jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

OK, this is obviously not a bride. It is my nephew standing where I asked him to. I was on a scouting mission in a church where a wedding will take place in Oct. This is the entrance to the church and the stained glass caught my interest. I didn't have lighting with me to experiment so the question ... How would you light the bride? My tentative plan is to expose for the stained glass and light the bride with a softbox. I don't want the light to spill onto the stained glass and diminish that effect so was considering using a grid on a smaller light source, but I want all of her including the dress exposed. Thoughts, ideas?

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jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

How far from the stained glass wall can you pose the bride? If you can get her far enough away, a softbox would work and not illuminate the wall (inverse square). But seems to me that the wall could use a little spill light to lower the contrast of the background.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Thanks, there is only about a 10ft. area between some steps going down and the entrance but I can bring her forward a few feet. Also thinking about having someone open the door and getting the bright background look.

BermBuster Loc: Hi Desert S.Cal

My two cents.... I like the side lighting coming from camera left, it is showing the details in his shirt, so I think it would also bring out details in the dress, But I would use a fill on or close to camera(1 to 1 1/2stops below), and maybe another light on the right side(1 stop below), as a rim/hair light(it shouldn't effect background), and you might put a light behind (equal to or greater than ambient light on left)--a kinda halo effect might look good, and also not affect Background.
Looks like you will need to experiment. Best of luck!

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

You have as many choices as there are photographers giving you opinions. I suggest you take advantage of the accessibility of the venue and test different lighting on a model. Maybe 1 light at a time at various positions and backgrounds, (and the model at different positions too) taking notes of positions and power levels. Use the one light shots to think of combos that will produce what you might like. Put those together and then test the combinations with the model.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Thanks guys. I will figure out something. Just fun to share thoughts and ideas. I will not be spending a lot of time on this shot. It is a wedding and will be a quick set up and go most likely with one light. FYI the light on Paul is a result of digging it out in photoshop. He was a silhouette out of camera.

There is a lighthouse near the reception if you folks here want to get some creative juices going there ...

BermBuster Loc: Hi Desert S.Cal

For quick and dirty, I'd probably try to put a key light, on the side of the bride held by assistant, 90° or more, from camera position, to show the details in dress...then an on camera fill to bring up shadows.
But, what if you went ahead and tried a silhouette, maybe in front of one window, bodies apart..slight kiss?
You could even try a light behind them, for a halo...silhouette effect? :)

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Yeah, light behind them from opening the doors could be a nice effect. Was also thinking of a wide angle with B&G also maid of honor & best man on the other two windows.

BermBuster Loc: Hi Desert S.Cal

If it comes out good,I'd like to see the results :) I know it could go either way...oooh or Ahhh!

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Wedding not till Oct. 21st, but I will post good or bad.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

Just something that came into my head, im sure there are a lot of reasons it wont work but how about vack lighting the bride thru the stained glass and mayve a side light or just a hair light , would certainly be different

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

I like that idea. I don't think I have seen it done before, but sounds intriguing. Especially if the stained glass colors provide the rim light ... It is tough to get time in that church as they are only open long enough to have mass and I am 2 1/2 hours away, but I would like to pay them another visit.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I would suggest a few more trips, and ask the "bride" to wear at least a white T-Shirt to try to get exposure on his face, and shirt correct.

without being there, I would say that it could benefit from some more ambient light. Unless you are going for a silhouette, I think there is too much contrast in the background, and it will actually draw attention away from the bride. Brides don't like that, they WANT to be the center of attention.

The way I normally would approach this (not that it's the only way, there are countless ways) I would use my trusty incident light meter, and expose 1-2 stops below, then I would set my flash to 1/2 power, meter that, and set my aperture to capture the light from the flash. Then, after looking at the test, I'd change the shutter speed up or down to dial in exactly what I wanted the background to look like.

but........that's me. I got "yelled at" in the main section for saying that an incident light meter is still as important as it was before digital.
bk

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

What makes you think I need YOUR advise? Do you know this bride??? Where you there? Incident meter!!!! Ah, just doing some main section role playing. Sorry about that, just wanted to see what it felt like. Ohhh, I feel all ugly inside just pretending

Anyway, thanks Bob for your viewpoint. I think I might go one stop under for ambient and add 1/16 power for the bride through the rapid box and go from there. The softbox will be fairly close. Good tip about the background stealing attention although I might see what it looks like and reduce contrast and saturation in post. Incident meter? Yeah, if you have the time and assistant it is a good tool. I have a sekonic that I now carry in the car so it is always available. Somewhat related, I downloaded a Kelvin app on my phone which seems fairly accurate (Lightspectrum Pro).

I have a couple of concerns with this wedding that I know you can relate to. One it is a free one I am doing for family. I know you warn against that and I really kinda wish I had passed. The other is that both the bride and groom just want to get the wedding over with and really don't express much interest in the photography. It takes the steam out of my motivation to go the extra mile.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I know that I advise against doing it for free, but we've all done it for family.
If they aren't motivated, it will make it tough, but use this as a learning tool. Actually, I normally turn down couples that I don't get a good vibe from, but it has happened, that when you get to the actual day, they turn into different/difficult people. This is where you will hone your "people skills" and have to use them to keep them in line, and doing what you need them to do.

Think of it this way, it's free, but.... you would pay some good money for training in this kind of thing. You are getting the school of hard knocks for free. No harm, no foul. Treat them with as much love and respect as you would with someone who paid you $10,000 (Ed money). You may find that once they get the photos, they will realize just how much they do value photography. Unfortunately, being relatives, they still won't pay you, but they may at least express their joy at what you've done, and may send other people your way. Just make sure you tell them that normally this would cost $x amount, and not to tell anyone that they didn't pay. If they start telling people that you work (worked) for free, everyone else will want discounts or free. Those are the people you want to avoid.