wedding photographers (and everyone else)- a plea

a plea for help? -is what I wrote-

CRY for help?
at least a question, if I may?

in short: what gear do you generally drag along while shooting a wedding? fave FLs and in particular- which flash equipment?
and what would be your setup? on/off camera? TTL and/or M? and which -favourite- modifiers?
for the ceremony? and for the average bridal shoot?

longer story:
I'm about to be fed to the lions.
i.e. the lions have asked me to take their wedding shots.
as I'm sure, a familiar question to all of us. and my answer is always rather short: a very big NO (way)!
I would be perfectly happy to shoot along, but won't take that responsibility. I wouldn't dare.

in this case however, these people, acquaintances, can't afford a 'real' photographer!
it's either me or a family member, who already offered to shoot the wedding. with her phone.
(sincerely hope she'll shoot along? ;-)).

camera will be 2 x A99. compatible flashguns are: (Minolta) 5600hs, (Sony) hvl58 and -hvl60.
I happen to have a flash bracket and so far only one (TTL) flash cord -that is still working- and 1 set of hot shoe adapters.
(the other 'curly' cord died prematurely, a sudden death. and therefore wondering if I should get a spare one.
btw- 'Sony' flash cords were (and are?) only compatible with the 'old' hot shoe, thus need two adapters with hvl60).
(still trying to wrap my head around the rocket science of trigger sets, that do support HSS. hints w/b welcome?).

it's the light that bothers me, or rather the lack of it. wedding will be at 2 pm and the A99 is not an ISO monster.
and as much as I like off camera flash, I don't think prestigious plans are doable inside a wedding hall.
hence my Q?

a very big THANK you for a possible answer in advance?

When you say "wedding hall" what do you mean? What is the venue?

I assume you need to take pictures during the ceremony. I did three weddings with my A900 and the HVL-F58AM on top. ISO set to 320, aperture at f/5.6 and shutterspeed at 1/80s and let the flash fill in the rest. I do not think a complicated flash system is a good idea, as you want to keep it simple to catch the moment and the more stuff you use the more stuff can go wrong. (Multiple flashes are fine for the formals of course).

ISO 320: sweet spot of the A900, the A99 is probably a little better.
f/5.6: to me a sweet spot, some DoF and some bokeh.
1/80s: to keep enough ambient light going through and stop most motion.
The flash makes sure there is enough light and the settings allow for enough ambient light to ensure a natural feel.

Ask the lady with the phone to do video, then you can focus on the pictures.

My weddings:
December wedding
February wedding
June wedding
I found the one in February the most difficult due to the harsh outside light.

Ine, the best advice I can give you is to take things as simple as possible. Two camera's with a flash on both is great, not sure about your lenses, but I always work with a 24-70 on one and a 70-200 on the other. And normally I bring a marcolens (for the ring shot) and a lensbaby for the fun.

I work with totally different settings (and they all depend on the light on the particular day, that is why I don't visit venue's before the wedding), but you are not stupid, work your way through it and you will be just fine.

Bring as much memory as you have. Place a new card for every part of the day and if you to go for double safe, with the A99 you can write the file to two cards.

One thing though ... please please please ask the couple to tell their guests NOT to take photo's with any mobile devices during the ceremony. It will spoil your photographs, it will spoil your light.

Have fun!

TYallSM for your time, trouble AND hints, GREATLY appreciated! really and seriously grateful!
and TY, having 'fun' already!

more Qs? what are your most common -flash- settings inside a wedding hall? TTL? M? do you adjust?
on camera flash? or bracket? (hand held off camera?). bouncing? obscured light? what MODIFIERS?
the average clip-on diffuser? or a small 'roof' on top?
napkin? ;-) or even a small softbox? should I get a Rogue flash bender? (while it's still cybermonday). the smallest one on camera? any experience with Gary Fong stuff?

in a former life, Minolta 5200i + a small carton (! 40 guilders) 'roof' (+ white, gold, silver pieces of paper) worked like a charm. ON (M.) camera.
nowadays there are so many options? would they work even better?   
I also have a (handy!) mag mod set. sphere + grid. in the 1st test shot however- thinking that thick sphere would spread/reduce the light tremendously, I managed to generate red eyes for the 1st time in my life!
thinking 'bounce!' now.
still eternally grateful for your eneloop hint, Anita! (and the 'rest'!!). (you Saved.My.Soul!).
and yes, thought about generating light simultaneously. phones can produce shocking amounts of light?


do you adjust settings to prevent blown out white dresses? -while measuring an entire scene? (I presume?) -.


I know I should be able to come up with acceptable results, at least, IF I stay focused and remain zen.
and instead of running after people (resulting in pics of their b*ms? ;-)), need to claim my place for once.
but can't run the show, of course. and will have to act rather fast?

groom said, they'll pay me 'of course' (not a clue how much. or little?). I said I won't accept $$$$$$$.
it will be an act of 'kindness' ...hopefully?
I won't be stealing someone else's bread AND butter. so far the wedding has costed approx. E 2,000 , no budget left for a photog.
someone else, present, said: "well, I had a REAL PHOTOGRAPHER!" (and mentioned the name of a pro who, for some undefined reason, takes incr. lousy pics most of the time -MHO, don't get why-).
they have never seen a single one of my pics btw- only know I happen to have a CAMERA. (and we know how most people think, don't we? ;-)).
better- they haven't seen the light yet, they know ... about picture taking, by looking at their phone shots + ideas.
suppose they will be perfectly happy with bad phone shots, as long as they are somewhere in the pic and look nice?
but will for sure, like everybody, recognize and appreciate a 'great pic'?
and what is even more important than the dress, the car- in the end? the photographs...   

venue?
wedding hall, Addy, trouwzaal inside the city hall. (if it's still the same as where we got married, lots of windows on the left side. during one of the darkest days of the year. have a hunch they won't postpone it! ;-)).
lovely shots btw!!

more responses later, if that's okay? (appointment in a few)
again, a huge THANK YOU to all of you!


