A short lessson in improving your photography: I believe in helping my fellow photographers so here goes. Perhaps you have seen the masters shoot weddings where the bride and groom...

Scubie Loc: Brunswick Georgia

I believe in helping my fellow photographers so here goes.
Perhaps you have seen the masters shoot weddings where the bride and groom literally pop on the screen.
Heres how they do it.
Take a meter reading for example f8 at 125..use only manuel mode, never allow the camera to decide.
Remember this rule and never forget it.
The f stop is for the exposure of the flash and will be the light source for the bride and groom and a little of the background.
The shutter speed of 125 as recommended by a good light meter is only for the ambient light. Underexpose at 250 or even 500 for a more dramatic effect
Then expose the couple at the reccomended flash f stop of
f8.....You can play with this technique and see what works best. I use this technique usually at dusk or early sunrise.

RRS Loc: Not sure

Scubie wrote:

I believe in helping my fellow photographers so he... (show quote)

ETTR isn't always for the best. This technique works for sky's too. There are so many "photographers" that say they only shoot available light. Master the flash and enjoy the results.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Or you could just make full use of the technology contained within a recent DSLR and let it think for you which it does quicker and faster than any human being. Then take your shot open it in Photoshop and make it what you want it to be. Add light subtract light etc etc etc. Damn sight easier to me bro and Mr Nikon and Mr Canon are pretty clever at working stuff out to get the best results.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Billyspad wrote:

Or you could just make full use of the technology contained within a recent DSLR and let it think for you which it does quicker and faster than any human being. Then take your shot open it in Photoshop and make it what you want it to be. Add light subtract light etc etc etc. Damn sight easier to me bro and Mr Nikon and Mr Canon are pretty clever at working stuff out to get the best results.

In camera meters are easily fooled, especially when using matrix or center weighted. Throw in white wedding dresses, and you have even more issues. Yes, you can take perfectly "OK" photos, but OP was trying to help people to take the photos where the subject "pops"

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

bkyser wrote:

In camera meters are easily fooled, especially when using matrix or center weighted. Throw in white wedding dresses, and you have even more issues. Yes, you can take perfectly "OK" photos, but OP was trying to help people to take the photos where the subject "pops"

I repeat what I said earlier that what Photoshop is for. You just choose the amount of pop you want. OP's method Im sure works but sounds long winded and prone to error. Get a reasonably well exposed image that's in focus and Photoshop will do the rest.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Billyspad wrote:

I repeat what I said earlier that what Photoshop is for. You just choose the amount of pop you want. OP's method Im sure works but sounds long winded and prone to error. Get a reasonably well exposed image that's in focus and Photoshop will do the rest.

Understood, but that's how a lot of what would be beautiful photos, end up with completely blown out skies, or with the subject as silhouettes, in which case, PP can't really fix without going through an even much more long winded explanation in how to replace skies in photoshop.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

bkyser wrote:

In camera meters are easily fooled, especially when using matrix or center weighted. Throw in white wedding dresses, and you have even more issues. Yes, you can take perfectly "OK" photos, but OP was trying to help people to take the photos where the subject "pops"

By "pop" you mean that the subject will be properly exposed by the flash and the background will be underexposed. Yes, that should make them pop.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Billyspad wrote:

Or you could just make full use of the technology contained within a recent DSLR and let it think for you which it does quicker and faster than any human being. Then take your shot open it in Photoshop and make it what you want it to be. Add light subtract light etc etc etc. Damn sight easier to me bro and Mr Nikon and Mr Canon are pretty clever at working stuff out to get the best results.

Getting the balance you want between the background and the subject lit with your flash isn't something that is easy to do with Photoshop. Better to achieve that balance in the camera, which isn't that difficult with manual settings on a digital camera. Photoshop is better used to do things you can't easily do in the camera.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Scubie wrote:

I believe in helping my fellow photographers so here goes...use only Manuel mode, remember this rule and never forget it. I use this technique usually at dusk or early sunrise.

Along with a mariachi band, a few piñatas, some breakfast burritos and a margarita sunrise perhaps for the morning weddings? :-D

greg vescuso Loc: Ozark,Mo.

This is a really good thing to do that brings more pop to the Bride and groom, like you said it works very well at sunset. But you can also underexpose your ambient light and expose your Bride and Groom for the flash inside the reception when the background is less than desirable. Here are two shots taken in the same room to show the difference of underexposing the room to get a totally different feel.

(Download)

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Scubie wrote:

I believe in helping my fellow photographers so he... (show quote)

But you didn't explain how you get the couple to the alter at sunrise!