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

If you have paid a professional photographer to take pictures - let him/her/them work and stay out of their way. I have seen too many images from seasoned pros, absolutely ruined by well-meaning guests and relatives and their phone cameras, point and shoots, and other cameras that use flash or lighting.

Google "unplugged wedding" to see what can happen and why you should leave your camera home and enjoy the wedding. Make sure you have gone over the requisite images that you want with the pro. You will be more than pleased and you will be able to enjoy the event with your guests.

mrtobin Loc: North East Ohio

Leaving the shutter open for a longer time will capture more of the Ambient light. This technique is often called "dragging the shutter".

edazz Loc: Florida via New York

In my career as a wedding photographer I photographed over 800 weddings using bounce and fill method at 1/30th @ 5.6 or f8 depending on the strength of the flash. I basically diffused the flash by aiming it toward the ceiling while deflecting a partial fill of light at the subject. That gave me well exposed subjects and great ambient light on every shot. Good luck!

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

I checked the Earthscapes website. It looks like an outstanding venue. I can see how you would be excited about taking shots at night with the illuminated landscape. You want to have fun and enjoy the wedding, but there should be plenty of time during the reception to have some fun with images. It was a great suggestion to talk with the paid photographer and explain that you do not want to get in their way but love taking pictures. Most of them will welcome the chance to share knowledge. Actually, that is how I got started.

Having said that, it is all about exposing ambient light and then adding a kiss of fill if needed. You may not need fill if you find a place where they are close to illumination from a pathway light. You will need to find the right combination of the exposure triangle (shutter speed, ISO, and Aperture). I would guess around 60-80 shutter, 1200-2000 ISO, and maybe F4. Once you find that ideal combination it will change as soon as you move around because the illumination from the landscape lights will change so manual it is. Speed light for fill using a diffuser should work well. Bounced light would be better, but I don't think there is much to bounce from. Off camera lighting better yet, but now you are probably stepping on the professional's toes.

Have fun and post what you came up with!

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Bring a cell phone that takes photos for the odd ones when the pro is not there. Otherwise you may find that your more concerned about the "missing photo" than the wedding itself!

If you trust the pro, then show it! Relax and enjoy the wedding! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

There is no "one setting for all". It all depends on your intend, how much of the ambient light you want to show (that probably varies from shot to shot). Depending on aperture (your choice), your flash will tell you the distance it should be place from your subject (so you will not have it blown out). Once you have that arranged, your creativitly will do the rest!.

dnathan

set your camera on full auto. the manufacturer has more experience than you do at setting exposures. set youe ISO at 400. if you want abient light tilt the flash head to 90 degrees up & rubber band a 3x5 card to the back of the head. it will work.lotsa luck.

badriaticopo2 Loc: Kane County, Illinois

Do your son a favor. Leave your camera at home, forget being a budding photographer and act like the parent of the groom. Leave the photography to the official photographer. I am a wedding photographer and I hate shooting guests especially family members who are like tourists in a wedding holding on to their cameras. Enjoy being the subject of the shoot.

Jim Peters Loc: Pittsburgh

Just Bracket Your Head Off! After All You Wont Be Paying For Film Today! So Enjoy!

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

In my humble opinion, one of the best suggestions.

What I'm reading in your original post is that you aren't wanting to be the main photographer, you just want some good shots of your own.

I don't know the arrangements with the "main" photographer, but you should find out in advance. Some will pack up and go home if others start jumping in and taking photos. Think what all those other flashes will do to his/her set up. I've had MANY shots that would have been wonderful, only to be blown out because someone else jumped in front of me and took a shot at the same time. The other thing is, I sometimes use off camera flash, and before going to radio triggers, other people's flashes would set off my flash, ruin their shots, and sometimes mine because the flash was recycling when I pressed the button.

IF (that's right a BIG if) the main photographer is fine with you shooting, then if you aren't used to shooting in this type of light, set your camera up in "night portrait" mode if it has one, and also bracket, bracket, bracket.

If you bracket your photos, at least 1 of every three should come out like you want :-)

I'm not familiar with your camera, but from posts above, I see that someone suggested bouncing the flash. Not possible outside.

If you don't normally shoot in manual mode. A wedding is NOT the time to start practicing. Shooting at home is the best time to do that. Go out at the same time of the evening at your house, set up some lights, and candles, and shoot away. If you do that, and get satisfactory results, then by all means, shoot manual.

I know several wedding photographers, that shoot in aperture mode or sometimes program mode. The key is to get good exposure. Good luck with whatever you do. We'd like to see some of your photos.

Jim Peters Loc: Pittsburgh

Not To Be Confused With The Term "Drag Queen" That's Not Some One That Drags Her Shutter Too Much!

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Just FYI, as of today (yup, today) there is a new wedding photography section. If you want to share some of your experiences and images from the wedding, that would be a great place to show them off. :-)

Ront53 Loc: Maryland

Plus, the brides family is probably paying for the wedding.. That's big, very big.

dnathan

Almost anything can be"fixed" to varing degrees after the wedding except focus! Be very careful.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

My wife eventually got me fixed several years after the wedding. Does that count?