visualconnections Loc: Boerne, texas

Yikes!!!! I'm terrified of night shooting when it comes to weddings and having to take a quick shot and hope it comes out okay!!! I have Cannons, 7D and a cannon T3I, which I use a lot. I have a wedding coming up and I'm holding my breath, praying it has good lighting!!! Any suggestions? Thanks, I haven't been on this forum in a while!!!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Do you have a flash?

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Be prepared with a good flash, on the camera with a diffuser or a bounce card.

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

Relax and leave the camera home. They will probably have a pro doing the job and you would just get in his way and maybe ruin their pictures. I know I am a pro who has done over 1500 weddings. The point and shoot people always got in my way. I tripped over many of them. You aren't the pro hired for the job

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

vc, welcome back! This of course raises as many questions as you ask. If you've been entrusted to do the job, then of course you need to produce and being terrified is NOT a good sign!!! LoL
Yes a good flash is the most viable solution since it will be low light. I use a Canon 600 either camera mounted or off camera using a Canon trigger.
If you're looking at available light(AL) I suggest you use spot meter and only the central focus point. That will generally give a good exposure at your place of focus.
I would use the flash shooting at f8 or abouts to be able to get small groups in complete focus. With AL you'll likely have to be wide open with limited DoF.
Of course your own level of expertise is what you need to depend on. It sounds like you've done this before with possibly mixed results.
Best of luck
SS

visualconnections Loc: Boerne, texas

Of course i have a flash on camera and external one! I still have trouble getting it to come out right at times and dont know what im doing wrong!!

visualconnections Loc: Boerne, texas

Thanks sharp shooter for the advise! I will try the center focus point!! I got a spot meter but haven’t used it as of yet! I guess using terrified was the wrong expression and point and shooter im not!! I do have a flash but Ive never liked night shooting and maybe some pros have no fear and im glad for them!! But, I really like my pictures to be perfect and ive never had any complaints!! I guess i should keep my weak points to my self from now on and let the pros keep the stage! Thanks for the professionalism!!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

If you are uncomfortable with the setting and lighting, have gotten mixed results using flash, I suggest that you advise your client of your concerns. Suggest to the client that they get a pro. This way, neither you nor your client will lose any sleep over this. If at all possible, ask to be involved in the selection of a photographer, and ask the photographer if you could help as a second shooter or assistant, which would be a great way to learn how to handle these kinds of things. You've got two crop sensor cameras which can be challenging to use in low light and high ISO, and using unmodified or poorly modified on camera flash, pointed directly at a person will not result in flattering images. The light will be harsh, shadows deep, and if you use too high a shutter speed, people will be brightly lit and you will lose any sense of ambience - they will look like they are emerging from a tunnel.

You may want to take a look at this site for some ideas:

https://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/
https://neilvn.com/tangents/wedding-photography-tutorials/

And the old standby:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/

There is a ton of information in Strobist - their Lighting and On-assignment archives provide excellent information, with lots of examples and easy to follow instructions.

bbrowner Loc: Chapel Hill, NC

Do you really need to do something that terrifies you?? Perhaps you should let someone else do that and stick to things that you can enjoy.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

If you have a TTL flash, do this for starters: Flash in TTL mode, camera in Manual mode, ISO 400, F4.5, shutter at 1/200. This works for on and off camera flash. I would also use a Lite Scoop to spread the light. You can get more reach from your flash by upping the ISO. The high shutter speed indoors will reduce the effect of ambient light since the flash controls exposure on the subject and shuts off when proper exposure is reached.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Done.
Right answer.

Enjoy the wedding, leave the camera at home or take a snapshot cam without a flash so as to not bother the pro or ruin his images.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Are you going as a guest? If so, just enjoy the wedding. If you have been asked to shoot the wedding, you might want to suggest they hire someone who does that. It is a very demanding job. The question you are asking is too basic to be coming from someone with wedding photography experience, so I have to assume you are not a wedding photographer. The path to becoming one involves getting a pro to take you on as a second shooter.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Do you fire off the cannons before or after the wedding? I hope you let the guests know so they won't be terrified as well.

Can you try to get to the venue or a similar area where the wedding will take place before the wedding takes place to take some photos with your flash prior to the big event? A bit of practice should dispel any fears you might have.

Dennis

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio