What kind of lighting should I use at a wedding?
Lauren T asked:
I am just getting into photogrpahy and I recently got the offer to take pictures at a wedding. I have been looking at umbrella lighting, but don’t really know what to go toward. What should I look for? Which lights are best, brand, style, watts, etc…
I am just getting into photogrpahy and I recently got the offer to take pictures at a wedding. I have been looking at umbrella lighting, but don’t really know what to go toward. What should I look for? Which lights are best, brand, style, watts, etc…
you shouldnt have any lighting at all never knew that mattered lol! [who] RED MAX!
As a wedding photographer, you don’t use lighting during weddings. Most churches don’t even allow flash. You have to work with what you got in the natural lighting and unfortunately churches tend to have really bad lighting. Learn how to use your camera to make the best of it and consider buying photoshop suite so you can color correct everything on bridge.
As for formals and reception, you’ll really just need a flash to put on your camera and that’s it. [who] Ninjanna
Invest in a quality, fast (low light) lens.
and as the other guy said a quality flash unit for the reception. [who] hooyeah123
You’re just “getting into” photography and you’re taking up the offer to shoot a wedding. Have you ever worked with studio lighting before? It is true, occasionally professionals use lighting during weddings, usually for group formals, seldom is a venue ever set up with umbrellas for the actual ceremony. Also shooting with accessory lighting is not a thing a novice can learn in a day or two. More the norm would be available light and modified or diffused strobes, sometimes multiples used off camera. Sometimes assistants hold those, sometimes they are set on tripods or stands. Off camera flash technique takes a lot of practice, too. Also there is liability to consider. What if some kid or elderly person trips on your light stand and gets hurt? Do you have insurance?
How long before the wedding? How skillful and knowledgeable are you already on the basic technical and artistic sides of photography in general? What do you know about shooting weddings in particular? What equipment do you already have? Backups? etc etc etc
I would suggest getting a Gary Fong lightsphere instead. (I use the clear, cloudy is an option as well) Learn how to use that for portraits. I am also using a Stofen sometimes, and a Lightscoop which does a great job controlling vertical shadows without a bracket. These are less expensive and easier to learn to control than umbrellas, and do the job in 99% of most wedding situations, providing the photographer is competent and has practiced with them.
A beginner photographer shooting a wedding is not a match made in Heaven to say the least. That’s not to say you wouldn’t get a good shot, and you may be lucky and do pretty well, but it is highly unlikely that a beginner will produce much beyond the snapshot level. Hopefully decent snaps at least, but I have seen and heard some horror stories where nothing was useable at all. Weddings are one thing you can’t do-over at leisure. There is one chance to get the shot, and if it’s missed the moment is gone forever. So be sure and stress to the B&G that they won’t be getting the kind of images they see in the wedding magazines, and urge them to hire an established professional photographer whose work they have seen and liked. Otherwise, be prepared to take some grief if all isn’t as rosey as they thought it would be. Here is a link for a first time shooter. Think about this, good luck.
[who] Ara57
I hope they have hired a professional photographer to shoot the wedding and you will just be taking random shots, because if you are just getting into photography, you are no where near ready to do a wedding. Weddings are the hardest things to do, and if you have no experience, the bride and groom are going to be very disappointed.
Please tell them to hire a professional to do the important work, and you can shoot the “snapshots”. [who] Cat Lover