What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

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Archive 2008 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

MIKE ben
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p.1 #1 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Hello,

Who uses studio lights vs 580 type flashes for formals? I just used a strobe for the first time during the formals and the pics looks great but it took a while to set up. I was sweating like a pig! Any ideas? Any quick set up? What do you use or do to make it easier for you?

I do have umbrella (I have 4 WL 1600) and 580 x2.

Thanks,

Mike

Jul 12, 2008 at 07:10 PM

ozarkboy
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p.1 #2 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Hey mike, I use two 580 ex's on stands with umbrellas and set them off with the canon transmitter ST_E2. Light weight and easy to set up. The ST-E2 is $200, but thats still much cheaper than a pair of pocket wizards.

Jul 13, 2008 at 01:51 AM

Jimbobp
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p.1 #3 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Depends on the venue. For most, I just use one AB1600 bounced off the ceiling.

Jul 13, 2008 at 02:28 AM

liza
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p.1 #4 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

I use two AB800's, one with a softbox and the other with an umbrella for fill. They really aren't that much of a hassle to set up, considering I usually take an assistant and a second shooter with me to help.

Jul 13, 2008 at 04:02 AM

Ryan Britton
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p.1 #5 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

We use one or two WL X1600s. Depending on the available room, we will either use one as key and one as fill or one above and behind as key.

Jul 13, 2008 at 05:10 PM

itsthewoo
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p.1 #6 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Currently using SB-80DXs, 001B stands, umbrellas, and eBay triggers along with the 430ex on the cam.

I'll probably upgrade to Elinchrome triggers in the future if the RP Jr's don't make the cut.

Jul 13, 2008 at 05:29 PM

winman3
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p.1 #7 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Hey, Ozarkboy, your 580s must be very close together to have the beam from the ST-E set them both off...... right?

Jul 14, 2008 at 01:32 AM

John Power
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p.1 #8 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Wrong

Jul 14, 2008 at 01:58 AM

gabemc
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p.1 #9 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

the sun

Jul 14, 2008 at 02:01 AM

unblinkable
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p.1 #10 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

gabemc wrote:
the sun

In a perfect world.

Jul 14, 2008 at 02:27 AM

ozarkboy
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p.1 #11 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Winman3, Its a common misconception that they run off of IR but the st-e2's infra red beam is just for AF. I have used the unit in another room and it still triggered the flashes, so they do not have to be in direct sight. I'm not sure how it works.

Jul 14, 2008 at 02:35 AM

Tad Killian
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p.1 #12 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

......whatever Red says.

Jul 14, 2008 at 03:49 AM

Tad Killian
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p.1 #13 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

........I just wanna see that photo with all of the hot lights on cranes and cherry-pickers again.

Jul 14, 2008 at 03:50 AM

gabemc
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p.1 #14 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

unblinkable wrote:
gabemc wrote:
the sun

In a perfect world.

no really

99.9% of all my formals of couples are done with 100% natural light.

Cheers.

Jul 14, 2008 at 03:53 AM

Tad Killian
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p.1 #15 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

...........Gabes rocking out watching an episode of TPB.

Sincerely jealous,
Tad

Jul 14, 2008 at 03:58 AM

surfcat
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p.1 #16 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

gabemc wrote:
unblinkable wrote:
gabemc wrote:
the sun

In a perfect world.

no really

99.9% of all my formals of couples are done with 100% natural light.

Cheers.

Man, you're my hero...

Jul 14, 2008 at 06:28 AM

MIKE ben
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p.1 #17 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

"I use two AB800's, one with a softbox and the other with an umbrella for fill. They really aren't that much of a hassle to set up, considering I usually take an assistant and a second shooter with me to help."

Liza,

It took me 20minutes to set mine up. Can't afford an assistant yet. From what I hear
formals should be less than hour. Preferably 30minutes.

"We use one or two WL X1600s. Depending on the available room, we will either use one as key and one as fill or one above and behind as key."

Thanks for the reply Ryan.
If you were shooting it outdoor with a flash, how do you go about setting up the lighting ratios?

"no really 99.9% of all my formals of couples are done with 100% natural light.

Cheers. "

Gabemc,

Can you show me some samples?

Thanks,

Mike

Jul 14, 2008 at 07:05 AM

Sam Hassas
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p.1 #18 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

I've done MOST of the formals inside. When that's the case, I use 2 umbrellas with a 580's on each at full power or there about.

