Invited to a wedding as backup photographer

[el_vago32]

Hi guys. I was recently invited by a friend of mine who will be shooting a wedding (he's a pro, I'm not) to shoot candids of the guests at the event.

I'll be using a 40D, a Speedlite 430ex (optionally) and an 50mm f1.4 and/or 70-200mm f2.8L IS. Problem is this one last lens will be borrowed from another friend so we can't count on it very much, thus I'll just make my mind to shoot with the 50mm.

Since this is my first time ever at shooting a wedding I need you to please advice me on this matter, specially any useful technique on shooting candids and so (I know it'll be a bit hard with a 50mm but let's try).

Last but not least, if it's of any help, I'm doing this at completely no charge of course and the pictures I'll take are not vital for the groom/bride, this is more like a favor the main photographer is doing to me (he's a friend of mine and so is the bride) to help me improve my skills which he thinks are not bad but I feel really committed to do more than well in this.

Questions? Suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[sk66]

Get the flash off camera...bracket/cord.
Go wide with the aperture...getting guests isolated from the "clutter" will help make for better images. You'll probably have to be wide anyways due to light...Get close, close and wide= shallower DOF than far ad wide does.

[el_vago32]

Thank you very much for the response sk66. I have to agree with you on the getting the flash off camera part even though I don't think I'll be using it that much but anyway i'll try your suggestion since that would give me more flexibility and a dramatic feel to the pics.

I also agree with the wide aperture, but I'm not too sure about getting too close to the subjects, I understand what you say about the shallower DOF, but I'm afraid people will start to pose for the shots when they see me with the camera pointing at them. I really, really hope to get that 70-200 for this wedding so this won't an issue.

Thanks again, your suggestions are very much appreciated!