the same.

LOL...If we aren't careful, we are going to end up looking like we agree sometimes.

Maybe the effect of solar eclipse.

 

[Trever1t]

ISO 3200 allows me enough speed to run an aperture above widest with ease in most setting save the dimmest. Will they allow strobes during the ceremony? Usually not. Your game plan seems reasonable to me. Do you have much experience swinging two bodies? I'd consider running one, the one you are most familiar with and holding the second for just in case.

 

[bratkinson]

30 years ago, and even 6 months ago, when asked by someone to borrow my camera, I unconditionally decline. Even when I was shooting with a point and shoot, I declined, as well. The reason is simple...It's IMPOSSIBLE to learn a camera and get good shots while under duress.

Learning the 'dark side' AND doing a wedding all at the same time? You have to be kidding, right?

 

[sovietdoc]

I am pretty fluent with both Nikon and Canon systems and although I lean towards Canon's ergonomics myself, I find Nikon to be just as nice. I've shot with the D3s for sometime so it won't be a problem. Also, using 2 bodies isn't anything new either. Especially recently I've been out to numerous shoots with friends where we kept trading cameras for half-a-day or so and just stoot with different systems. The only thing to remember I guess is that Nikon's zoom rotates to the WRONG side

Actually I didn't want another camera but my friend who shoots with his D3s insisted I take his gear and give it a good running. It will definitely help as I don't have any other lenses other than 70-200 for my 5d3., so with the Nikon I should be able to use shorter focal lengths utilizing his 14-24 and 24-70.

During the ceremony the strobes are no go, but I was planning on using the flashes after the formal ceremony is over.

I guess I am just asking about general wedding shooting tips like "don't get in their face too much" or somethin like that. Oh and btw I only have 1 lens for the 5d. Those 24-70's have been delayed till mid summer but knowing Canon I'd be surprised if they don't delay them again

 

[gsgary]

What does LF in your title mean ?

 

[thisisbleep]

What does LF in your title mean ?

I presume, LF means looking for.

 

[gsgary]

When i see LF in a photography context i take it as meaning Large Format

 

[Kerbouchard]

I guess I am just asking about general wedding shooting tips like "don't get in their face too much" or somethin like that. Oh and btw I only have 1 lens for the 5d. Those 24-70's have been delayed till mid summer but knowing Canon I'd be surprised if they don't delay them again

Ok, well, for some general tips...

You and your friend/client need to sit down and have a conversation. One, you need to decide if you even should do it. Next, you and him need to decide if you are going to the wedding as a guest or as a photographer. You can't be both. Its the difference between having a few drinks and catching up with friends and hurrying to get the next shot.

As far as your planned shots/lighting/lens usages, I have no idea if it is appropriate or not. I haven't seen the venue, don't know what the lighting or backgrounds are like, etc. While it is good to have a general plan, don't let yourself get locked into something. If it's not working, change the plan.

For me, one of the bigger things that jump out on me is your choice of lens for the table shots, and after looking at your last post, it begins to make sense. The 14-24 is not a good lens for tableshots with people sitting at them. It's great for an overall view of the room, detail shots from a different perspetctive, and things like that, but if try to take a picture of a group of people seated at a table, it's going to look like a carnival instead of a wedding. Stick with the 24-70 for those shots.

Another thing, as much as it sucks to hand a friend a contract, do it anyway. Make sure compensation, timeline, expectations, and deliverables are all clearly defined.

 

[sovietdoc]

Sorry for any trouble I caused with "LF" but yes, it was ment to be "looking for"

I am going to the wedding as a photographer so that means work. Actually I may be wrong but I believe it's a bad practice to be a wedding photographer and sit down for a few drinks. Shooting weddings means doing your photo job at all times while the wedding isnt over. And even if it is over, it's may also nice to take the new couple out on an evening/night shoot.

The reason I was talking about 14-24 for tables is because at 14-18ish you can take a photo of a single (round) table with all the people at it and although you get WA distortion, it may be worth a shot. Obviously just as a technical shot, I am not saying take all the photos at UWA.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

Stick to one system and try to keep it as simple as possible. You do not need any more complexity than what you already have

 

[epatsellis]

some basic questions:
How many weddings have you shot? Asking some of the most basic questions should be telling you that you aren't ready, no if's and's or but's. A wedding isn't a commercial shoot where you have time to prep lighting, talent and sets, it's more akin to photojournalism with a hangover, and a limp. No matter how often or for how long you shoot, at times even the most experienced shooter get's "out of sync" with what's going on around them, experience and instinct are the only things to get you back ahead of the curve. In your position, I'd attend your friend's wedding, be a good guest, have a good time, and leave the shooting to the pros.
At the very least, offer to be a second shooter, there's a lot that happens at weddings that "develops" and after shooting a bunch, you "see" it happening ahead of time. If it's an informal affair, then by all means, if you're talking the whole nine yards, church wedding, etc. I'd consider how valuable your friendship is, and what the consequences would be if you totally bomb. I'm not saying you will, but it happens even to the best of us.

How proficient are you with the lighting you will be using? From my perspective, your lighting "plan" sucks for everybody but you. I prefer a Stroboframe with a diffused flash on axis and high enough to throw the shadow behind the subject. Simple and effective (and probably why it's been the mainstay for the last several decades for wedding shooters). My equipment preference is Metz 60 CT's, but I've been using them for a few decades and know them instinctively.

Maybe more details would be helpful, church/outdoor/JP wedding, reception only, etc.

erie