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Category: Tips for Taking Wedding Photos

Photography Question 

Mike Lavigne
 

Indoor Church Wedding - No Flash Allowed


My son is getting married next week, and I've just learned the church does not allow flash photography. I've never shot indoors like this and would appreciate any advice. I have a Pentax K10D, Pentax 18-55, Sigma 70-300, Sigma 105. Any advice urgently needed so I can practice first.


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June 12, 2008

 

W.
  Hi Mike,
It obviously depends on what light IS available, of course. Is the ceremony in the daytime? Does the church have large windows to let in light? Or is it gonna be at night? And what light is there available then?
If you want to practice – which is a VERY sensible idea – I'd recommend going to the church, if possible, tomorrow! Or as soon as possible, anyway - at around the same time the ceremony is going to be so that you may find similar lighting conditions. And shoot whatever is at hand to be shot, although preferably people.
Set your camera to ISO 800 or 1600, and shoot Raw. Find support wherever you can. A tripod is best. Monopod next best. Pay attention to your stance: pull your elbows into your sides, and control your breath if you must shoot unsupported. Use the Pentax 18-55, and the Sigma 105. Forget the Sigma 70-300. Use Av, aperture priority, set to F/4.0 or F/5.6. Try to keep the shutter speed at 1/60th or preferably 1/125th. Then shoot away and rush home to your PC to see what worked and what didn't. And learn.
Have fun!


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June 12, 2008

 

Mike Lavigne
  Thanks very much for the help. It is greatly appreciated. The service is at 7 pm so still light out. My son says the church has large stained glass windows in front and on the the sides, so it's whatever evening light comes in. I haven't seen the church yet. He says no problem using the tripod. It's a small wedding - immediate family only - so not formal. Thanks again, this is a big help...


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June 12, 2008

 

W.
  Good you mentioned the stained glass. That's gonna play havoc with your white balance if you have it set on AWB, Auto White Balance. Every frame could be different. So set the WB at Daylight, to have it firmly anchored. And shoot RAW of course.
And with a tripod you can, of course, also use 1/30th of a sec shutter speed. I wouldn't go slower. Not because of camera shake, there can hardly be any left, but because of subject movement. Try to catch people in instances where they pause their movements. Those moments often last not even 1 second, but they're there! Watch for them. Observe. It's very effective to use them.
Can you get to the church at 7 pm one of these days for a light and settings check, and test run?


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June 12, 2008

 

She-She Killough
  You might see about renting a low light lens. Not sure what is available for a pentax but if you can rent a 1.8 or a 1.2 and just shoot from close range it might make life a lot easier for you. I shoot a Cannon and have a 1.8 just not sure what is available for Pentax. Hope that helps.


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June 17, 2008

 
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