Wedding/Dancing capture techniques?

[olgabe]

Hello all - from a new subscriber!

I'm looking for some advice on technicques for capturing dancing at the wedding.. I'm doing my 3rd wedding next month (the first paid wedding!), and I can tell from the first two sets that capturing the party at the end of the reception is my weakest point.. how do you do it? what are the techniques you use with flash? how do you bounce/sync/gel it for those action shots?

I got Canon 5D as my primary body with 430 EX flash, and Canon Xsi for secondary body (with 50 mm 1.8 for shooting in the dark..). Thinking of getting a second flash for the second camera though - by the way, is a good thing to have or just extra weight?)

.. any advice (or pointing into the right thread) will be oh so appreciated!!

Thank you!
Olga

[habed]

Hola Olga!!

In my last wedding I used a flash and my camera at speed of 1/15 and f2.0 and got great photos. While the flash freezes the main subjects it still capture movement.

I've tried flash sync (second courtain) But I can't..... Something I'm doing wrong.

And.... I need to buy a second flash. I purchased a second body so I don't have to exchange lenses but now I do exchange the flash since one has a 55mm and the other a 75-300mm

So, And I'm also very new to this, Yes, I recommend a second flash.

Let's see what the most experienced say about it.

Hasta luego!!

[Nicole]

I just moved this over to the photographing people section since even people who aren't making money from their photography may benefit from this discussion.

[Sodaman420]

Event-Portfolio on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

part of the difficulty is just catching the right moment

the other- the lighting
if you can, try a couple of strobist type shots, they come out so awesome

if you only want to do the one flash, then i would suggest shooting close to ambient light- higher iso's and a little less power from the flash. the higher ISO's allow for faster shutter. and hopefully you'll be able to shoot at f/4 or ...er...lower number (like 2.8).

i like to add just a LITTLE tungsten (the lesser one, if using the nikon gel-sets) because it gives a feel that i like to the photos. a pleasant orangeish tinge.
Event-Portfolio on Flickr - Photo Sharing! more examples

group shots during the line/group dances
but remember that priority #1 is the bride and groom
hey, it's their party!!

second flash, definitely a good idea! remember to bounce the flash if the ceilings are low enough in the dance hall (they're also often white, which makes for good bouncing as well)
if they're dark or black, you may have a harder time
-Tony

[kencaleno]

For a start, get in the right place-grab a chair and sit in the middle of the dance floor! Ken

[sarahgirl777]

Originally Posted by Sodaman420

Event-Portfolio on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

part of the difficulty is just catching the right moment

the other- the lighting
if you can, try a couple of strobist type shots, they come out so awesome

if you only want to do the one flash, then i would suggest shooting close to ambient light- higher iso's and a little less power from the flash. the higher ISO's allow for faster shutter. and hopefully you'll be able to shoot at f/4 or ...er...lower number (like 2.8).

i like to add just a LITTLE tungsten (the lesser one, if using the nikon gel-sets) because it gives a feel that i like to the photos. a pleasant orangeish tinge.
Event-Portfolio on Flickr - Photo Sharing! more examples

group shots during the line/group dances
but remember that priority #1 is the bride and groom
hey, it's their party!!

second flash, definitely a good idea! remember to bounce the flash if the ceilings are low enough in the dance hall (they're also often white, which makes for good bouncing as well)
if they're dark or black, you may have a harder time
-Tony

Those are great examples. I too am trying to perfect my lighting during the dancing part when they turn off most of the lights. I'm fine at getting the moments but I was trying to have the rest of the room more light like your examples instead of just the subjects. I used bounce off the celing for my last wedding and it was better but not exactly what I'm aiming for. I looked at your EXIF data on flickr for these but what did you do for flash? Did you have one placed off camera?

[Sodaman420]

Originally Posted by sarahgirl777

I looked at your EXIF data on flickr for these but what did you do for flash? Did you have one placed off camera?

i set off flash remotely with nikon su-800 (super handy, lets you adjust flash intensity right there)

There were 3 flashes. 2 on light stands at floor level, on opposite ends of the room, then one more on the level above (there was a small balcony) against a third wall. all set at 1/8th power and the exif settings seen there.


that way i could just keep shooting and exposure is always constant.

*edit* i forgot to say, they were all angled slightly inwards towards the dance floor. *

[olgabe]

Originally Posted by Sodaman420

Event-Portfolio on Flickr - Photo Sharing!


if you only want to do the one flash, then i would suggest shooting close to ambient light- higher iso's and a little less power from the flash. the higher ISO's allow for faster shutter. and hopefully you'll be able to shoot at f/4 or ...er...lower number (like 2.8).

second flash, definitely a good idea! remember to bounce the flash if the ceilings are low enough in the dance hall (they're also often white, which makes for good bouncing as well)
if they're dark or black, you may have a harder time
-Tony

Hm, I was thinking lower ISO, small apreture, long-ish exposure (0.5-4 sec) with flash and rear-curtain - so that I get more of the movement trails and freeze them.. no? (I have not tried it in practice yet

[Sodaman420]

oh i see- i hate the movement trails thing so i avoid it at all costs. however, if that's what you're going for then that'd be the way to do it!
-tony