Family wedding tomorrow - any tips?

Diggsy · 11 Feb 2011 at 18:43

Guys, going to a very small family wedding tomorrow, in fact so small they don't even have a photographer.

As such, I want to take as many pics as possible, and hopefully capture some really good ones to make a small album for them.

There is no pressure as they don't expect this, but I would like to give it a go.

So, the weather forecast is for sunny spells, and that means a possible opportunity for some outdoor shots, along with some indoor ones at the venue.

My kit is as follows (nothing great, but it's what I have)...

Canon 350d | Canon 18-55 | Canon 55-250IS | Canon 50 F1.8 | Yongnuo YN468

I have 2x 4gb cards, 6 batteries for the camera and 2 sets of VapexTech rechargables for the flash.

So, that said, does anyone have any tips for someone who is pretty much a novice with a camera?

I have been practising using manual mode and am pretty confident using it that way now, but just not too sure on all the various settings for various lenses / conditions.

I understand that the ideal F stop for sharpness on each lens is always one or two above the lowest available, but other than that I am not 100% certain on what is the perfect shutter speed etc.

Is there a rough setting that I can pretty much stick to outdoors, and the same indoors? I know that indoors I will use the flash, and probably bounce it off the ceiling.

If I was using the 50mm, would say F2.8 and a shutter speed of 125 outdoors be fine? What about indoors with the flash bounced, does much have to change on the settings?

Thanks a lot for reading, and thanks in advance for any tips.

If I can manage even one great photo I would be delighted.

Paul11 · 11 Feb 2011 at 18:46

dont use M (manual)

use AV (aperture value) you select the aperture and the camera will choose the shutter speed..

also, you cant ask if x aperture and y shutter speed would be ok because it depends on how much light there is at the time

1) pick the aperture

2) look at the shutter speed the camera selects

3) decide if that shutter speed is good enough

if yes, take picutre

if no,

1) open the aperture

2) increase the ISO

3) use a flash

adamau5 · 11 Feb 2011 at 18:52

Without flash, agreed don't use manual. Av with the 50mm should be you stock. With flash go manual and ettl. 1/80 ish, ISO 400 f5.6 as a starting point. Fec 1+ and bounce it. Practice tonight.

Diggsy · 11 Feb 2011 at 19:16

Thanks guys, nice and simple tips, just what I need

I didn't realise AV was the way to go outdoors, but certainly sounds a lot less complicated.

Have been practising in manual with flash indoors, but just wasn't certain on the settings. The above will come in very handy, so I am going to give that a go tonight for sure

EDIT - is it safe to assume that an ISO of 100 would be fine outdoors on a fairly sunny day?

EDIT2 - Fec 1+ - is this Flash Exposure Compensation? If so, do I enable that on the camera or the flash unit itself?

Thanks again

adamau5 · 11 Feb 2011 at 19:28

If your flash supports it, either method is fine. They just over ride eachother

Diggsy · 11 Feb 2011 at 19:30

adamau5 said:
If your flash supports it, either method is fine. They just over ride eachother

Ah, great thanks. Just reading up and it appears the YN468 adjustment is as easy as pressing + or - on the unit itself. Happy days

Paul11 · 11 Feb 2011 at 19:32

AV is not just for outdoors, you can use it all the time (except for when you use flash most people prefer manual)

100 ISO should be ok, but you need to judge on the day, if you shutter speed it not high enough up the ISO a bit

i would say that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 100 and 200 ISO anyway, so setting it to 200 would be fine to start with

adamau5 · 11 Feb 2011 at 19:32

Oh, and don't use the tupperware.... use the bouncecard for catchlights and bounce if possible. The condom just eats light.

Diggsy · 11 Feb 2011 at 19:38

Once again, thanks a lot for taking the time to provide this advice guys, I really appreciate it

Will get there early and take some practice shots to be sure I have a feel for the right settings for the venue.

There is just so much to learn in this photgraphy lark

D.P. · 11 Feb 2011 at 20:19

Remember, with a 50mm prime you will need at least about 1/80th second exposure for sharp results. If the people are moving a lot then you will need a faster exposure.

f 4.0 should give enough light and shallow DoF, but experiment a little.

Groups of people will need to be taken at least at F 8.0, for portraits then 2.8 is good. Make sure to focus on the eyes.

adamau5 · 11 Feb 2011 at 20:20

Agreed, good basic tips above.