Edited by angora - 02 December 2019 at 12:40

Anita, THANK YOU!!!
so very much appreciated!
and hairband! great idea! (I collected elastic post bands ;-)).
(rushing off now. later? a.gator)

onsplekkie wrote: If the happy couple is not paying you a premium price, I would say that they (can) not expect the highest possible result.

You really don't know what people are expecting unless you have a detailed and in person conversation about the whole thing.

In my experience, we tend to perceive a whole bunch of different things about value, wealth, class, and a lot of times they can be very limiting and often quite damaging.

My word of advice:

Make sure you talk to them thoroughly. Have a two way conversation. Make sure they know you have next to no experience and to expect very little from you.

If that conversation is done, properly and your expectations are set, my second piece of advice (which isn't valid unless the first conversation takes place), is to simply shoot it how you shoot most of the other every day type subjects you shoot. Use the same gear, equipment, techniques. It's no time to experiment. Have fun.

oops, completely missed the hearband! (lol).
(guess that makes me one of those people who just see what they want to see? ;-)).
are you in the habit of using a black thingie, Anita? (it looks very good! THX again!).

TYSM, Richard and also a big TY, Joe! again! really appreciate!

we've talked and I've given them 'homework'. after that we'll have to talk some more?
asked what they would do if I said: "NO" (way)? + "why me?" -couldn't resist.
well, then they'd just settle for the phone shots. that w/b fine.
I know them rather well and think I can sense what they have in mind. and what they'd like?
(and therefore shown them fun-, funny- and hilarious shots. plenty ideas of my own, but an abundance to 'borrow' from the internet? ;-) (! cool stuff). they were ROFL. (thought they would? ). and said they had no idea those options 'existed' (hint!). when the light is not nice at all, those could save the day? IMHO it would help tremendously if they'd choose their favourites/know what we are trying to capture? as I could use all the help... and what props we think we'll need?).
already planned 1 or 2 'miniature' shots as well. apart from the pretty stuff, yes! *sigh*
+ some shots with the dog. perhaps + 2 hands and a huge white paw, joined in 'holy matrimony', or as in: pact!
they have 2 -beloved- chickens as well!

but I know HOW they think. they've seen my camera and it looks quite serious, resembles a 'real camera'? ;-)
and, as you know, a real camera can take good pics!
they just want me to bring that camera?

and I've seen their phone shots, featuring the dog. one amazingly good. perfect distance, pose, expression + gorgeous light.
another one from the other side of the living room, nm what's tilted, in sight or happening along that distance- they were equally proud of both. (capice? :-S). proud of their dog, in the pics. all I can think of is to show them pics and pay attention to find out what they like most and what expectations they have? (and up goes the bar! ).

correct me if I'm wrong (pls do?!!), but they wouldn't understand a word we are saying here. can't talk about what they'd like as long as they don't know what they are talking about? pretty sure they are not picturing glamorous shots. so far? glamorous dress, yes, and it has to be in the pic.
(they don't dream glamorous dreams, like so many kids these days. in the past youngsters would have said: fire fighter, teacher or ? when asked what they want to be when grown up. nowadays I only hear "famous!" ). bride is 59 years of age, groom 50. (been together for decades). I'm sure the dress will be white. know the veil will be short. (bummer?).   


scenario: groom 1st sleeps elsewhere. groom shows up at their house to pick up his bride. in a vintage Mercedes.
the car is important. (from 'experience' -hearhear- I think 28mm will be a neat FL for car shots?). I'll try to shoot some details + the obvious with car window and mirror(s)?
family members from Den Haag/The Hague and Westland will show up. wedding party will be transported to the city hall.
asked if they can point out the family, so I won't end up with many a shot of the neighbours and only a few of the family? ;-) city hall has impressive stairs for the odd group shot?
hopefully they will mess up the place with rice (lol) or confetti. (what slower shutter speed will 'work'?).
talked about 'the dressing of-' once. not sure if I'll bring it up again?

after the ceremony there will be a get together. everybody will be crammed inside their (rather small) living room.
at 2 long tables. luckily there are rather large windows? ? don't think there will be a reception or dance?
hoping for festive (X-mas) lights for bubbly- or -shaped bokeh. anyone done sparklers?
+ not to mention a 'photo shoot'. dusk approaches early these days!
   

so far I have come up with plan A (shooting the rings prior to the wedding day, they agreed), plan B (what if- it rains? ??
and who has a transparent, see-through umbrella? or a white one with a flashgun hidden inside. or just a light?
(whatever weather they'll order- all of these flashguns may have been 'flagships' once, but don't intend to sacrifice any of them. how waterproof are they anyway? don't think they are). plan C: no more than a few shots + the fresh flowers of course and postpone the shoot to the very next- or a better day in the near future, hoping the flowers will survive.
at plan D now, but forgot what it was.

bootcamp for the next less than a fortnight! to practice every worst-case scenario. + volunteer (voluntarely or not ;-)).
I learned modern flash guns are very unforgiving. when the head is only 1 mm tilted, HSS vanishes from the menu! and I can't change flash settings within a split sec, like I can on the camera? on the other hand used them with wide apertures without HSS, if I recall corr., (and captured bubbly bokeh).
didn't mention the date yet? ...of all dates. a wedding on a friday.