billozz Loc: Birmingham, England

can someone give some examples of detail in a wedding dress photo please and explain how they got it i.e. what settings were used, is it advisable to use flash or will that blow the detail/
thank you
Bill

EstherP

If you're talking "traditional white" wedding dress - yes, it is very easy to blow out the detail.
You give no indication of where the photos are to be taken: indoors, or outdoors.
Either way, light coming from the side will be less harsh to both the dress and the bride's face, than light coming straight on from your camera, and it will give some shadows on the dress from folds in the design, helping to define the dress.
As to other detail in the dress - beads, sequins, fabric - the bride is not likely to loan you the dress beforehand to take some test pictures, but if she's willing to give you some detail, you may be able to buy a yard or so of a similar fabric (not just "white" but taffeta for a taffeta dress, polyester satin for a polyester satin dress, silk lace for a silk lace dress, etc). Take that piece of fabric to the location where the final photos will be taken, ask the proprietor of the building to turn on the lights as they will be for the wedding, and take some test shots, with the fabric draped in different ways.
Outdoors will be a lot harder, you can't turn the sun on or off (don't I wish!!!).
That's about all the sensible stuff I can tell you.
Actual settings on your camera? I have no idea: I don't know your camera (unless you have an Olympus E-5) and I don't know the area. I guess the only thing I can add, is to underexpose for the dress, you can always lighten it up in PP but once the whites are blown, they're gone.
Happy shooting!
EstherP

bebo1998 Loc: Baltimore MD area

as always, Ester - great information to keep.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

This right here. ^

Shoot RAW and under expose for the dress if that is the main concern.

billozz Loc: Birmingham, England

thank you Esther for your help

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

are you shooting as a guest at a wedding or the wedding photographer?

billozz Loc: Birmingham, England

i have been asked to take the photos at a wedding so to all intents and purposes i am the photographer, i wouldnt have chosen it but thats where i am

billozz Loc: Birmingham, England

i forgot to add the pics will be taken outdoors if possible but indoors if weather is poor, probably the latter !!

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

can I suggest you back out gracefully? Not to be a bi##h but this coupled with your post about how to take wedding pictures in bad weather just screams you are NOT ready to take on such an important event as the primary photographer. You might not have chosen to be asked but you DID make the unwise decision to agree, no put on your big boy pants and admit to the couple you are not ready for such an important once in a life time event and offer to help them find a more experienced photographer.

billozz Loc: Birmingham, England

sorry i just realisedi didnt mkae myself clear , although i appreciate the advise from Esther i was really looking for advice on how to get a pic of the dress hanging up or on the bed etc
thank you
Bill

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Ozz, Sorry, no samples. If you consider yourself an experienced photographer with a good command of light, just shoot the wedding.
I would have a good ettl flash and be sure you know how to use it.
If you are creative with a little blow out, I would consider that more successful than boringly typical, well exposed shots.
Set your camera up for Auto Bracketing(start at zero and go backwards), and use that when in questionable light.
So much of what I see has blown dresses, you can't do worse than that.
But you need to at least think you know what you are doing.
Ozz, good luck
SS

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I know that some will slam Annie Girl for her remarks here but I must agree.

There is a difference between shooting your first wedding after TONS of preparation and being "as ready as you'll ever get" and not knowing the first thing about how to properly expose wedding dress images or direction of light or any of that.

She's not being mean, and she's not showing off; she's just being realistic, and if it were me, and I were in your shoes...I'd swallow my pride and say that I just didn't feel ready to take on this task, my skills aren't up to it.

Heck...I've said that 10 times this year to people who want family photos...dog photos...work photos...all kinds of paying jobs that I don't have the skill for...no shame in that.

MtnMan Loc: ID

I'd guess as with snow the seeming intuitive direction is wrong. You probably need to up the EV by 1 or 2 if the dress is mostly what is being metered.

Otherwise you'll get a gray dress.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

And to add to this...(and I know someone will slam me) if you REALLY want to be 100% sure and not have to fix in post...(drumroll) hand held meter. Done.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Well, if you want you can meter the incident light by pointing your camera the right way to meter or you can use a gray card. But if you REALLY want to get it right you might also bracket.

Using RAW is good not only for the reason given above. It is good because you can adjust the white balance later easier. I use for important shots...and this qualifies.