 Judith A. Clark |
About to shoot first wedding I have my first wedding to shoot in December. I have read everything I can get my hands on. I have backup everything. I just purchases two extra battery opperated slave strobs for extra light on the posed shots. I have a 22mm wide angle lens for group shots. I have an assistant to go with me. My question is concerning the natural light ceremony portion of the shoot. What is the best film to use for this, and where is the best place to position myself in the church. Also if anyone knows of a good websight for posing large groups, please inform me all the books deal mostly with the bride, and I want to make sure the group shots look good, Im work with mostly children and small family groups.
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Jeff S. Kennedy |
You sound prepared except for one thing. I would strongly advise against using the 22mm for group shots. Unless you're shooting with a digital camera that has some focal length multiplication factor a wide angle lens like that just doesn't work with groups. You'll get funny looking distortions of people near the edges. For natural light shots inside the church I'm assuming it won't be super bright. I would go with Portra 400VC. If you're using medium format (which is what I use to shoot my groups) and it is really dark you can even get away with Portra 800. As far as positioning and posing, you want to try and get peoples faces on different levels but as close to the same plane parallel to your film as possible. Different levels is more appealing than people in a straight ling. Getting faces on the same plane as your film means you won't have to stop down as much for DOF and can consequently use a faster shutter speed. To do this you can use the steps of the altar and position your camera as high as you can get it (use a ladder or step stool). Or if the church has one, shoot from the balcony.
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Judith A. Clark |
Thanks for your answer. I was planing on using portra 160 for the posed shots anyway. I have 3 lenses22-55mm 35-80mm and 75-300mm all zoom auto focus. I'm shooting 35mm because thats all I have. Which lens should I use the most. How high should my extra flash units be and where should I put them. Thanks again to Jeff and anyone else who choses to answer.
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Andy |
I am not a pro but I did took quite a few wedding photos for friends and relatives. As far as positioning yourself inside the church, I favor the spot on the bridegroom side a little behind the administer so that the bride and the bridesmaids will be facing you during the ceremony. It is best if you can take photos from each side but usually I don't have that liberty. I will keep taking photos until right before the administer says "you may kiss the bride". I will quickly move to behind the couple, facing the alter. Because when they kiss, they will be facing each other. You will have a clear shot and also you can use the church's alter as your background. One important thing. BE THERE EARLIER AND POLITELY ASK THE ADMINISTER'S PERMISSION IF YOU CAN STAND ON THE ALTER (some won't let anyone stand on the alter, period), behind the administer (some administers want their faces on your photos, not their backs), if you can use flash or step stool. They will tell you what you can and cannot do inside 'their' church. Some even suggest the best spot for you to take photos. My point is, they have the authority inside the church. It's wise to ask first.
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Judith A. Clark |
thanks Andy that was very helpful. I still would like to know a good website that has pictures of group shots of weddings. I need some creative idea's the couple is a lot of fun and I want the pictures to reflect some of this.
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Jeff S. Kennedy |
One not on positioning during the processional, if you plan on putting together an album you should place yourself on the grooms side of the aisle so that the people will be walking from l to r. This helps the album flow better. A good site for info on wedding photography is zuga.net.
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