Help! Have to shoot in church with no flash...

[SCole]

I have been asked to photograph our pastor's anniversary Mass in a few weeks. I was told no flash at all and am worried about getting any decent shots. I'm a rank amateur for sure and could use any tips I can muster. The church is relatively dark, the only natural light coming through 2 large stained glass windows on either side. The altar has a tan brick back wall and dark green carpeting. The lighting is mixed between high incandescent chandeliers and fluorescent recessed cans. Makes for some pretty sickly skin tones! I have a Nikon D90 and a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 zoom, without image stabilization. I'll need the zoom as I have to stay in the rear of the center aisle to shoot the ceremony. (at their request) I will be using a monopod. I will have the chance to go in and do some test shots before the date, so I can practice anything you all might suggest. I'd really like to do well on this, as it's my first 'serious' photo shoot. I have been gobbling up all I can read on my new camera and low light techniques in general. I really appreciate any help you can give me!

[CaptainNH]

I recently shot a wedding with the trifecta of dark church & no flash, mixed lighting and a minister who allowed me to shoot from the back of the church only - congratulations on finding the same combination

My solution was a Canon 70-200/2.8L IS shooting wide open and ISO3200 (on a 5D2, so I didn't have a problem with noise.

Your lens is a good start, and the monopod will give you a little assistance in lieu of IS, a tripod would be better, but more clumsy. You'll have to crank your ISO too, but how far you can push a D90 I'm not sure - perhaps this is something you can practice before the day.

You can pick up a little of the noise with PP, using something like Noise Ninja (just time your 30day trial well ). Of course, b&w covers up a multitude of low light sins.

The other thing you might suggest (though I've never tried it) is to ask the Pastor if you can set up some additional constant lighting to light the lectern/pulpit? Far less distracting than flash.

[wulf]

Can you get down there at a similar time of day and do some test shots (ideally with a couple of people to act as models). You might be able to get something halfway decent but don't let them expect you to achieve the kind of results that come from a studio set up.

It might also be worth getting a tripod, which will allow longer exposures. The disadvantage of that is that people will end up looking blurred but it would be better than everything looking blurred. Here are some recent shots from an art exhibition at my church which used the slow speed / tripod combo:



(click for larger versions).

Wulf

[GadgetRick]

The D90 can go pretty high with ISO and do it well.

I'd make sure the customer understands the challenges you're faced with on this shoot. My philosophy is to always lower the customers' expectations so I can wow them in the end (kinda like Scotty in Star Trek). You'd be surprised at what customers expect even when they lay down (unreasonable) ground rules. You want to make sure your butt is covered.

[LeeR]

I'll tell you what I try to do in this situation. I figure that the only shot I HAVE to get under those terrible conditions are shots where their are people in the audience. All of the rest of the shots can be taken either before or after the service with whatever lighting I need.

[autofocus]

Three things:
1) fast glass
2) High ISO
3) luck

All the above suggestions are right on. You can try to rent or borrow another fast lens...maybe a F/1.4 or F/1.8 35mm, 50mm, or 85mm...or even a VR lens that'll allow you to shoot at a slower shutter speed. If you time it right with your subjects you may get lucky that they're not too blurred

[kirbinster]

Make sure to shoot raw NOT jpeg! You will likely get some very strange whitebalance and will have to adjust it after the fact. Also, raw will give you a lot more lattitude in adjusting the exposue in post processing if you need to. If you are not a pro at raw then shoot in Raw+Jpeg so you have the raw incase you need it.

[SCole]

Thank you for all the great tips! I was able to get into the church at the same time of day to take some test shots. I found that by cranking the ISO up to 1250, I can shoot at 1/60 using my 17-70mm f2.8 zoom. I will be in the front pew, so the longer zoom wasn't wide enough. The church will be standing room only, so I will remain front and center, but stationary. The monopod worked well, as I have no room for a tripod where I'll be positioned. Setting the white balance to 'incandescent' seems to produce the nicest color balance with no need for post processing. It certainly is some funky combination of light sources there. I also agree with lowering expectations ahead of delivery, something I'm in the habit of doing. I will be sure to post a few of my shots after the event. Thanks again!

[GadgetRick]

Do yourself a favor and get yourself a gray card. Set a custom WB and be done with the WB. I especially like doing this when I'm in a strange lighting environment like this.

One question to the experienced wedding photogs out there. When a church as told you no flash, have you ever proposed setting up a flash (or two) remotely far enough away as to not be obnoxious? I'm sure they just don't want the flashes in everyone's faces but if the flashes are remote, they'll not even be very noticeable. Just curious on this one.

[Dangelica]

If they don't want flash because of the distraction factor you can always ask if they would object to a set of cheap halogen work lights faced away from the crowd reflecting off cards to lighten the joint up a little. Shoot away in raw and slide the kelvins until people look warm instead of blue.