 Michelle Campbell |
Church Lighting Question Hello everyone. I am an outdoor location photographer at which I am doing quite well. I am concidering branching off into doing indoor weddings as well. However, I have done several test shoots in the local churchs and find the results disappointing. The lighting simply sucks. Can anyone recommend specifically what lighting they use in a church situation? Most of the churches around here have the stained glass windows and the very high lights. Almost no natural light whatsoever. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly apprecaited. Thank you. Michelle
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Jeff S. Kennedy |
When I shoot inside a church I use several different techniques. For candid on the move stuff I use a bracket mounted flash with a bounce attachment. I will drag the shutter with that to add detail to the background. Typically during the ceremony they don't like or allow flash so my preference is to use high speed b&w film (Ilford Delta 3200 is my favorite). If the b&g want color then I use Portra 800 or Fuji NPZ800. This is in my 35mm camera that I carry around. I also set up my MF camera at the back of the church loaded with 400VC (800 if its really dark) on a tripod and take some shots from there. For formals after the ceremony (if I must shoot them indoors) I use 1 or 2 strobes with umbrellas to light the groups. The area I live in is very outdoorsy so I usually try to talk them into shooting formals and groups outdoors to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings and natural light.
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John Boudrot |
After 26 yrs of wedding photography, the church still remains perhaps the most significant. After all, it is the main reason for being there. Every ceremony offers unique challenges. Above all else, do not become intrusive. Flash does that during the ceremony. Obviously you must use a tripod. Always use fast film (400 or 800 depending on the potential for enlargements) Use an 80b/a filter to correct the effect the church's lights have on the film. However, these filters add significant time to the exposure causing potential blurring problems. But once you get experience, you'll learn the type of character the individuals have and will be able to predict movement so as to capture the images before problems arrive. However, be prepared to bracket your exposures. YOU MUST CAPTURE THE CEREMONY! After the ceremony, take a couple reposition shots. These take no more than 5 minutes and you are free to use flash. The clergy will thank you for not violating the sacrement of the marriage ceremony and want to assist you. Look around and try to use the environment as you do outdoors. All of us are concerned about "light". It is one of the most interesting challenges in turning a picture into a photograph. Chow, John
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