Outdoor ceremony at sunset - what to use?

Joe_Anduins · #1 05-15-2004, 08:41 PM

I'm shooting an outdoor wedding of which the ceremony is at sunset. I won't be able to take any bride/groom pics of them together until afterwards. We will be roaming around a country club with just the light from the sunset present (and some on-ground standard light poles)

I've not done this before and am looking for some suggestions on how to achieve successful lighting. Can it be done with just flash or do I need to go rent/buy some lighting equipment to help (which I'm not against). I have an assistant to help and of course will be doing some "practice" shots before the day arrives.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

_/oe

MattRadlinski · #2 05-15-2004, 11:05 PM

First, make sure the wedding goes off BEFORE SUNSET. Check the sunset time for the date, and pray they don't run late. Last sunset wedding we did took place about half an hour after sunset because the bride was running late. Then, there's nothing you can do. The only light at their wedding was our flash units.

For formal portraits, you really should use professional lighting equipment anyway. The difference between on-camera flash and a studio strobe is readily apparent. So, use that regardless of whether they get the pics in before the light goes or not. After that, move inside. If the formal portraits don't take place until after sunset, then all you'll have is flash-lit subjects against a black background...not attractive.

Best of luck.

Bartek_Dawidowski · #3 05-16-2004, 03:28 PM

Joe,

Couple of ideas to consider. Like Matt said first of all have the strobes available in any case. 2nd, I don't know what equipment you're using, but maybe you can get multiple flashes remotely controlled. This way you could set them up and be in control of pretty interesting lighting even if things run late. Last but not least, I would consider setting up a studio on site. I had a wedding last Novemebr, where I couldn't take any formals until it was completely dark, so we agreed with the bride and groom to bring the necessary studio equipment for a reasonable additional fee, and they arranged with the reception site in that case a hotel to provide and extra conference room, which we converted into a temporary studio. I was very pleased with the results. See for yourself. The very first picture in my portfolio online is taken in that studio. www.BartekPhoto.com/mywedding
All the best.

Bartek

Joe_Anduins · #4 05-17-2004, 04:03 AM

Hi David,

Thank you for the suggestions, especially that of the "studio" setup. There is a small room with fireplace in the clubhouse which would be perfect for something like this. Fantastic idea! Even if the outdoor shots don't come out, I know I can pull off those.

I owe ya,

_/oe

rolland_elliott · #5 05-17-2004, 11:07 AM

Get yourself a used lumedyne 200 watt second pack, battery, and head, or a big Sunpack potatoe masher strobe. Put them on a light stand and use wireless radio slaves to trigger them as your assistant carries it around. Both can be had for around $200 to $300 and will provide the huge amount of light you will need to balance your strobes with the sunset.

Thermonuclear light sources are rather powerfull even at several million miles away.

Of course you may get lucky and have a very mellow atmosphere that allows you to take some great shots without a lot of light.

Here in Charlotte, NC the sunsets are more often harsh and boring looking and the only way to get them to pop is to underexpose the sky two stops to make it a nice orange color. This of course requires the aperture to be stopped down and using a small aperture requires a big ass flash.

Peace, Rolland

David_Buzzard · #6 05-17-2004, 02:27 PM

Beware of over lighting things. You can blow out all the great light from the sunset. I love working in the twilight, it's my favourite time of the day. You get a beautiful muted, soft look. Use 400 to 800 spead film (digital?), either very low flash, or none at all.

That said, I would still use some considerable flash for the wedding. If the sunset is still bright enough, on camera fill flash is probably good. The problem with fixed stand lighting is it looks good from one angle, but very contrasty as you move off axis from it. I would highly remomend that you sit the couple down and tell them very clearly that if they want good pictures, they're going to have to do the wedding before it becomes too dark. I had a couple of jobs where the couple decided that the area was only going to be lit by candles, and the pictures really didn't work very well. Then they come back and complain to you that everything looks dark!!

David Buzzard

#7 05-17-2004, 03:11 PM

I've got a very formal wedding this weekend at sunset, around here the photojournalistic approach is slowly catching on, so we shoot a lot of formal posed pics. Luckily for me the Bride and groom are seeing each other before, for the pics. Afterwards mostly photojournalistic, so I'll be using 2 strobes set-up with slaves, and then on camera flash set 1 stop less than the other 2, at times my wife will be moving around with 1 of the 2. This wedding is complete with a professional fireworks show between the ceremony and reception, the setting is at the family home complete with water gardens, rose gardens, etc... All these will be photographed while we have daylight, afterwards the reception will take place under several tents where I'll bounce light off the tent ceiling for a more natural look. Here's one question I have for all the photojournalistic shooters, do you ever pose candids to look like true photojournalistic style? I have several true candids (weddings from the past) that most all brides want captured, kinda seems un-photojournalistic to me. This year seems to be a re-education for all potential weddings, the couple says they want this, but they really want something else.