I'm just thinking of the whole shooting formals part of the big day.
Last year i shot a wedding that was close to 800 guests. Needless to say the B&G wanted formal pics with all the close and distant family, which was about 300 people in total.
It is a rather annoying part of the day for me, but it has to be done.
For this reason alone i bought the Elinchrom D-Lite 4 kit, so i can easily transport and shoot (i set up a location usually at the banquet hall). I am looking into portable power for outdoor stuff.
I just wanted to see how you guys and gals deal with formals, and any techniques you may have.
Inside I usually use a Qflash (older, manual versions... Model T or T2) bounced into a 60" Westcott convertible umbrella that's about 45 degrees to one side of the other (umbrella shaft aimed directly at center of group). The lowest portion on the umbrella 4 to 6 inches below average eye level. The Qflash is powered by a turbo battery and usually a setting around 1/4 power will provide a useable f-stop/shutter speed/iso combination.
Depending on conditions I may use a similar set-up for outside formals, or go with ambient light instead.
I always ask about groups during the initial meetings and if they're large I ask for a co-ordinator. One thing with really big groups is to tell everyone when they are assembled: "If you can't see me then you won't show up in the photograph." They usually start to jostle for position so they can see the camera. But I swear to gawd... somedays I might as well be herding cats... and that's before they get into the booze.
Andrew Welsh wrote:
^^^ This is the first helpful post I've seen from him
I actually like Red's posts... I appreciate his lucidness and acerbic sense of humor.
Red, what's wrong with using two light sources? Granted, a lot of people would be shooting themselves in the foot if they had no previous lighting experience, but for large groups I don't see anything wrong with two lights, one on each side facing directly ahead as opposed to turned inwards. Unless you can assemble your group in a horseshoe-shape, your light will be more even with 2. I don't like your first shot much but your last two are great.
bacilonur wrote:
Red, what's wrong with using two light sources?
Two light sources give a nice stunned bunny appearance - we (the species) have evolved over a few million years with a single light source - the sun. So, leaving well enough alone is the safest bet - and, when faced with the realities of time and cooperation wedding wise: usually the one to take.
If you look at amateur pictures you will see a lot of the 'two light' look - if you look to Vogue, Vanity Fair and ID mag for inspiration - you will usually think: now how did they light that.
All that said - there are terrific images shot with competing light sources. But - even those will follow the more vague rule of deliberation.
Red, the pics look great, I get the instuctions except for the 4x8 sheet of foam core. What is this for? Is it right outside of the picture view to bounce the light or something? Just trying to learn because the result in your pictures look great. Thanks!!
Sarah Salyer wrote:
the 4x8 sheet of foam core. What is this for?
- If you shoot on grass the green reflection is unflattering -
- A bit of fill from the bottom
- A position holder because even with the chairs by the time you get to the 6th group everything tens to relocate 10 meters from where you begin.
Foam core is about $15 for a 4x8 sheet and you score it, tape it, walk on it, throw it away, cut to various sizes.... buy new stuff. The rental house I use delivers it for free.
RedWhiteandRed wrote:
- If you shoot on grass the green reflection is unflattering -
- A bit of fill from the bottom
- A position holder because even with the chairs by the time you get to the 6th group everything tens to relocate 10 meters from where you begin.
Foam core is about $15 for a 4x8 sheet and you score it, tape it, walk on it, throw it away, cut to various sizes.... buy new stuff. The rental house I use delivers it for free.
Red - forgive my ignorance and inexperience with this, but since I do not see any foam core, and since you say it gets placed right in front of the chairs, am I correct in assuming you PS it outta there in your PPing?
MJH1 wrote:
Red - forgive my ignorance and inexperience with this, but since I do not see any foam core, and since you say it gets placed right in front of the chairs, am I correct in assuming you PS it outta there in your PPing?
Mike
Well - you tend to frame the picture so that the contretemps do not impinge - but in the rare event where the thing gets in there - clone away.
This is an interesting post. Last weekend I was put into an awkward postion where the bride wanted formals of the girls and guys separate before the wedding in two locations, then shots of everyone at three locations afterward.
So, my current Alien Bee setup (2-AB800's) obvioulsy wasn't going to get me there. So I ventured for a more portable solution. I ended up with two 580's on stands with umbrellas, powered by Al Jacobson's Black Boxes. When I lined up my first shot, only one light was working (I later realized it wasn't on slave), so improvising I decided to give it a try with a single 580 shooting through a 48" umbrella on a stand next to the camera. I have to say, those are some of the best formals shots I've ever taken. To make it even better, my wife (aka assistant) grabbed the stand and just followed me as we stopped at each of the three locations the bride wanted. The shots turned out great.
Matt Veldhuis wrote:
This is an interesting post. Last weekend I was put into an awkward postion where the bride wanted formals of the girls and guys separate before the wedding in two locations, then shots of everyone at three locations afterward.
So, my current Alien Bee setup (2-AB800's) obvioulsy wasn't going to get me there. So I ventured for a more portable solution. I ended up with two 580's on stands with umbrellas, powered by Al Jacobson's Black Boxes. When I lined up my first shot, only one light was working (I later realized it wasn't on slave), so improvising I decided to give it a try with a single 580 shooting through a 48" umbrella on a stand next to the camera. I have to say, those are some of the best formals shots I've ever taken. To make it even better, my wife (aka assistant) grabbed the stand and just followed me as we stopped at each of the three locations the bride wanted. The shots turned out great.
So, lesson learned... simplicity is great!...Show more →
I do something close to that. My assistant holds up a translucent collapsible reflector holding a 580 behind it and I use a STE-2 to trigger it.
Must be the happy pills he received from Flibble