p.4 #1 · How are Wedding Photographers shooting with Flash on Camera
> speeches, how can you get the speaker, the B&G reactions and the guest'ss reaction without at least 3-4 flashes
Two lights in room corners (thereabouts) pointed towards b+g works well. Have the speaker stand near the b+g so everyone can be in the same frame if you want. Audience reaction shots with strong backlight (from the rear of the room stands) are fine to my eye. A toast giver, shot with a 135L and that room light is super pro. Kneel down and shoot the speaker through out of focus champagne glasses. Now we're talking. With on-camera flash (even bounced) the champagne glasses (or another other obstruction) would be blown out.
Two stand-mounted speedlights will always do it at a reception, but you have to move them. Two lights on the the grand entrance, then move them for toasts. For first dance/dance party make a 'light sandwich' with each flash pointing towards each other. Anyone steps out of your light zone? Then it's flash on camera (hopefully bounced). I get bored shooting drunk dancing after 45mins at most receptions and will roam the reception looking for foolishness and shoot grip-n-grins either horizontally with the 430RT pull-out panel (or a mix of horz and vert with a JoeDemb Flip-It mounted if I'm not lazy). When I get back to the dancefloor, everything is lit where I left it.
With a 430RT / 600RT matrix you can have some be just receivers, some be just transmitters, some be transmitters and on-camera flash, or just use 'em like a regular flash. I'm sure Godox and Sony have RF flashes that do the same thing but I don't chase those brands so I don't know numbers (and firmware versions for Godox)
I use 7-foot stands but also bring 9-footers in my trunk big ballrooms. One of our photographers uses 12-foot stands - you can stand in front of them shooting and you won't get a shadow :-)
Agreed on the unrealistic hassle of modifiers. Other than a MagMod grid for shooting cakes and bride+groom hero shots I can't be bothered. No time.
