foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

If you don't want to drive there pick out a local church and take some practice shots.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

But the OP said in his opening post that he doesn’t have a flash, and many churches would not allow them during a service anyway. If the shoot is outdoors, then many of the issues are solved, but if indoors, in low to moderate light, with no flash, then there are more issues to consider. The advice here hasn’t been discouragement, it has been preparation.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

If you have not used the camera in about one year I bet you will have difficulties handling the camera. Depending on the available light the use of flash could be necessary.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

If you’re not going to use a TTL flash with a diffuser, start with Auto ISO and Program mode.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

--Bob

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Ha - good one!!

anotherview Loc: California

Try these settings in a practice outing: aperture f/5.6, shutter speed 1/100sec, and ISO auto.

You will have to set your camera to manual to make these settings apply.

An aperture of f/5.6 will keep the main subject in focus while blurring the background.

A shutter speed of 1/100sec will generally freeze motion in posed photographs.

Setting ISO to auto will allow the camera metering system to determine the ISO depending on the available light for each shot.

Practice with these settings to see how they work for your purpose.

Note that others at the event will also take pictures, primarily using smartphone cameras. Your in-law could ask these snapshooters for their pictures as well.

Suggestion No. 1: If you do not feel capable of taking decent pictures of the event, then tell your in-law of this fact. Do not carry a responsibility that you cannot fulfill.

Suggestion No. 2: You could do as I do: Offer to pay half the cost of a professional event photographer to shoot the event. I show up but take candids and other shots that I later give to the organizer. I justify my position by telling the organizer that the pro will know all the shots to take of the attendees for a proper recording of the event.

Good luck.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

What lens are you using?

anotherview Loc: California

Camera settings matter foremost here. Which lens may become a consideration only if non-standard -- such as a fisheye lens which would not fit the purpose of this shooter.

In addition, just me but I prefer to try to answer the concern of beginners in terms they may understand at their level, bearing in mind my awkward confusion as a novice years ago when the exposure triangle seemed like a functional mystery. Checked-out photographers spoke in a code, it seemed, instead of in plain words while assuming little on the part of the audience.

Beginners need hand holding.

I suppose in this spirit, I should suggest to the OP that he consider attending a workshop or two in operation of a DSLR. This experience should give him a foundation and confidence for his photographic activity.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

If the OP only has one lens it is going to be VERY important in terms of the questions he has asked. The lens tells the maximum aperture available and allows those on this site to think about the exposure triangle and provide base settings that could work without confusing the OP. However, it is hard to give the advice without knowing the equipment involved. Without knowing the lens, recommendations about aperture, ISO or anything else may lead to failure. Knowing the lens allows the knowledgeable to provide informed, on-point and useful answers.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Agree! Another thought is, unless his brother-in-Law has the skills and is going to take the time to post process the images ... he might be better off just using a smartphone camera (which includes a flash.)

Smartphone images are looking pretty good nowadays! He can simply email him the images.

anotherview Loc: California

We may know all you say, yet I doubt the OP has much more than an inkling of these matters.

For my reply, I presumed the OP has a standard lens. His practice with it (or with another lens) should tell him if he can take the pictures his in-law wishes for the event.

I operate from the principle that we should learn from both our mistakes and our successes. This approach squares with the necessity of hands-on learning due to photography presenting as a craft. So we advance our skill and knowledge by doing with the gear in hand. I steered the OP in this spirit.

As a former instructor in Microsoft Office, I can tell you that novices and beginners need simple explanations and answers that meet their level of knowledge, to build on it. Hence, I never answered a question with a question but with a reply that met the intellectual need of the student.

Sometimes, of course, I'd have to say, "It depends" followed by more but limited comment. Overall, I suited my reply to the moment and the individual (as I do here).

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Full auto if you want anything. Shooting manual for you would be a complete failure (sorry no offense) and Aperture and shutter mean nothing if you don't know how to balance you ISO with any of these settings.

Here is what I would do if in your situation if you still want to attempt Aperture or even shutter (I personally would work in Aperture wide open without a flash). Visit the church around the same time of day, open your aperture up f2.8, f3 or whatever your lenses max is. Start with your ISO at 400 and take a shot noting the shutter speed the camera is metering. I would aim for 1/125 of a second if at all possible with available light and no less than 1/60th but hold a steady camera at this setting. If at ISO 400 your shutter is still not high enough bump up your ISO until your shutter speed gets to an acceptable range.

Good luck.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Why assume the lens when you can just ask?