Lugano

New to flash use and in need to cover church event next Saturday. It would be noon mass with natural light coming through but I would like to fill the shadows.

Is there a basic setting to start, for example F8, 1/125 sec and ISO 200?
How do I set the flash ?
If I set Canon 6d to full auto what kind of setting for the YONGNUO YN568EX II ?

Thank you

northsidejoe Loc: pittsburgh

Hello and welcome to the forum will flash be permitted for this event? I will let the experts answer the flash questions on a 6d saying hello from Pittsburgh.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

Can you go test the shooting when nobody is there? It is often a mistake to try new things for an important event unless you have to, and then you may not get what you want. Your camera and flash are easy to use once you figure out how, but there are many variables to figure out. If you can get what you want by testing the combination ahead of time, you are better off. You may find in a large room that (if the existing light is good enough for pictures) the flash will fill nicely, but testing or practice are the key.

SS319

Kick your ISO up to 400 to increase your flash strength, set you flash on E-TTL and use about 1 stop under ON THE FLASH. Camera in Program (can't control the ISO in auto). If you have a lot of light coming in the windows, exposure compensate in the camera as well - about 2 stops or until you get window light under control.

Shoot, look, compensate, shoot, look... When you look, check your subject light and adjust the flash, check the background lighting and adjust the aperture - or the ISO. But do not forget the ISO affects the flash effective distance.

Shoot, look, compensate; shoot, look,....

SS319

You would actually be better off in Tv, Av, or Manual, but do not use Auto!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU GO TO THE CHURCH AHEAD OF TIME AND TRY SOME THINGS OUT. IT'S CALLED BEING PREPARED.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

If you are "covering" a church event and you are asking these questions, the answer is; Don't. Don't cover anything. First politely decline the invitation to do it, then spend time learning to work your camera, then learn the craft of lighting, only THEN accept work.


I have people asking me to do this shoot or that shoot and I know that I cannot (in good conscience) take them on. I'm a hobbyist. I tell them politely that I don't have the skill, it would be best for them to find someone who does this for a living.

Lugano

Thank you all for your kind answers. I would explain a couple of things for better understanding. I am in Ecuador and I volunteered for my inlaws 50 wedding anniversary. Things are more difficult here and I can't go before alone to the church and it's not a commercial job.
SS319 I will practice your system and let you know the results.
Thank you all again

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

rpavitch, I learned that the hard way, 30 years ago. I went to a party at my brother's house and it was a surprise wedding in the back yard--at twilight in the evening. I had my camera bag (as asked for what I thought was just a party), including a flash, but I never used flash. As it was getting dark and my only color film was Kodachrome ISO 25, I carefully set up with flash and used shutter speed of 1/30 to be sure it synched with flash, with a 35mm lens. Only later did I find out that the Canon Ftb synchronized X only at 1/60th second--not 1/60th and below, as some shutters do. So I had no pictures at all--all black. That was my first and last attempt at wedding photography. The only way I involve other people in my pictures is if they want me to do everything my way--my time, place, and arrangements.

To be frank, I think special occasion pictures today are vanity exercises--you would think getting hitched is a Cecil B. DeMille production. My parents got married in hard times in Kentucky, at a little chapel on the side of a retired preacher's house. It already had silk flowers in place and afterwards they went outside for a picture the preacher took using a Brownie. It was a rainy day in February, the snapshot was too far back and they had their overcoats on--but clearly they were deliriously happy. He provided a dimestore ring and she provided cookies and punch later at Aunt Pat's house. The marriage lasted over 60 years. It seems that the more people put into the ceremony, the less they are willing to put into the marriage--they are looking for the wrong things. She passed away at 82, under strong sedation, but woke up to see my father holding her hand, and her last words were, "The happiest day of my life was the day I married you."

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

p.s.
I you are just taking pictures for memories of the occasion, why not go outside and shoot it your way?

Lugano

I shoot lot of outdoors but I want to learn to use flash as well. Thanks

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

If you can't go to the church, find anyplace that resembles being inside, if possible, and practice there. When shooting flash I use manual and expose for the brightest part of the image. Flash is set to ETTL which is an automatic mode that cuts the flash off when proper exposure occurs. Check the results for proper exposure of naturally lit areas, and flash lit areas and set manual exposure and flash compensation as required.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

The key to flash is understanding you are working with two exposures, the ambient light and the flash exposure. Everyone who suggested taking practice shots beforehand is correct. As for your exposure, my concern would be that 1/125 is too fast to allow the ambient light to come through. With flash, the higher the shutter speed, the less ambient light in the photo. Just wanting a little fill, I would shoot with my flash in manual, which makes test exposures essential. If you want TTL, you should probably set some negative flash exposure compensation (only for the flash, not for the whole image). Again, test exposures are a must.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

With a TTL flash, set your camera on Manual mode, ISO at 400, shutter at 1/200, and F4. If your camera can do high speed sync, you can use higher shutter speeds to reduce the effects of ambient light. You can also vary the F stop for DoF or increase ISO for a bit more flash reach. In each case, the TTL feature will shut the flash off for proper exposure on the subject. Your flash controls the exposure and not the camera (sort of).

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

I think the OP wants the ambient light to be his main light, with only fill flash. If so, I think 1/200 is too fast.