ssohl Loc: NJ

I am going to a family wedding tomorrow and would like to take good photos for the bride. I have a Nikon D7000 with a 18-200 lens and a 50mm 1.4 prime. I am also taking a speedlight but am not so familiar with it yet. Any help with what would work best indoors at night will be appreciated. Thank you.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Welcome. I'm not a professional photographer but I think the rule is that if a pro has been hired to photograph the wedding, a guest should refrain from using flash photography. If I am wrong, I am sure one of the pros in the forum will correct me.

EstherP

ssohl, that really is not enough information for anyone to give you a sensible answer.
First: Are you going to be in the way of a hired photographer? If not:
Can you access the "indoors at night" tonight, with the same lighting there will be for the wedding itself?
If so, go there, take a buddy, spouse, child, and take a bunch of pictures with the person you took placed in key positions so that you can see what your speedlight does to the face and to shadows behind the person.
Can you work the speedlight off-camera? (as in remote). That might give you some nicely lit shots.
Do point the speedlight towards the ceiling; use a diffuser (even one made from a milkbottle if you don't have one); don't get too close to the people you want photos of.
And when you do get some good ones, pay attention to the settings on your camera, write them down, so you can repeat them.
If it is not possible to be at the venue tonight, at least be there tomorrow before anyonone else shows up, so that you can do your testing uninterrupted.
I'm afraid this is not much information, but without knowing the venue it is impossible to give good information.
EstherP

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

The 50mm prime set on tungsten WB for indoor photos would be nice for candids. You may need to increase ISO to 800 for a steady shutter speed. Be aware of the hired photog and don't get in their way when you are shooting.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

I see that you are a well prepared and highly organized individual who does not procrastinate. It appears that you have things well in hand and will not disappoint the bride on what she considers the most important day of her life to date. I can offer you no better advice than to practice with your camera and speedlight from now until the wedding tomorrow along with reading your manual. Remember.....practice, practice, practice, practice!

Good luck :thumbup:

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Any pro there using remote strobes will be using Wizards or similar and they are all on a frequency of the photographers choosing. Not likely you will trigger them. Unless the party announces or the photog has it in his contract, you should be welcome to fire away.
During the ceremony the photog will be wandering and you will be seated. Only during the reception could you get in the way, along with every other guest.
Get good shots!

ssohl Loc: NJ

Thanks. I definately won't get in the way of the hired photographer. I like to get candid shots mainly at the reception.

ssohl Loc: NJ

Thank you Esther P. You offer some good advice. I know this is last minute but I appreciate all the help I can get. Good idea to write down the settings that are good. Would probably not have thought of that.

ssohl Loc: NJ

Thanks. I wish I had more time to practice. I appreciate all your advice. We have a few more family weddings in the next year (lots of cousins who's kids are getting married!) so hopefully I'll get better with each one.

edazz Loc: Florida via New York

I have photographed over 800 weddings as a professional photographer
And owned two studios. My experience differs from todays digital photographers primarily because of film cost. Except for my outdoor shots and some fast moving church shots, I shot 80% of my total of 150 well
Planned, well lit and formally posed shots with bounce and fill primarily
at 1/60 @ f8 in the reception and 1/30 @ f4 at the ceremony. The shots
Were very natural looking showing lots of embroidary and lace detail in the close ups of the bride and especially the cake. I never intruded on their special occasion with too man demands for shots, additional photographers And lighting or tripod setup time. As far as other people using flash while I
Was shooting, I politely instructed them to let me take my shot first nd it will be set up for them to take a good shot of the couple themselves. I also asked
Them not to shoot first because it will affect the couples eyes and I will get squinty eyes in my shots (a partial truth but effective). I defnitely made a polite point of never shooting at me because it will effect my eyesight, focus and outcome. From all the referrals and feed back I received throughout my weddng career the most consistant and rewarding were, that of my patience, unobtrusiveness, professionalism and letting them enjoy their wedding. So, if you're a guest at the wedding take heed of my polite requests to the guests. If you are just startng out or an experienced wedding photographer, remember taht as much as you think that taking 500 shots is for their selection benefit, they will resent the fact that all they remember is the photographers taking them away crom their party and will result in Little to no recerrals, negative publcity and lower reorders. To be more specific to your question, bounce and fill on the indoor closeups, fill on the outdoor shots, and if possible keep it simple and use one lens, your primary! If you need more specifics please ask, good luck!

ole sarg Loc: south florida

forget the flash and the long lens. in fact if it were me i would leave the camera at home and just have a good time.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

forget the flash and the long lens. in fact if it were me i would leave the camera at home and just have a good time.

vtmikey Loc: Putney Vermont

That certainly sounds like very good
advice!! I'm going to write that down
for future reference!!

vtmikey Loc: Putney Vermont

I was referring to edazz's advice...

wilikioti Loc: Deep South, USA

If the speed light has TTL (through the lens) metering you will be safe using it, otherwise I wouldn't use it. The 18-200 lens would be my choice since you would be working inside. Shooting at a wider angle and using the flash will yield good shots.