BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Tips for Taking Wedding Photos

Exposure and Flash Settings with Weddings

The first of several problems is when shooting outdoors, I want to add fill flash and use either the red or yellow mode on the flash with an f-stop measured from a handheld meter. In a lot of situations I try to position the people with sun at their backs but it appears that the fill flash isn't doing its job. It seems like that variable power module is measuring enough ambient light from the sun and shutting down the flash before it has time to add fill to the subject. What to do?

Also, on indoor photography, I am using the flash in red/yellow mode and several things happen. The backgrounds are usually always dark (I usually shoot at 1/60) and the brides white dress seems to loose a lot of detail. It seems that I should try to use manual mode to be in complete control but the owners manual does not seem to help me understand how to do that.

Any help including web sites, books and your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Can't seem to find info on using this flash in manual mode.

Thanks.

To love this question, log in above
October 16, 2001

To get more light into the background on the indoor shots you need to "drag" your shutter more. This means shooting at a much slower shutter speed to allow the ambient light to record. You may be shooting with shutter speeds around 1/15-1/4 depending on your film speed and the light conditions. The flash duration will be short enough to freeze movement but the long shutter speed will let the background light fill in.

To love this comment, log in above
October 16, 2001