`Sam

Jul 14, 2008 at 07:53 AM

John Power
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p.1 #19 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Sam, when you say "full power" do you shoot them in manual and meter for the aperture or use ETTL and jack the FEC up to +3.

Jul 14, 2008 at 11:44 AM

PhotosByRDD
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p.1 #20 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

ozarkboy wrote:
Winman3, Its a common misconception that they run off of IR but the st-e2's infra red beam is just for AF. I have used the unit in another room and it still triggered the flashes, so they do not have to be in direct sight. I'm not sure how it works.

Both Canon's and Nikon's built in systems are line-of-sight. Sometimes inside you'll get a nice bounce but they do have to be able to "see" the signal in order to work. The exception to that is if you're using Radio Poppers with them. Then the line-of-sight issue goes away.

For receptions:

Depending on the venue (size, ambient lighting, color of walls/ceiling), and my mood, I may use a single Qflash without reflector for barebulb, triggered by Pocket Wizards. Sometimes I'll set-up a hot-shoe flash else where in the room, again fired by a PW, for added depth. I may use a single speed light topped with a Stofen on a stand, triggered via Radio Poppers... I might use two speed lights with RPs. It really depends on what I'm after.

For formals:

I usually use a single Qflash bounced into a 60" Westcott convertible umbrella. The light will be placed slight in front and off to one side of the camera position with the umbrella's center pole pointed into the center of the group. This is quick to set-up, tear-down and move and will light a very good sized group.

My Lighting Gear (Toy) Box Contains:

Qflash x2, Sunpak 120j, Sigma EF500DG Super x2, Canon 580ex, 580ex II, 420ex, Vivitar 265, Pocket Wizard PlusII x3, Radio Poppers- 1 Trans. 2 Recv., various cords, batteries, shoes, adapters, gels and misc. hardware. In addition I usually have 3 stands - 13', 10', & 6', a 60" umbrella, 48" Westcott Halo umbrella/softbox hybrid and a Westcott Apollo 28" softbox along for the ride.

Jul 14, 2008 at 12:05 PM

evertdoorn
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p.1 #21 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

I don't do that many wedding formals (here in the Netherlands it's not that common), but recently when I DO have to shoot them, I've been using an innovatronix XT in coorporation with an Elinchrom fx (same as bx) 400 with a large umbrella. Great light.

Jul 14, 2008 at 12:57 PM

Ken Vigil
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p.1 #22 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

we try to do natural light as much as possible but I'll often have to supplement it with some off camera fill or modeling light from a 580 shot through a scrim.... Using a 5d and a 35L helps a lot.

ken

Edited on Jul 14, 2008 at 06:31 PM

Jul 14, 2008 at 06:26 PM

Ryan Britton
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p.1 #23 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

MIKE ben wrote:
"We use one or two WL X1600s. Depending on the available room, we will either use one as key and one as fill or one above and behind as key."

Thanks for the reply Ryan.
If you were shooting it outdoor with a flash, how do you go about setting up the lighting ratios?

It really depends on the sun. At one of our recent weddings the couple wanted their formals done in this spot that had full sun. The sun became the key light and we used one WL X1600 with 47" octabox (baffle only) for fill, partially because the X1600 cannot overpower that level of sun and partially because it wasn't necessary to. They were squinty, but the shadows were soft and the photos came out well.

The wedding we did this past Saturday had the formals in a shaded area. We used both X1600s, one as key and one as a rim light. The ambient was fill.

For setting up the lighting ratios, I will make my best guess and fire a test shot and go from there. Dialing it in usually only takes me about 30-40 seconds.

Jul 14, 2008 at 07:01 PM

ozarkboy
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p.1 #24 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Also, In direct sunlight, I usually leave the heavy equipment in the car and just throw on a good diffuser, like the Fong light sphere, to eliminate the shadows in the face.

Jul 14, 2008 at 07:44 PM

MIKE ben
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p.1 #25 · What do you use to light for Wedding Formals?

Studio lighting on location during a wedding is a real bitch.

I want to get good results similar to studio lights; any other ideas without facing the sun (I hate squinting eyes).

Radio Popper on two flashes (left and right of the camera during formals) good enough? Let see some samples of formals using 580s or similar flash.

Oct 10, 2008 at 01:42 PM


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