Night Wedding Photography

Photographing at night requires changing the settings on your camera for a wider aperture and a longer exposure. Take nighttime photographs ...

I posted a question a little bit ago asking about wedding photography. And was worried since it was going to be outdoors close to night time, and during night time.

I have a couple options of what to rent..
I can only get 1 or 2 lenses and the flash.
-SB-800 AF flash
-Nikon 24-70mm AF-S 2.8G ED N
-70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED
-17-55mm Nikon AF-S f/2.8G IF-ED

What i already have is:
-Nikkor 18-55mm VR AF-S 3.5-5.6G
-Nikkor 55-200mm VR 5.6G ED
-Nikon D80

I feel i will just need lens's with faster shutter speeds to make up for the lower light settings...If I can only get 1 or 2 of these lens's which would you suggest?

Since the ceremony is the most important and i was told i cant really get close during the session i will need good zoom...any other lens suggestioins?

I'm renting locally from this site: http://thelensdepot.com/shopping/start.p hp?browse=1&cat=2

Anyone with suggestions i really appreciate it.=)!
The ceremony should take place before it gets dark..but won't a faster lens than what i have still be important?
i really would love to get another body, but to rent the D300 or D700, its like $150..which i cant afford to pay for a friends wedding, and they cant afford it either.

So I'm only going to rent a Flash and two lenses at most..
So the 70-200mm 2.8 seems good.

is the 24-70mm 2.8 not a must lens? or am i better off get something like 1.4 or 1.8? for the lower light situations. A prime lens?

Phil,

Personally, I hate blasting away with a flash during a wedding ceremony and avoid it if at all possible. I've shot roof-top candle-lit weddings and beach weddings lit only by bonfire and not had to use a flash. However, I do have very fast prime lenses and camera bodies that excel under high-ISO conditions.

My best advice for low light is to get at least one prime lens in the 1.2-1.8 range, and PRACTICE with it before the event! However, you need REDUNDANCY in your kit, so if your gear fails you won't be hanging the client out to dry. Two cameras, redundant lenses, and two flashes at a minimum. Anything less is irresponsible.

My concern is that simply by asking these questions, I know that you're not totally prepared for the technical challenges this situation will likely present. It sounds like you're shooting this for a friend, and its admirable that you want to help, but make sure you have protected yourself both with a contract and a candid conversation with your friends to ensure that they harbor realistic expectations.

You may find help in a thread I created on a photography BB for new wedding photographers:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/7 28814

Good luck to you in any case!

2009-03-31 21:14:02 by Phil

I have to shoot a wedding outside april 18th and I was good with it until i found out it was going to be at 5o clock.

What suggestions do you have on shooting photography at night outside. They will have tiki otrches and candles and christmas lights up.

we are going to be taking the poses afew hours before the ceremony so i am not worried about that however the actual ceremony and reception are going to be at dusk and night.

I need help figuring out if i need to get any other special equipment , and how to pull this off effectivly.

thanks

oh and i have a Canon rebel XT.

Look into getting a prime lens that is fast (like a 50mm 1.8 or 1.4). It can be beneficial with low light and is a lot sharper than most lenses. However you still need a flash. Look into getting a flash and figuring out how to bounce flash of of things to eliminate shadows.

2009-01-11 15:09:15 by Katie B

Price: $34.95

I'm shooting my first wedding/event next week for a friend...i know not the best idea, but she really cant afford to hire someone so I'm her best option since I love photography and have a pretty good camera and its been a hobby of mine over the past year or so...

what i lack is the proper equipment to photograph a wedding.
I have a Nikon D80 with an 18-55mm VR lens and a 55-200mm VR lens...and a Tripod.

what will i need for a wedding? also it may take place at night indoors and in a backyard during night..which worries me for lighting purposes.
..I'm considering buying a backdrop and 2 umbrella lights off ebay within the next couple days...should i bring this??

also if i can RENT some equipment what should i get?
-an 18-200mm Lens, so i don't have to switch out mine during the wedding...?
-A SB-600 Flash? although i need to learn to use it.
..what are other good lenses?
a Sigma 10-20?
I want to limit my rentals to about 2 maybe 3 items since its costly

anyways..any advice on wedding photography would be really appreciated.

