I have been asked to photograph a few weddings, I must admit they are not my thing as I find them very stressfull and also there is a certain stigma attached that once anyone gets handy with a camera, they go off doing wedding, I want to be more than that. However they are a test for ones organisation and on the spot photographic skills, time timelines, difficult couples and guests all add up to a real test of focus on the job and people control. Important factors in photography of course.
I elected to use two camera bodies, one fitted with a wide to mid zoom (24-70 f2.8) for group and wide formal shots, and a second body with two primes, 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.4 for the more portrait based shots and of course the inside 'no flash allowed' shots. The 50mm is AF giving me the speed I needed to catch events in low light, the 85mm MF for when i had more control as I happen to adore the glass in my 85mm. The light was low and flat on the day, so I did use off camera flash for two sets of shots. Firstly I used a strobe frame with a speedlight and mini softbox with the 50mm lens as my roving camera for candids and guests shots outside, the flash used to just lift the light mainly on faces and give the shots some dimension. I also set up a portrait set in a corner of the gardens of the venue so guests could arrive in their pairs/groups for formal portraits. For this i set up a silver bounce brolly with speedlight and remote triggers, one light just to pop the subjects on this very dull day.
I had some minor issues with overexposure on the day as the light was ever changing and especially where using flash, exposure was fine one minute, then with a change I didn't pick up on, some blew out especially on the bright white wedding dress.
Overall however the main set of shots were a success and I had a very happy couple who wanted me for my own style rather than price or reputation which is always a flattering invite and great confidence booster. So, some samples...
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