With a still subject 1/50 is achievable... just needs a steady hand.

D.P. · 11 Feb 2011 at 21:06

adamau5 said:
Agreed, good basic tips above.

With a still subject 1/50 is achievable... just needs a steady hand.

And if you have even steadier hands then 1/20th, etc.

The rule of thumb is about 1/ (effective focal length).

You need need to take into account the crop factor.
For me I find the rule of thumb work extremely well. I will get many more sharp shots at 1/80th second than 1/50th with a 50mm prime on a 1.5x crop factor body.

Diggsy · 11 Feb 2011 at 22:09

Thanks guys, really helpful stuff, and again, nice and simple for me to understand.

Can I assume the 50mm is my best option for tomorrow then?

D.P. · 11 Feb 2011 at 22:24

Diggsy said:
Thanks guys, really helpful stuff, and again, nice and simple for me to understand.

Can I assume the 50mm is my best option for tomorrow then?

If you need to wider, e.g for a group shot then don't be afraid to swap to the 18-55. Once stopped down (e..g f 8.0) then it will perform fine.

If you need to do some candid journalist style photos then the 55-200 will also be good to give you reach and throw the background out. You can then take photos from further away without people noticing you.

But I think you will find the 50mm prime useful for most shots. Remember to zoom with your feet.

I shot my my sisters wedding mostly with a 50mm prime (like 75%), I used my Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR for about 15% of the shots. I used a wider lens to capture the scene, the church and some groups.
There was a pro-photog there so I concentrated on the candids.

Main things is to relax a little, try to have fun, re-check images on your screen to check you are getting well focused, sharp photos, periodically check your ISO is no left too high, try to bounce your flash of walls an ceilings.
Swap your memory card half way and keep it very, very safe. (A friend of mine shot a wedding but the memory card was corrupt so he lost a lot of photos). Look at the background a little, e.g. people standing in front of a flower arrangement will make a nicer shot than standing in front of a fire exit.... Shoot raw.

Although normally I hate the approach of taking hundreds of photos like a machine gun, if it is your first wedding then don't be afraid to take several thousand photos because then at least some will be good!

Diggsy · 12 Feb 2011 at 00:31

Thanks again guys, all points noted

Raymond Lin · 12 Feb 2011 at 01:02

I am not going into the technical side, but will show you the "other" side.

Remember the little things, the flowers, the ribbons, the candles, the bouquet, the chairs, the food, the confetti, the table decor, every little thing. I always say that "If it is in the wedding, then it is worth photographing."

A List the bride made (she will probably bin this, but now it is kept forever)

A book that was given to one of the Ushers I think as a gift

Her feet hurt from the shoes

Their first date was in Paris (as said in the speeches), so LISTEN and pay attention, you never know what opportunity it may bring for a photo.

Look through objects - windows, doors, balustrades, railings and mirrors and use them and let them frame the subject.

Glass door

Mirrors

Shoot around the corner, through a gap.

Don't worry about rain, if they smile, it will be nice, and umbrellas are just a prop!

Be brave and follow her...

make shift tripod - basically a chair and wallet under the lens.

Be ready, all the time

Get behind the bar (but DON'T drink!)

and

Emotions are everything, even tears.

but laughter is nicer!

Diggsy · 12 Feb 2011 at 08:31

Raymond, I have looked at your wedding thread over and over again and you are a very talented guy!

If I could get one photo even remotely near the level of creativity that your photo's display then I would be delighted.

I love the ones above with the 'target' (book etc) very sharp and everything else really blurred, that looks great. I take it shots like that require high end glass, or are they acheivable with what I have?

adamau5 · 12 Feb 2011 at 08:41

very achievable with what you have. the 50mm prime, f1.8 - f2.2

Diggsy · 12 Feb 2011 at 08:45

adamau5 said:
very achievable with what you have. the 50mm prime, f1.8 - f2.2

Thanks again. Does it need a particular shutter speed - slow / fast, or does the aperture naturaly create this effect?

adamau5 · 12 Feb 2011 at 08:54

Av mode, and you camera will expose propoerly, the shutter speed does nothing here other than let the correct amount of light in to produre an exposure. A large apeture (small f number) creates a shallow depth of field. If you get relatively near to a small subject (like the sign) and use a small F number, then the background will be blurred and you get the nice bokeh. Raymonds bokeh will be slightly nicer because of lens, but the 50mm is still good.