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First wedding amateur photographer
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May 25, 2014 10:28:24   #
florida tl Loc: Largo, FL
 
Hi, I have been reading post and looking at photos for months. Now I'm gonna be brave and ask a few question. Please don't start off with saying don't do it. First let me give you the info. I'm not a professional, the couple does understand this, I'm doing as a favor because they could not afford a professional. Not charging, (oh and I don't know how to Photoshop so what they see it what they get) its a going to be at a park near the water in Florida June 1, (oh its gonna be hot). Shady & Sunny. I have a Canon Rebel XS, (yes I know not the best) I have all canon lenses, however I don't want to change a lot due to being outside and on the water. I have a 72mm 18-200mm F1:3.5-5.6, it has a UV and Polarized filter on it. I have a 50MM 1.8. I have a few more lens choices, kit & 75-300 don't think I need. I do also have a 430 EX II flash. I'm going out today to take some pictures of my family using this stuff at the same hour as the wedding. I pretty much know to stay between F5 and F11. ISO about 200, using AV, Raw files, and AL FOCUS with a WB on Sunny. I just don't understand the fill flash. Can I get some advice on which way to aim the flash?

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May 25, 2014 10:40:01   #
wilikioti Loc: Deep South, USA
 
If you live near the location, go and take some sample shots and see what you will need. Go in the bright sun, cloudy, and rainy conditions. You have plenty of time and experimenting will tell you what you need to know.
Good Luck!

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May 25, 2014 10:59:42   #
nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL
 
Why would you want to shoot in raw if you're not going to do any PP? Just shoot jpegs and I'm sure you already have a program in your computer to do minor mods like exposure, contrast and saturation.

Learn how to balance the flash with the ambient light and point your flash at the subject. Be careful not to wash out skin tones or the white dress.

Follow the advise to practice shooting ahead of time!

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May 25, 2014 11:05:41   #
amehta Loc: Boston
 
Obviously this isn't a big formal affair, so do the best you can to record the emotions of the day.

The 18-200mm is probably the lens to use, since you don't want the hassle of switching lenses. You should have plenty of light, which is the great equalizer.

In order the use fill flash, the first thing is that the shutter speed has to get below the camera's sync speed, which is 1/200s. I would keep the shutter speed just below this, at 1/180s or 1/160s, depending on whether you prefer 1/3 or 1/2 stops. You could just go to 1/125s, but if there is movement, you want to stay as fast as possible to keep things from getting blurry. Fill flash is intended to reduce shadows and balance the exposure of the subject with the background, but not to stop action. The main thing to play with is the flash exposure compensation level. I think you can still use TTL, but set the flash level to -1, and try a few other levels like -0.5, -1.5, and -2.

I would also use a flash diffuser of some sort. The one I use isn't available any more, but the Lite Genius Lite-Scoop Flash Modifier looks like a good option. It will reduce the "direct light" factor of the flash output, which is important because you don't want more shadows from the flash.

I would use raw+jpg. For the most part, the jpgs should be fine, but if there are a few which you do want to keep which need adjustment, you can get help to do that.

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May 25, 2014 11:12:33   #
Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina
 
nimbushopper wrote:
Why would you want to shoot in raw if you're not going to do any PP? Just shoot jpegs...


Exactly.
You said "what they see is what they get" Well they probably won't even be able to view raw files.
Just shoot jpegs, throw out the dogs if you want to do any editing, stick the rest on a CD for them and be done with it.

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May 25, 2014 12:29:36   #
Kingmapix Loc: Mesa, Arizona
 
One key for success is to get to the wedding location early and use a model for practice shots. The beauty of digital is that you learn on the go (not waiting for prints returning from a lab that does not do the best work).

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May 25, 2014 13:18:03   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
amehta wrote:
I would use raw+jpg. For the most part, the jpgs should be fine, but if there are a few which you do want to keep which need adjustment, you can get help to do that.


:thumbup: :thumbup:
florida tl: Even though you say you don't know how or want to do post processing, our friend "Murphy" has been known to crash important events, especially weddings. Shooting raw format (in addition to jpeg) allows more leeway to adjust that once in a lifetime shot which somehow got messed up. If you get into a bind with a few images, I'm sure there are members on the 'hog who would help you out if you had a raw file or two to send (I would).