ALSO, important..what ISO should i be set at if its sort of dark? where i wont lose quality..i was thinking about 300 or 400.

thanks to anyone who can help.
Do you think even a diffuser for my on camera flash will help?

also, should i rent a 18-200mm lens? or just stick to the two separate ones i have. I just want to be able to zoom in and out more to make sure i get important moments!
Thank you "lover not a fighter" for the advice you have given me..I'm reading that link you sent me, only on page 10 of 79 though=/.
But yea i know i really lack experience, but hey I'll be that much better for the next friend who decides to get married!
ok so a 24-70mm wide angle lens..I'm still thinking an 18-200 for the walking down the island and exchanging of vowels..I've kinda always had the image in my head of getting the part where the groom slides the ring on the brides finger.
so yea i need major advice on what lenses to bring!

Rent another body, either a D700 or the D300. That way you can use higher ISO. On the D80, 800 speed is pushing the quality envelope plenty. On the D300, 1600 is do-able, even faster if that's required to get the shot. The 18-200 just duplicates what you have already. I would opt for faster glass, say the lowly 50mm f/1.8, especially if you can get somewhat close during the ceremony. If you can't, rent the Nikon 70 - 200 f/2.8. Use it on one body and your 18-55 on the other. The 24-70 would be fine on a full frame sensor, but is not wide enough on a D80.

Here is a link for first time wedding shooters:

http://www.rokkorfiles.com/Wedding101-pa ge1.html

Rent a flash The camera's built-in popup will not have enough power and produce horrendous red-eye.. Bounce it if the ceilings are low and you have time to practice. You can rubberband an index card to the top to use as a bounce card, or look into getting a diffuser. Diffusers need a bit of practice to use to good advantage. The Stofen is probably the easiest to get good results for a flash beginner. The good news is Nikon has a very good automatic flash system. Outside at night, you may have to use the flash direct on. Therre are multiple flash techniques for using in dark situations, but take time to learn. IMO, a week is not enough time. Here is another site for you to visit:

http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/flash -photography-techniques/

Pay special attention to the section on dragging the shutter. That will help you avoid the "deer in headlights" look that plagues P&S snappers.

So far as setting up lights and backdrops, unless you are *very* comfortable using them, I would stick with on camera or off camera flashes.

Have spare batteries for everything. Make sure you start the event charged. Have more memory than you think you need. Shoot in RAW, unless you have never worked with RAW images. In that case, unless you have someone who can process the RAW files, I suggest shooting in fine large jpeg or RAW plus jpeg.

Visit the venue in advance and take some test shots, note what settings you use. Do the rehearsal if you can. Ask questions about the events planned during the ceremony. Ask the officiant where you may shoot from, and when flash is acceptable. Even if you are allowed up front during the *vows* (not vowels), restricting your movements and use of flash is respectful of the solemness of the ceremony and considerate to the other guests. I usually shoot the processional (down the *aisle*) from the front, with flash. After the hand-off, I usually shoot the ceremony from the back on a tripod with no flash. If I have a second shooter, I stay near the front depending on where I'm allowed to be, and my assistant goes to the back. Make sure you are in a position to get the first kiss. When in doubt of what angle to shoot from, bias any decision toward the bride. It's her day!

Good luck. I know you will hear from someone "Just don't do it!" and really that's good advice. I do think you should control your friend's expectations. Make sure your friendship can stand the stress if she is not happy with your photography. Honestly, your images are unlikely to be awe inspiring, not when compared to work from experienced wedding photographers, and you need to tell her that up front. As a novice, you just don't have the skill set to do a professional job. But hopefully you will be able to provide at least decent, well exposed and in focus pictures for her to remember her day. Hope it all goes well and everyone is pleased!

*Edit*

I just realized the wedding is in her home and not a church. OK, most homes you can bounce flash. Rent a SB600, SB800 or SB900 (or buy one if you can, it will be useful for other situations) You won't need the 70-200 f/2.8 that I recommended earlier in a home (unless she lives in the Biltmore Estate!) I still would rent the D300, though. Depending on the ambient light you might use it with no flash, or limited flash. Try to get some portrait shots outside in late afternoon light. Again, best wishes!

2009-03-25 22:08:37 by Phil

Hi,
Im looking for a book, that contains a "how to" on a wide range of photography projects. What lens to use, what to look for, what accessories needed, etc.
I know there are books and magazines for each one separately, but i kinda need a collection.
Anybody could recommend me a book like that?
John Hedgecoe - the new manual of photography for example contains a few projects like this.
Cheers!
Thanks for both of you, im still waiting for more answers.
Let me add some info: it's for dslr, and i exactly need just a "bit" of information of each topic, to get an overview.

My friend Amy Renfrey has an ebook that covers quite a few of those topics you are looking for.

You can find a link to it here: http://www.digital-photography-tricks.co m/beautiful-irina.html

Hope This Helps!
Mark
http://www.digital-photography-tricks.co m

2009-05-21 07:51:05 by Soni