Wedding Lighting/Pictures - I need help

[ChowChi-Ching]

I got asked yesterday by a friend of the family to shoot his wedding in March. They do not have a lot of money and cannot afford to hire a "real" photographer. I told them I would do their pictures for just the cost of printing. Anyway, my problem is I have never done a wedding before, I do not have the spec of the wedding yet (i.e. time of day, location, etc) I do believe it will be indoors though. I seem to have issues with overexposure with indoor pictures. I am very afraid of messing up there pictures. How can I get good natural looking pictures without having it be too dark? Also, another problem I have been having is red eye. I am not sure where I am going wrong with that but I get it alot. I really want these pictures to turn out well.
I need to be able to take "action" shots without the people being blurry and still have the lighting look decent. I am feeling very overwhelmed as this is my first wedding, I plan on doing more but I would like to have this be great for them. I have a Nikon D70s
I would appreciate any and all help that I can get. Thank you!

[another view]

Digital exposure has to be right on. What flash are you using? I haven't used Nikon's E-TTL flash system but it's supposed to be very accurate. You'll need an SB800 (or 600, but will need the power of an 800) to do it though. This is something you'll really need to practice to make sure that you're consistently correct with exposure because there won't be time to check the histogram after your shots.

One way to cure red-eye is to use a flash bracket, like a Stroboframe. This puts the flash up a couple inches higher and it will also help hide shadows by putting them behind someone.

Weddings are tough - a spare camera and flash, as well as a bunch of spare batteries, are really important to have. Check shootsmarter.com for a lot of great advice - you do have to register, but it's free.

[Lionheart]

1:Scout the premises of the wedding. Start thinking of where and when keeping in mind the time of day that the event takes place.
2:Make a list of MUST shots-father/groom, bestman/groom, etc. and keep it with you on wedding day. It's easy to forget some of the important shots to get unless you do this for a living. Make a list of creative shots you want to get from your initial scouting of the area.
3:equipment, equipment, equipment. Try to have a backup camera/second camera body with a second lens ready to go. Carry enough spare batteries. Stroboframes are great-I use them myself. Quantum battery packs for your flash would really be great if you can get or rent them.
4; KNOW your gear, and especially what it can or cannot do.
5. Relax and have fun or at least fake it. Your subjects will sense your frame of mind if you show it.
6,Don't be pushy about being the photographer, but don't let the guests run you over while getting the shots either-it's a real art balancing this aspect of control.

Have fun.

[masdog]

Thanks guys. I have two friends who just got engaged within the last 6 months (one last week) and both have hinted that they want to hire me as their photographer. Not that either wedding is anytime soon, but it is a good idea to start getting tips now.

[jorgemonkey]

I was in the same boat as you a few months ago. Some of the things that I learned (and SHOULD have done) was to..

1. visit the location where it will be at, at the same time of day so you can check out lighting, and get some ideas of where to shoot from.

2. To fix red-eye- get a flash bracket. I used the bracket when I using either my D1h or my D70. If you don't want to get a flash bracket, then you can tilt your flash up (I used an SB-600) a notch, and pull out the little macro defuser (sp?) and add +0.3 - +0.7 flash EV comp, and watch your highlights.

3. Have fun!

4. I've been playin around with my flash the past few days taking indoor shots of my nieces during the evening, and I've found shooting in manual mode at around ISO 800, 1/60 sec @ F8 was giving me great results. I am kindof a newb with lighting/flash photography, so if anyone else has better ideas, I'd be interested in them as well!

5. If possible, get a second body. For a friends wedding I was the unofficial second photographer, and I borrowed my cousins D70 for another wedding, and had a 28-70 lens on one body, and a 70-200 on the other. It came in handy a few times.

6. Go check out other wedding photos people have taken and use them as ideas (for posed shots)

7. Again have fun! Both weddings I've done, I did them as a favor and they just paid for the costs of prints. They weren't pro results, but they came out good, and they were grateful for them!

[another view]

1:Scout the premises of the wedding. Start thinking of where and when keeping in mind the time of day that the event takes place.

Very good idea, but always have a backup plan. It might be overcast when you were hoping for late afternoon light, or be raining, etc.

Making a list of the shots you need is important too. Go over this with the couple a couple weeks before the wedding so they know who will be there. If possible, have them appoint someone to help get everybody together with the group shots. If you don't know who everyone is, it will be difficult. Even if you do know most everybody it's like hearding cats... The person helping you out needs to know everybody and be outgoing enough to get people where they need to be. Steve Sint has a great book on shooting weddings, I picked up a lot of tips from it.

[Lava Lamp]

I've done two weddings for family. The last one was recently and I used a D70 and SB800. Most of my shots were with a 35mm prime with a some from a 70-200 and a couple using a 20mm and a 90mm macro. Here's what I'd suggest:

1) find some wedding shots on the web that you like and print them out and take them with you to arrange people the way you want
2) get your significant other or a friend to help you direct traffic for the various groups (wife's family; groom's family, etc.) and position them like in your sample pictures
3) shoot outdoors as much as you can for the formal shots and group photos
4) get a polarizer to help you with the light if it is too bright (I was shooting at the beach)
5) the SB800 is a must have -- the on-camera flash will not be adequate -- use it in bounce mode if possible, and with the diffusser if not [bring extra batteries for it -- I went through a set and had to change them]
6) have the bride and groom buy disposable cameras and place them at each reception table -- the wedding guests will get some informal reception shots you miss
6) make sure you have enough memory -- I shot over 300 shots in about three hours -- enough to almost fill my 1 gig card, but I had another 512k with me
7) have fun, and remember that you have some advantages that a professional doesn't in that you know them and can put them at ease and probably know some of the family dynamics and who "Uncle Joe" belongs to, etc.

[ChowChi-Ching]

Thank you all for the tips! Currently I just use my in camera flash but I have a Phoenix ZBIS-92C that came with my camera but I have yet to use it. How does that compare to the SB-800?? Should I also get the SB-800?
I have ALOT of practicing to do! I was content taking my time learning about my camera, lol, now I have to actually get to work!
Any other tips you have is GREATLY appreciated!! I am goig to start practicing with my flash. . .

Thanks!

[another view]

One of the big benefits with recent Nikon DSLR's is the I-TTL mode. This only works with newer cameras and SB600 or SB800 flashes, and seems to be the most accurate system out there. I haven't used it, not having a camera that uses it, but at some point when I replace my Fuji S2 I'll definately get on with I-TTL. In fact, if I was still shooting weddings I'd look seriously at adding a DSLR with I-TTL just because of this feature.

So yeah, I'd definately get an SB800 if your budget allows. That way the flash you have now can also be a backup.

[ChowChi-Ching]

I feel stupid for asking but what is the I-TTL Mode? I just got this camera and still haven't learned all the aspects of it. Thanks

[another view]

It's an auto mode that works with the flash. Trouble with DSLR's is that TTL flash metering had to be redesigned to work with sensors instead of film. Seems like Nikon got it right with this one, much better than their original digital DX system used on the D100, D1X, etc.