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May 25, 2014 14:08:48   #
GrayPlayer Loc: Granby, Ct.
 
Practice on your family with sun from different directions.

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May 25, 2014 14:58:10   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
TL, welcome to the Hog!
I have little advice, but I do have some. Four things:

1, DO shoot RAW. Even if it's of no value today, the full info files can be used in the future, by you, or a printer. also, you have DPP, as it comes with your camera. Load it, and convert the files from RAW, so they get Jpegs. Canon tech will walk you through it, if you don't know how.

2, I'm not that familiar with the 430 flash, but, consider renting a 600RT for about $40. Set it to ettl and just fire away. That flash can make anybody look like a pro. Just mount it directly on the camera. The exposures are perfect under any conditions. Day or night. Fill or full, the flash knows what to do, and does it flawlessly.

3, your lenses are not fast, so shoot them wide open, to erase at least some of the background. If its too bright to shoot wide open(try it), then order a cheap variable ND for about $30, and use it to cut a couple of stops and manage the brightness. Your existing filters aren't of much value. The LAST thing you want to do is fiddle with a cpl on every shot. You are guarenteed to miss everything doing that. They are for landscapers, not wedding shooters.

4, Just shoot what you see. If you see something spontaneous and good, but miss it, just ask them to do it again. It's a celebration, people will do anything you ask, you're the MAN(or woman?)!!
Watch for all the cell phone shooters. When you see the small groups posing for a cell phone, run over and say "one more"(I love the cell phoners!). I also like to get people doing "selfies", as it's so them!
Don't forget the little stories. The bible laying there, the half full glasses, the flowers, the past-out drunks etc.

Good luck and have fun. Make sure you have a good phone with plenty of memory, in case your main shooter goes on vacation 1/2 way through. :lol:
SS

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May 25, 2014 15:42:59   #
jmsail365 Loc: Stamford, Ct
 
SharpShooter wrote:
TL, Make sure you have a good phone with plenty of memory, in case your main shooter goes on vacation 1/2 way through. :lol:
SS

You should definitely have a back up camera. I'm an amateur & during the 2nd wedding video I did a small battery got stuck on my main camera. The 2nd camera allowed me to finish the wedding. Without that camera a large part of the reception & toasts would not have been recorded while I recharged the battery on camera #1.

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May 25, 2014 15:51:11   #
G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK
 
Go with quantity over quality.
Take pics of everyone - they could be 'important'!
remember its their day - not yours! get out of their face by using a longer lens.
Go talk to the Vicar or whoever is marrying them - see what they say about do's and dont's during the service. Try to comply........;-)
Kids are cute at weddings - use them as props, background, distractions.
Photograph the cake early.....some don't make the official cutting. Try getting the table settings before the folks sit down and ruin them.
make a list of 'must have shots' with the bride and groom so that they respond when you say " get your ass over here" with a smile.
watch out for gaiters

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May 25, 2014 16:01:23   #
amehta Loc: Boston
 
Ask the couple what the basic schedule of the event, so you can plan for things you should be ready to shoot.

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May 25, 2014 16:28:07   #
Grammieb1 Loc: New Orleans
 
I have done weddings for free before. Remember to get as many guest as possible ,but remember that the star of the show is the bride. Get there early & test your equipment & different settings. To isolate the bride & groom, renting a little faster zoom for the day like 17-55 2.8 might not be a bad idea. Bab

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May 25, 2014 22:08:24   #
florida tl Loc: Largo, FL
 
On the ND filter any recomendations. Im looking at adjustable drom nd2 to nd400 from neewer.

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May 25, 2014 23:38:28   #
amehta Loc: Boston
 
florida tl wrote:
On the ND filter any recomendations. Im looking at adjustable drom nd2 to nd400 from neewer.

I agree that it might be nice to keep a larger aperture to blur the background, but I don't think I would add the hassle of an ND filter to this project. If it's bright, just use a faster shutter speed and skip the fill flash. For "posed" shots, try to find some shade.

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