I'm starting too many threads lately but this one (i think) deserves a fresh new page. I'm shooting my first paid wedding next month and basically need some tips. There are a few of you who do it profesionally so please help me out.

In the bag (5d mkII, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8IS).

The wedding will start at 4pm, church wedding, after wedding photos (whatever day light left) at heathcot and some reception pics.

Buying the 580 EX II (never used it so a massive learning curve), should i get some diffusers/reflectors? Main concern is those after church photos. The sky will be bright enough but do i use fill flash to light up the faces or is reflector the way to go?

__________________
Member of the 18-35 club and proud of it! (For another 5 years...getting old)

New toy has arrived, 1/4 mile in 11.2 sec and only 114hp!

I havnt shot a wedding I would wanna have two bodies so I can shoot two lenses without changing, you cant really tell people to stop while you change, I think flash with a diffuser would be better then trying to use a reflector (interfer too much) maybe someone whos shot wedding before can shed light here, I think flash for fill light would be best when needed expose for background let flash fill shooting in shade with flash fill might help you get softer light, all depends what shots your trying to get sun behind subject or sun in front, I would just read blogs etc of other wedding photogs and see what they have done.

Maybe you should go to where the girls are getting ready before the wedding and get some casual shots of them in the room playing with each others hair and getting their make up etc done?

__________________
Losing is worse than death. You have to live with losing....

love the professional advice there!

__________________
Member of the 18-35 club and proud of it! (For another 5 years...getting old)

New toy has arrived, 1/4 mile in 11.2 sec and only 114hp!

Not sure, but NVRENUF is very clued up with photography stuff, maybe he can give you some pointers?

__________________
MY02 STI, 3" TBE, 18PSI

Get in some practice with the 580exii before the wedding. This will sound weird but you have to build up trust in the flash so that you know what its going to do and when somethings not right you know what the likely cause is.

I shoot in manual and set the shutter to around 1/160 - 1/200 and then adjust the aperture or ISO according to the available light keeping an eye on the light meter in the view finder. The light meter looks at the available light and doesn't take into account what the flash is doing.

You need to try and use as much ambient light as possible so you dont get the deer in the headlights look where the background dies out to black. ie use higher iso, wider apertures to try and keep the background light enough (in the light meter in view finder) and then the flash just has to provide a little bit to properly expose the subjects.

If there is a low-ish roof around use it to bounce off and pull out the white bounce card from the 580exii to ping some light forward to bring out details in faces. You can bounce off walls etc too. If there is nothing to bounce off point the flash straight at the people. If you are shooting wide (14-30mm) and straight at people use the built in diffuser. Dont use the diffuser and bounce card at same time obviously.

I have tried gary phong light spheres and stoffen caps but I find I get best results just using the bounce card. Also get yourself at least two sets of good Japanese rechargeable batteries. They recycle faster, last longer and don't get hot like disposable ones. I carry 3 sets of Sanyo Eneloops which you can get from digital revs ebay shop for about $48 for 2 sets of 4. Bit more for set + charger.

Its good to experiment a bit too because the 580exii is an awesome flash and can light a whole ballroom with the right settings and a light coloured ceiling to bounce off. I was working a gig where the ballroom was so dark I couldn't get a shot even at ISO 1600/f2.8/1/60sec with the ambient light so I set the flash to manual 1/1 (full power) and aimed it at the roof and viola, its quite a powerful flash.


Hope that helps, there is so much to learn, I have shot around 40 events now and I'm still learning. You pretty much have the ideal kit for this job though!

__________________
betty banger

Should they break out the pillows and start a feather fight, you'll be prepared

beat me to it !!

__________________
Current rides :Black FPV Typhoon, WRC Blue 03 WRX manual sedan with 3" exh and defi's, old skool lime green mazda 929 with auto swingin air vents and 14" chrome hubcaps, 5'2" blonde

I have done Couple weddings now and that equipment is perfect,
the second wedding i did use two flash's off camera on tripods.

Even when out doors good idea to use the flash. Helps will fill on people faces etc, Make sure you have the flash and spare batterys for it

Is the two weddings i did.

Shooting another wedding in QLD in August
hopefully will have second body 5d mk2 by then
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nvrenuf...7604110978499/

Were you shooting a wedding on Saturday Tim?

If not, you have a twin!!!

__________________

TEAM オレンジ

Dyno queen