photoduke

First i have a nikon D7000 with Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Dill VC and will be taking unprofessional wedding pictures of a friend inside of a church. i plan to visit the church before to check lighting and will take a few photos of my wife to check results. she only wants a few pictures but i need to know best camera settings for this occasion.

second i will be taking pictures of the reception at a picnic shelter with trees, shaded areas and i hope bright sunlight. i also have a Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8

i have a SB-600 speedlight flash. good equipment but inexperienced and a desire to learn

Jinks Loc: South Wales, UK

Difficult to give advice without seeing the location but I would suggest visiting the church at the same time as the wedding will be happening and obviously position yourself and wife in roughly the same places as you'll be on the actual day so that you can check for hot-spots like windows or lights in your line of view which would affect your exposure. You've got reasonably fast glass and a camera that thrives on low light so push your ISO as high as you feel comfortable with and try to avoid using flash particularly if you're not used to the equipment. Many churches won't allow flash during services so it's worth checking. Good luck.

Gidgette Loc: Boerne,Texas

Welcome to both of you to UHH.

Daryl New Loc: Wellington,New Zealand

We always check out venues,"Fail to prepare,prepare to fail"
is motto.

architect Loc: Chattanooga

Shoot in RAW to give yourself a lot of exposure and contrast latitude. Practice with the speedlight as it can be a great way of filling in dark shadows in extremely contrasty lighting as well as interior shots.

lensmanicu Loc: Mississippi

I have always been told to shoot portraits at around 85. I don't shoot people. Unless there family.

RoryB

Personally I would avoid bright overhead sunlight, it can cause some really harsh shadows (raccoon eyes), but if you dial down your flash exposure compensation you should be able to minimize the harsh shadows, but practice first. Good luck!

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Inexperienced? Wedding? If you have a go, do it in P mode, or choose Aperture mode and let camera set exposure. If you are more experienced, then I'd mess with Manual and settings to guarantee the dress is white but not blown out. In P mode, her dress will come out close to gray, but if shot in RAW, can be corrected back pretty well. Blow it, and they will never forgive you. I apprenticed for over a year of weddings, before I ever tried it on my own.

Won't try to talk you out of it, but just warn you that things will, and do go wrong. Rent a second D7000. Money well spent. If you have a back up, it won't be needed. If you don't rent one, your camera will surely break. Murphy's law.