Wedding photograhy tips - First dance

Prophet

Prophet

Prophet

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Joined
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Location
Notts
I'm OK with pretty much all apects of the day but always struggle with the first dance.

Looking for some advice on what settings to use to limit the damage! Usually I'm slightly blurred due to the lower lighting.

I'll be using a Canon 40D with a Tammy 17-50 f/2.8 and 430EX II flash.
 
lol, you called?

Erm, 40D, I dont have that, does it have Auto ISO?

If it doesn't then i would use it like my 30D, and i had the Tamron 17-50 too.

Natural light (outdoor)

AWB
AV mode
ISO 100
F/2.8

Natural Light (indoor)
depends if it has a window or curtain shut. If there is some sunlight coming in then i leave it at AWB, if its all Tungsten then i custom set it using live view.
ISO about 800
Av
F/2.8
Check shutter speed

Night (indoor)
AEB
Manual model
Flash on ETTL, highspeed sync on
Bounce it
ISO 1200 minimum, 1600 to even 3200.
F/2.8

That's about it.

Except in group shots in the formals, put the F/stop to like 5.6 or 6.4 to get more DOF.
 
wait, missed the first dance bit.


erm it depends on the light !

with or without flash really....but the above's principles are the same. The key is keep an eye on the shutter speed, you need to wack up the ISO so the shutter speed is fast enough to stop motion.
 
When i say wack it up, only enough to stop motion, but not too much you suffer too much noise.

No need to go 1/1250 a second at 3200 ISO when you can get away with 1/250 at 640 ISO.
 
What raymond says there is sound advice - however if you feel you have nailed a few shots and want to try some experiemental stuff, stick it in Tv mode set the shutter speed to around 1/30 - 2nd curtain sync then kinda of hold the lens by the zoom ring (assuming you are using a zoom lens) and twist the camera when pressing the shutter button, you get a great swirly/zoomy effect that can look great and the 2nd curtain sync will freeze the action at the end of the exposure.. tricky at first to pull off but can get some great results.

Other than that, get a 1D, stick it in burst mode, hold down the shutter button and hang on!! Eventually something good will appear.
 
MarkECP said:
What raymond says there is sound advice - however if you feel you have nailed a few shots and want to try some experiemental stuff, stick it in Tv mode set the shutter speed to around 1/30 - 2nd curtain sync then kinda of hold the lens by the zoom ring (assuming you are using a zoom lens) and twist the camera when pressing the shutter button, you get a great swirly/zoomy effect that can look great and the 2nd curtain sync will freeze the action at the end of the exposure.. tricky at first to pull off but can get some great results.

Other than that, get a 1D, stick it in burst mode, hold down the shutter button and hang on!! Eventually something good will appear.
Click to expand...

Have you got any examples Mark?

Also lol @ 1D advise.
 
Wedge said:
Have you got any examples Mark?

Also lol @ 1D advise.
Click to expand...

The only one I can grab without going through the back catalogue is this one - mother of bride throwing a few shapes! Love the expression on the BG dancers as well..

dance.jpg
 
dannyjo22 said:
A quick question, obviously I'm not expert but I've read a lot on TP lately that specifies to stay away from 'mid isos' so that's something you don't go along with?
Click to expand...

Pfffft! Sounds like nonsense - I use whatever I feel the situation requires - did they expand on why not to use the mid-iso range? The only ones I wouldnt use are the L or H isos, as they are generally just boosts in the software not the sensor gain.
 
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