Lighting for group formals? - FM Forums

Register · Search · Software · Join Upload & Sell · Hosting

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

FM Forum Rules
Wedding Resource List

FM Forums \| Wedding Photographer \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 end

Archive 2009 · Lighting for group formals?

John--G
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · Lighting for group formals?

What do most of you do with lighting for formal group shots in the church after the wedding ceremony? Do you setup a couple flashes and umbrellas or do you simply use a single flash on a flash bracket? Group size is probably six people.

Nov 12, 2009 at 03:10 AM

david1234
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · Lighting for group formals?

i always have strobes setup around the area for the ceremony, so i just use those for group shots and pull in 2, 1 on each side with an umbrella.

Nov 12, 2009 at 03:14 AM

hardlyboring
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · Lighting for group formals?

you could just use flash as long as you get the distances right so that everyone is exposed evenly.
that is what i would do
doug

Nov 12, 2009 at 03:31 AM

jprezant
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · Lighting for group formals?

i set up a beauty dish last weekend.

Nov 12, 2009 at 07:10 AM

sherijohnson
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · Lighting for group formals?

For six people I wouldn't think you would need to go to too much trouble unless the lighting is horrible in the church.

Nov 12, 2009 at 12:20 PM

Thats Fresh
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · Lighting for group formals?

the quick group formals after the ceremony in the church - 580exii's

with group formals with more time - strobes

Nov 12, 2009 at 12:33 PM

ChrisDM
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · Lighting for group formals?

I use a pair of Quantum Qflashes for my higher end weddings, but for the shoot and burn budget clients I'll usually just use on-camera flash or no flash if I can finds some nice shade. Actually natural shade light is mt favorite lighting setup of all, but of course that isn't always possible so I'm ready to compliment poor lighting if necessary.

Chris Miller
www.imagineimagery.com

Nov 12, 2009 at 12:55 PM

cSpencer
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · Lighting for group formals?

Noob question: How do you eliminate the reflection of whatever lighting you use if members in the wedding party wear eyeglasses? I've only done two weddings of close friends and have encountered the same problem for the after wedding formals within the church. I should have it figured out by wedding 3!

Thank you

Nov 12, 2009 at 01:45 PM

Lucky_Dog
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · Lighting for group formals?

cSpencer wrote:
Noob question: How do you eliminate the reflection of whatever lighting you use if members in the wedding party wear eyeglasses? I've only done two weddings of close friends and have encountered the same problem for the after wedding formals within the church. I should have it figured out by wedding 3!

Thank you

Single umbrella high over camera. I use an AB800 into 60' on a 13' stand. Thanks, Red...

Nov 12, 2009 at 01:59 PM

ChrisDM
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · Lighting for group formals?

cSpencer wrote:
Noob question: How do you eliminate the reflection of whatever lighting you use if members in the wedding party wear eyeglasses? I've only done two weddings of close friends and have encountered the same problem for the after wedding formals within the church. I should have it figured out by wedding 3!

Thank you

This is caused by direct reflection which is caused by light directly hitting the glasses in relation to the camera lens. To avoid direct reflection, simply move the lights off to the side, where the angle of the lights to the subject is greater than the angle of the lens to the subject. And if you REALLY want to understand this kind of stuff, pick up this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Science-Introduction-Photographic-Lighting/dp/0240802756

Hope this helps,

Chris Miller
www.imagineimagery.com

Nov 12, 2009 at 02:27 PM

Miker Reid
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · Lighting for group formals?

I do the same as Lucky Dog but I move it just a few feet to the side of me.

Nov 12, 2009 at 02:58 PM

bryanlindsey
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · Lighting for group formals?

Single off-camera flash. But I'm a noob so there may be something better.

Nov 12, 2009 at 03:08 PM

Photo197726
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · Lighting for group formals?

cSpencer wrote:
Noob question: How do you eliminate the reflection of whatever lighting you use if members in the wedding party wear eyeglasses? I've only done two weddings of close friends and have encountered the same problem for the after wedding formals within the church. I should have it figured out by wedding 3!

Thank you

Another thing you can do is have the glasses-wearers to move their temples up ever so slightly, and to move the glasses down the bridge of their nose just tiny bit. These small corrections aren't noticeable, yet they give the lens enough tilt to remove any reflections if you don't have the luxury (or time) to move your light source.

Nov 12, 2009 at 03:37 PM

Chris Joyce
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · Lighting for group formals?

ummm... remove their glasses for the shot with verbal communication to the party for the reason. Take one with and one without. You know the rest of the story.... PS.

Chris

Nov 12, 2009 at 03:43 PM

stecson
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · Lighting for group formals?

two speedlights with umbrellas at 45 degrees

Nov 12, 2009 at 04:39 PM

jcolman
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #16 · Lighting for group formals?

