HELP!!!! Shooting in Church

[dhart]

I have been asked to take shots of the staff of our church on Sunday. I can do this, but I want to be prepared so I don't keep them waiting too long. Our church is very big, and can be bright, but all the light is coming down. Here are two pics that will help. The first is the light at the steps of the stage.



There are harsh shadows and chin shadows, which I want to avoid.

Here is a general photo pf the place so you can see what I have to work with.


As you can see, the light is focused down and there is no chance of a bounce off the ceiling.

My question: How to I make flattering headshots and couple and group shots in this room? I have a single SB-600 to work with and I have a small (like 12") white diffuser/reflector that they can hold and a silver fabric type reflector that goes in a car windshield.

I haven't used the flash very much. Only when really really needed, so help with settings and such is also appreciated. I have been to the strobist site, but it's Greek to me right now.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh, I also have the white plastic diffuser thing that goes over the SB600, but was looking to get a lightsphere. Would now be the time to get it?


HELP!!!edited to ask also: should I go with the 50 and closer to 1.8 or the 70-200 and zoom in to frame? I'm thinking the 50 since it's lower light and really sharp. what do you think?

[private]

The 50 mm is a good idea but you will prob need to "zoom" which means that your feet will be your zoom - will that be disruptive while you are taking the photos? Churches are really hard - and will you be allowed to use the flash...?

[dhart]

Yes, I can use the flash. This are staff photos and will be taken after church. I was wondering how and where I can use the flash to fill in shadows and such with the harder overhead lighting.

[lputman]

If your flash is off camera, then try placing it about 45 degrees from the subject on either side. You'll have take some test shots.

[dhart]

Originally Posted by lputman

If your flash is off camera, then try placing it about 45 degrees from the subject on either side. You'll have take some test shots.

Should the flash be knee, chest or eye level? I do have the iTTL for the flash, so should I try that or are there any manual flash settings that are good to start with?
Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate your advice.

[lputman]

I would think that above eye level and aimed towards the subjects would work. Do you have an umbrella, either a regular one or a shoot through? I would go with the iTTL and then when you have to time start getting in the manual controlling of the flash. I'm at the point myself.

[dhart]

no umbrella or anything. I can have my husband hold the small white reflector in front of the flash, of point the flash backward and reflect off of it.

On a different note, should I just leave the flash on camera and set it to fill? I think there will be enough light for the actual photo, but I would like to make sure the shadows get filled in a little.

[lputman]

I missed this last post. Did you take the photos? What did you end up doing?

[dhart]

The shoot went well. I ended up telling our sound/lighting guy to put all the lighting on the steps for the main light and using the pop-up flash as fill and commander of my SB-600, which was on a tripod to my left. I used the 50 mm and just moved back and forth. The small groups/couple shots went really really well, so I was relieved. I did learn that I need practice at posing people! I normally try for more candid, but this situation called for more formal posed shots. Here is an example of a small group shot:


Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 500
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Flash: Flash fired, auto mode

There was a lot of band equipment on the stage that I had to clone out, as well as a extension cord along one of the steps. They are getting ready for a big production this week, so I could only move so much.

The group photo was more difficult. I think I was out of range for my flash wireless and couldn't get it to go off. So I put it on my camera and ended up with a high vignette type of look. I ended up doing a HDR type of thing in RAW to keep the middle of the group from being overexposed and the edges from being under exposed. I think I did a pretty good job from what I can tell. I will be posting the before and after in the B&A section for critique and such.



same EXIF as other photo.


Any suggestions on how I could have done better would be greatly appreciated. As well as any adjustments that would be better tweaked. I am not as good at white balance and levels as I need to be.

Thanks for all the help!

[lputman]

I looked at the flickr set. You did well

The color does seem a bit off, looks like a greenish cast. With that size group, I think you would have needed additional lighting besides just your flash. I know what you mean about learning to pose people.

EDIT: Forgot to put they do need a little bit of brightening.