jackinkc Loc: Kansas City

[quote=burkphoto]Please, oh please, just Read The Fine Manual. It will offer several options for setting your white balance.

This email has outstanding advice. Please do as it says.

Another photographer noted you aren't ready to shoot weddings. You really aren't.

The advice to convert your shots to B&W is worthwhile.

You ARE using Photoshop and/or Lightroom, aren't you?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

To:
nicoma1963 Joined: Jan 28, 2013 Posts: 25
Morning Star Joined: Dec 7, 2013 Posts: 2958 Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Yes you can open a JPEG as RAW, but it is just treating it as if it was RAW. It cannot actually change it back to RAW. So you are still working with only the data in the JPEG which is reduced from the RAW data. You will have much less latitude for adjustments.
If you want the latitude of RAW, you have to shoot RAW in the first place.
My first DSLR was (still have it) a Sigma SD10 - it only shoots RAW - Sigma provides software which among other things has a batch command to convert all the files to JPEG or several other formats. At first I was having problems with how my shots looked when I opened them on the computer. But I read the relevant manual sections and in only a week had adjusted to working with RAW files, actually I learned how to make major changes with sliders in less than one day after I read the manual. For a few months I loaded my shots into folders labeled ***RAW and then converted and did a Save As with the files in folders labeled ***JPEG in a second folder. I stopped pretty fast as I learned RAW processing, it was just a waste of hard drive storage.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...you're shooting RAW, right? If so, none of those settings (vivid, neutral, etc) have any bearing on what you're going to be working with in post...you're going to be running around from place to place, grey card in each area will work for wb. I've done a few weddings utilizing my D800 and later a D4, had decent results shooting RAW, auto wb, and adjusting in post...

Oly Guy

Really shooting a wedding needs some practice-The 1st one I did I went downstairs and set up a simple flash set up. Minimum set up contained camera SLR-tripod-for formal shots-1 slave flash and stand. The slave flash is an extra flash which is set up to add depth to your shots and faces. Slave shots will be adjustable for strength of flash. Set it for 45 degrees on the subject.Put your camera about 25 - ft or so back from subject's-also best to use a umbrella to soften the slave flash. Put an x with tape on the floor or aisle -then get someone stand on the x and start shooting until you get just the right looking light and adjust a zoom lens to frame the shot.Take many practice shots. Then send someone to get the Bridal Party-have them come in and sit in the pews till you call them up. Ask seriously -please no other people to take pictures while you are shooting-do all of this 1 hour before the actual service. Ask others to please wait to come in. Get several shots of all the groupings and ask the Bride to make sure all the shots are done. Have a second experienced shooter take shots just after you do from close to you for any lost files etc and also for candid shots after and during the service. See why you need to practice first? This is your ballgame and you can lose friendships if you blow it. This is a minimum set up! Get the best edited shots together on a cd or chip and give to the Bride-none else- set a fee for the chip or disk - that is the simplest way-set a fee before you start and practice beforehand . Inside shots at a Dance etc -also practice indoors to get the distance and lighting -get a pro friend to walk you through it -well before hand-step by step- or hire the pro and follow them -I have taken pictures at weddings and had better stuff than their relative who shoots the wedding without the proper experience! It will be hectic and there will be missed shots-make a list of essential shots!!!!!!!!!!!

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

If the color cast arises from the incident lighting and there is a good black and a good white in the scene, then you can use an eyedropper trick in Curves of Photoshop (or its equivalent in P Elements). when in eyedroppers set the black RGB dropper numbers to something in the range of 5 to 15, all the same. Then set the white RGB dropper numbers to 240 to 250, all the same. Then in Curves click the black dropper on what is supposed to be black - you will see a color change across the whole image. Do the same with the white dropper. Like the result, then apply. If not just close. Then alter the RGB settings. If you can't get a reasonable fix, then you might not have very good white & black splotches in the image. Then you will have to toy with the preset tools, if you have any. I have placed a black-white-neutral tone card in scenes just for the color cast correction. If there are places you usually shoot in, you can take test shots with the card and then read the RGB values in Photoshop or Elements to get an idea of how to set white balance in camera. I understand some cameras allow a custom WB setting using standard color cards.

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

Nobody goes thru all that.😂😅😆😨

bkellyusa Loc: Nashville, TN

I like the Expodisc. It's simple, fast an affordable.

I usually set my White Balance manually but there are usually presets on every camera. Things like, Daylight, Evening, Shade, Night, Incandescent, Fluorescent and such. If am are shooting in mixed light with a mix of incandescent, candlelight and florescent for example it sometimes works for me to set the camera Daylight and shoot. You'll till need ot go over it in Elements but you might be a little closer than Auto White Balance.

As some others have suggested you can shoot with your WB adjusted to create a desirable color cast as well. It's your choice.

I don't want to discourage you but shooting weddings is best left to pros. That a very competitive type of photography with very high standards in my opinion. If money is an issue for your friends maybe you and someone else with more experience can work together.

You are probably going to need at least some off camera flash as well.

Either way best of luck.

nicoma1963

To Robertjerl. ...i never said it would change a jpeg to raw.....you can however get to the edit tools that are available for raw.

nicoma1963

To Robertjerl. ...i never said it would change a jpeg to raw.....you can however get to the edit tools that are available for raw.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I open everything in ACR first.
I find it really handy when editing photos people send to me.. There are a few settings missing when doing JPEGs but it's so convenient to adjust there and one can do a whole batch at a time.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

[quote=jackinkc]

Thanks, Jack. It's amazing what you can learn by working in a pro lab, watching the work that comes in. Mostly, you learn to read the manuals for customers who are too impatient to do that, themselves!

dat2ra Loc: Sacramento

Yup, best to buy a neutral gray card (cheap) and do a manual "PRE" white balance. Inside there are usually a lot of different color temperatures. Your camera is good. Follow the instructions in your manual, or get an after market book. Good luck!

papa Loc: Rio Dell, CA

I learned in my youth that when all else fails, then READ THE DIRECTIONS. You do have an owner's manual don't you???

papa Loc: Rio Dell, CA

Your friend's wedding? You must be a glutton for punishment and may find after the shoot that you're not friend's anymore. For a once in a lifetime event I would want someone that had a bit more experience in equipment. By the way, what do you know about photography?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I know, but some reading it might not know it doesn't change them back to RAW. In the past we have had posters who thought that.