I don't use a "one size fits all" solution to any lighting. Each venue presents it's own challenges. I'll use everything from a single unmodified speedlight, to a studio strobe fired thru a large softbox and two more lights on the back and sides to provide some backlight.

My most used setup is a single studio strobe and large softbox.

Nov 12, 2009 at 05:14 PM

cSpencer
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · Lighting for group formals?

Lucky_Dog wrote:
cSpencer wrote:
Noob question: How do you eliminate the reflection of whatever lighting you use if members in the wedding party wear eyeglasses? I've only done two weddings of close friends and have encountered the same problem for the after wedding formals within the church. I should have it figured out by wedding 3!

Thank you

Single umbrella high over camera. I use an AB800 into 60' on a 13' stand. Thanks, Red...

Thanks alot for all the responses. Makes perfect sense. Time to start saving over the winter months for more lights...flashes or strobes, umbrelles, stands etc...

Nov 12, 2009 at 06:13 PM

Scott Clark
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · Lighting for group formals?

If there's enough room, I'll be using my PLM from now on...I had great luck with it on my last wedding. I need to get a smaller PLM for that matter

. I've tried two lights, but the cross shadows were distracting in a few shots. Not all of them, but some of them. One light will eliminate this.
Another tip I picked up from Red: Leave your reflector off if you're using umbrellas...the spill will add some extra light to the environment to bounce around and raise the ambient level a bit.

Nov 12, 2009 at 06:47 PM

joezasada
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · Lighting for group formals?

normally I use natural light, e.g. outdoors, if possible.

If I am doing indoor groups and need flash, I'll mount a Chimera Pancake Lantern on one of my monolights...

Probably the best modifier you can get for on-location soft omnidirectional lighting. Great for lighting up the entire area...

Nov 12, 2009 at 08:23 PM

John--G
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #20 · Lighting for group formals?

Thank you for all the helpful responses. Since the group will be small I think I will try the single flash route. While I would prefer the larger lights, flash isn't allowed during the ceremony and I will be working alone so quickly setting up my umbrellas and getting things packed up before the reception will be a major pain.

Nov 13, 2009 at 01:55 AM

Thats Fresh
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #21 · Lighting for group formals?

John, ive shot many group formals with flash mounted on camera on tripod and remote in hand and still got great shots indoors.

Nov 13, 2009 at 02:10 AM

DavidWEGS
Online
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #22 · Lighting for group formals?

John, I use an off cam SB800 (or two) on a stand with remote firing on cam.

Those units stay on that stand and it just unfolds for formals, then collapses super fast when done. It goes to the reception and sets up in seconds, literally.

If you get it set up before you arrive, its a no brainer.

One of the most important things a client sees in a togs work... consistency.

Nov 13, 2009 at 04:25 AM

paparazzinick
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #23 · Lighting for group formals?

we throw a nikon sb900 on a stand and blast at 1/16th or 1/8th depending on the church and blast it in to a 40" umbrella. camera settings are usually on iso 400-800 again depending on church but aperture and shutter are always 1/40th and f5.6 we also have an sb900 on camera bouncing straight up with a flipit throwing some light forward at -.3 ev and that flash has a pocket wizard strapped to it to trigger the other flash. works great, its easy to setup and light to travel with. we used it with 30 people in the shot and it worked fine.

Nov 13, 2009 at 04:58 AM

Strat60
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #24 · Lighting for group formals?

It depends on the group, the time allotted, the church, etc. But we use one of these setups:

1. 1 or 2 580s on stands triggered by Cybersyncs; usually I'll barebulb the 580s, but have used a shoot through umbrella from time to time.

2. 1 or 2 AB800s with shoot throughs, powered by Vagabond IIs

I really hate lugging the AB800s and Vagabonds, but sometimes you need that much power.

BTW, we then use the two 580s to shoot a lot of the reception shots. Nice results.

Nov 13, 2009 at 02:49 PM

John--G
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #25 · Lighting for group formals?

Well, the deed is done. Again, I appreciate everyone's helpful suggestions. In the end I went with a single 580EXII flash on a RRS bracket. I had hoped to use my lights but flash photography was not permitted during the ceremony and the pastor did not want me setting up any lighting ahead of time. That meant I would need to wait till the ceremony was over to start hauling out equipment and getting setup. Working alone I did not think the folks would have the patience for that and I was right. There was really barely time to setup the tripod and get a few group shots before they were getting antsi to move on.

Here is an example of how the group shots turned out. While I think I could have done better with more lighting I think it turned out okay given the hand I was dealt.

PS. For some reason the example posted here looks brighter than how it looks in Photoshop or in the prints.

2012 © John--G

2012 © John--G

Nov 15, 2009 at 09:53 PM


FM Forums \| Wedding Photographer \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 end