fotoman150

I have a wedding in two days. It is a practice wedding where the bride is not paying.

I have never done off camera manual flash. Always used on camera flash with TTL.

Even though this is a practice weddding it's a big wedding and I want it to look good for both of us.

The flash transmitter is daunting and very confusing. I'm very intimidated by manual off camera flash.

Do I go for it or practice somewhere else first?

Or maybe try it out a little bit and shoot both ways?

fotoman150

I have watched several how to videos on KelbyOne.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Stick with what you know best which is TTL. Check your histogram and do plus or minus adjustments as needed.

Grandpa Pete Loc: Western Finger Lakes (NY)

I assume if you're talking off-camera as a possibility your flash is not a pop up. Consider tilting toward ceiling, a bracket and cord, a soft box or reflector on the flash or any appropriate combination of these methods.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Be careful about about bounce flash off ceiling. If the ceiling is not white, you will get that color cast in your images espeially on the brides dress.

Haydon

I'm going with Stan on this one. Experimenting at a wedding a new found technique isn't the wisest. Stick with your success and practice your off camera flash on your own time so you will be more prepared next time.

Grandpa Pete Loc: Western Finger Lakes (NY)

True.

delkeener Loc: SW Rhode Island, USA

What camera and flash have you been using in the past? It would also be helpful in fashioning an answer to know if you have looked at the venue and noted the color of the ceiling and walls.

fotoman150

No I haven't looked at the venue yet. It's an hour and a half away.

I'm using a canon 550EX and a canon 580EX.

I'm trying to rig up a wireless transmitter receiver set up. But I'm having compatibility issues. The Youngnuo YN-ST3-RT transmitter may have to have the special receiver to work with canon flashes. I'm going to the camera store tomorrow to let them help me figure it out. Unless someone here has an idea of how to set up wireless flash so that I can control the output of the flash from the transmitter.

fotoman150

This is some pictures of the venue. It has high ceilings bounce flash will probably not work.

www.kressterrace.com

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Looks like you have a Canon 5D mk II. What flash(es) do you have, and if a transmitter, what type? I would definitely recommend practicing before the event. How about a soft box?

OK you have a 580EX and a 550EX, using ETTL would probably be best, but you need a controller that will do that. The YN-ST3-RT should work OK for that. The flashes need to be set as slaves, and set to the matching channels. Time to practice until it works! I have 580 EX / EXII and the Canon ST-E2, and once configured it works very well.

Or use the 580EX on camera as a master, and have someone hold the 550EX as a slave if you think you need more than one source. Once again, take time to play before you get to the event itself.

Good luck

CO

Tha PocketWizard Mini-TT1 (transmitter) and Flex-TT5 (transceiver) are TTL. You can also use two Flex-TT5's. The Mini-TT1 is great to have on the camera because its low profile. They come in versions for either Canon or Nikon. I have the Nikon versions. I can adjust flash compensation at the camera and it will transmit that to the flash. They can transmit all of the standard PocketWizard channels for fire only triggers like the PocketWizard Plus II, III, IV, and Plus X. They also transmit the more complex controlTL channels for TTL. They transmit both types of signals simultaneously. I've had a studio setup with a Plus X (non-TTL) connected to a studio strobe and a Speedlight on a Flex-TT5 (TTL). It triggered them simultaneously.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Photoman, like most others i'm gonna recommend that you keep the flash on your camera. You're not shooting formals, you're shooting the crowd or the nuptials. Use eTTL at a 1/2 to a stop or so less and let the flash do it's job!
I shoot some weddings and I usually set up strobes in some corner to take non-candid shots of couples or small groups. But when I rove I never take the flash of the camera. I tried using a bracket, and though the light was better it was useless when I turned my camera to portrait as there was always someone standing in the way of the light. For the same reason I don't bounce! I use a Canon 600 which is tall enough to NEVER give me red-eye which is why on-camera is so bad. I shoot lots. I ALWAYS shoot the little groups that are taking selfies, especially if they're with the bride or groom. They are the close friends that count. Use a zoom so you can shoot very fast. Get the +/- adjusted from the start, you probably wont have time to fiddle with it much once you start. Be aware of your angles and shoot low and high to avoid the snap-shot look
Good luck, it's not rocket science. Get good shots and enjoy yourself. Don't forget the extra batteries for the flash.
SS

fotoman150

I have the Youngnuo YN-E3-RT transmitter on the hot shoe of a Canon 5D Mark II. I have the 550EX and I'm renting the 580EX.

I have a16 in. Octagon Wescott Rapid box with a bracket on both a light stand and/or hand held monopod.

There is a Youngnuo receiver designed for canon flashes but I'm not sure if I need that.

fotoman150

I also have a Rouge flashbender