magpix Loc: St. Michaels, MD

I recently shot a special Mass where the Archbishop of Baltimore presided, and flash was discouraged. My Fuji XT-2 did OK at ISO 2000. Wide shot was with 16-55mm at f/3.6 and 1/450th. Close up was with 50-140mm (at 140mm) at 1/500th. If you can use flash be sure you have a powerful unit, as bouncing it may not work because of height of ceiling. I believe your Canon will do fine at high ISO.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

I don’t know how many weddings I’ve shot over the years but I can tell you nearly all churches prefer a “no flash” ceremony. From film than into digital I never used flash with a good tripod and your camera you should be able to shoot 2.8 60th with an iso of 400-800

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

As a semi-practicing minister, I ask that flash not be used during the service. It's most distracting for the congregation and for the clergy leading. I have taken many shots inside churches both with film (RIP Kodachrome 25 and 64) and digital with no problem. I'm a Canonite and my latest is the 70D, preceded by T2i.

jaimeblackwell Loc: Lewiston, Maine

I have been shooting church pictures for five years every weekend for celebrations or for social media. I'm using a Nikon D750. But no matter the camera. You will need a camera with a fast lens. F2.8 works. 3.5 if you get them under some overhead lighting. And you ISO no higher than 4000. 1 like to shoot Around 2500 in the sanctuary be only able to with f 2.8 or lower. Do that and you will clean up the shots. A canon 6d and 80 d should both be able to work with those numbers. Are your subjects on a platform or stage? Or are they lined up in front of the pulpit? these are from a non-denominational church I attend the has 40,000 members of 8 campuses here in south Florida. I may not be quite as traditional as most like but we get the love and Message of Jesus Christ out into the community. It seems to be working!

Ray and JoJo Loc: Florida--Tenneessee

'First Communion' where is their a use for over 3 feet of DOF?

toptrainer Loc: Wellington

1/60, F11, ISO 8000, (I believe I left ISO on auto) no flash, the flash made it look darker, 28mm (EF 24-105 F/4L IS USM) One big problem is I bought a Hood for my Sigma 2.8 lens and it got stuck halfway on. I tried to remove it, and something broke in the lens (I think by too much twisting) Sigma told me to send in the whole thing and they will see what they can do. I have a Wedding on Wednesday during the day so I will have my Canon 24-105 F4 and my Sigma 70-200 2.8 (love this lens) to shoot with. Please let me know how you would have done the original shot as I have 2 more similar events coming up next weekend, and I don't know if I will have my lens back by then.

Original

(Download)

After Lightroom

(Download)

One from Outside

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VTdude

I have a Canon 6D. It is excellent in low light conditions. But many times I do use a flash. I set the ISO on 100-200 and bounce the flash, never straight on except for outdoors as a fill flash (for back lit situations). The flash AND high ISO without flash will give you different outcomes. Another thing to consider is that using a flash at now ISO numbers will give you better resolution, better clarity, smoother looking skin, etc. And by using a flash your post editing will be much easier and more to work with.

That's my:

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Use the software that comes with Canon cameras and remove the grain. It's called DPP or Digital Photo Professional 4

itsnoelb Loc: Edgewater, FL. Originally: FLINT. MI.

Yep

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

And I would not combine auto ISO with ETTL flash on that Canon - I would use manual (with a shutter speed of 1/200 or less) and use the flash compensation adjustment to fine tune the brightness of the shot after you pick a suitable aperture for the DOF you need. Auto ISO combined with ETTL on some Canons can produce some unwanted (and unsuitable) aperture settings. I’ve found it’s best to pick those settings manually.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Obviously, as I alluded to in my previous post, theses group photographs were not taken during the ceremony or Mass. The are posed on the altar after the ceremony and flash photography would not be obtrusive, cause a distraction, or violate any rule or religious tenet. Nor would flash endanger any of the religious artifacts in the church. I don't understand how the conversation went in theses directions. I have worked, as a professional photographer, in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques of many faiths and denominations for over 50 years, and have NEVER experienced any difficulties, have NEVER disrespected, violated or desiccated anything or interrupted any ceremonies. We collaborate,consult and plan with our clients, the clergy or officials at theses religious institutions to ascertain and observe the rules, secure permission, and work around issues to get our jobs done. Professional photographers are not a group of sacrilegious boors who intrude on sacred worship- we are called in to commemorate these events on behalf of the family members who are being celebrated. GET OVER IT!

NOW- Back to photography. An ISO setting of 8000 (eight thousand) if I read that correctly, is usually going to cause noise or grain. I can't tell from the posted image if that church was dark enough to require that high an ISO setting in order to provide an aperture that would provide sufficient depth of field for a multi-layered group. Perhaps a lesser setting, a slight lower shutter speed would have been a better combination of settings. The unedited example may have been underexposed which would exacerbate the noise. Upi need to make accurate exposure reading, do some advance testing, standardize you methods and maintain control over your camera. Automatic programs are OK as long as you know what they are doing and override them when necessary.

Unless there was underexposure, I can't understand why a flash exposure would be "darker", unless the OP is referring to a fall of of light in the background due to the inverse square law effect. There is no example of a flash shot, so this is guesswork on my part.

If you do weddings and other assignments like theses, you may consider the use of multiple flash lighting to provide more depth of lighting, better modeling and more consistent and even exposure. Multiple flash can be combined with existing light at slower,but still hand-holdable, shutter speeds for a more natural effect.

A further improvement. You are probably shooting from some elevation in order to see all the kids in the back rows- that's good. If, however, you avoid too much of a downward tilting of the camera and keep it more parallel to the vertical structures in the church, you will avoid the forshortentin and distortion. This is a very slight adjustment and you may end up with a bit too much ceiling or "sky" at the top of you composition which you can crop out in post.

During actual ceremonies, available light is fine. Sometimes a bit of grain, warmer colors or darker ambience adds mood and realism to the images. In a posed formal group portrait, however, murky lighting or light coming in from directly overhead causes shady eyes and eye sockets among other issues.

I hope this helps.

b roll wanabee

Lower the aperature. Start with a 50mm 1.8
That will keep your shutter speed up.

Church lighting is challenging. Great low light practice.

I shot a communion for a friend and what an experience.

I did B roll pickup shots the day before and figured out where I wanted to sit for the ceremony.
The pros set up and after about 5 mins they realized they were compete ly out of position.
The one then walked right in front of me in order to block my shots. She felt she was more important than the ceremony.
I sat the whole time, quiet and no flash.
She then tried to kick me out of the church. Saying she was a Profesional and I had to leave.
I told her to be quiet and that there was no way she was kicking me out of a church.

The parents never got her photos and my pictures are the only record of the event.

My first encounter with the paparazzi.

They used flashes, tripods and were about as disruptive as possible.

Don't be that person. Stick with natural light and capture the event without being part of the event.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Here’s the site see below!

https://learn.zoner.com/photography-in-churches/

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

First, give the minister/priest a call and ask if you can use flash in the church. If you can, put a good diffuser on your flash, set the ISO to 100 or 200 and you should have no problem. Last two weddings I shot came out well.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

That is what I do when shooting with external flash (ss at 1/250)! If I want more ambient color, I use a slower shutter speed.