Help, I have been asked to take photos at Diamond wedding!
Discussion
We have been asked to my wife's Uncle and Aunts Diamond wedding in jut over a weeks time. Out of the blue yesterday he has asked me to take some photographs which he wants printing for an album later... I explained that I know very little about photography, and our camera tends to be used as point and click, and he said that they always look at our holiday photographs on our Flickr page and they are always good. I said that's because they tend to be outside!
Its an evening function in a hotel, where I think the natural light in the room is limited. I have two Cameras, and I intend to give one to my son to use who knows nothing...
I have a Nikon D3200 with a standard 18-55 lens and also a Nikon 18-200 lens. Which lens should I use?
My other camera is a Sony RX100 II.
I don't have an external flash for either, and was thinking about getting an external flash... would it help? which camera would you use it on? which would be a good one to buy? I don't want to spend much...
any advice appreciated!
Its an evening function in a hotel, where I think the natural light in the room is limited. I have two Cameras, and I intend to give one to my son to use who knows nothing...
I have a Nikon D3200 with a standard 18-55 lens and also a Nikon 18-200 lens. Which lens should I use?
My other camera is a Sony RX100 II.
I don't have an external flash for either, and was thinking about getting an external flash... would it help? which camera would you use it on? which would be a good one to buy? I don't want to spend much...
any advice appreciated!
Congratulations on being appointed 'Uncle Phil'! (Uncle Phil is the family member or friend who gets pulled into service when there's either no budget for photography or the people aren't that bothered about the results. If they are bothererd about results, step away now)
First, modern albums are made online from digital images, so you won't have to worry about printing. That just leaves you with taking the photos...
An evening function in a hotel is unlikely to have much useful natural light - though this depends on time of year of course. You lenses are slow (small max aperture) so to get the right exposure and freeze movement you'll either need to crank up the ISO or use flash.
I don't know the Sony RX100 but from what I read here it seems idiot-proof so give that to your son and you can wrestle with the D3200. As for lenses, the 18-200mm is probably even slower than the 18-55mm and may be useless at the long end without flash... if you can get close eough for the shots you want (ie no long range reportage stuff) then the 18-55 will probably do.
More kit - this might be time to consider a 50mm f1.8mm; it's fixed length but you get massive aperture and it's relatively cheap. Also consider a decent flashgun with bounce head; it will take some learning but I was a great fan of bounce/fill flash and did almost all my weddings with it.
Hope these thoughts are helpful.
'Oh, and Perkins? Don't come back'
First, modern albums are made online from digital images, so you won't have to worry about printing. That just leaves you with taking the photos...
An evening function in a hotel is unlikely to have much useful natural light - though this depends on time of year of course. You lenses are slow (small max aperture) so to get the right exposure and freeze movement you'll either need to crank up the ISO or use flash.
I don't know the Sony RX100 but from what I read here it seems idiot-proof so give that to your son and you can wrestle with the D3200. As for lenses, the 18-200mm is probably even slower than the 18-55mm and may be useless at the long end without flash... if you can get close eough for the shots you want (ie no long range reportage stuff) then the 18-55 will probably do.
More kit - this might be time to consider a 50mm f1.8mm; it's fixed length but you get massive aperture and it's relatively cheap. Also consider a decent flashgun with bounce head; it will take some learning but I was a great fan of bounce/fill flash and did almost all my weddings with it.
Hope these thoughts are helpful.
'Oh, and Perkins? Don't come back'
Get a flash with a tilt/swivel head, you can then reduce the amount of direct light onto the guests/bounce the light off the ceiling.
Use the 18-55, with a higher iso (800-1000)
Be prepared to edit the white balance because of the hotel lights. If you can get to the venue and have a practice, Do so.
You're Also a guest, so make sure you enjoy the event
Use the 18-55, with a higher iso (800-1000)
Be prepared to edit the white balance because of the hotel lights. If you can get to the venue and have a practice, Do so.
You're Also a guest, so make sure you enjoy the event
Ive done some parties using this flash:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yongnuo-YN-568EX-Flash-Sp...
And as said consider buying a 50 f1.8 but if you do my advice would be not to stop it down to 1.8 as it makes depth of field too tight, especially if you have posed two or more people who may not be standing exactly in line.
With a flash you'll get away with the kit lens, but also the 18-200 which will allow you to be further away from the subject and reduce the risk of flash burn out.
I have used both the 50 and an 18-140 which actually is my preferred lens in similar situations.
Bounce the flash, you can either learn to use manual flash speed which means you'll have. To adjust it for almost every stop, or use TTl flash which may result in some of your shots showing the subject as brightly lit against a dark background.
If that happens experiment with the exposure compensation settings.
I strongly advise practicing before the event!
Good luck!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yongnuo-YN-568EX-Flash-Sp...
And as said consider buying a 50 f1.8 but if you do my advice would be not to stop it down to 1.8 as it makes depth of field too tight, especially if you have posed two or more people who may not be standing exactly in line.
With a flash you'll get away with the kit lens, but also the 18-200 which will allow you to be further away from the subject and reduce the risk of flash burn out.
I have used both the 50 and an 18-140 which actually is my preferred lens in similar situations.
Bounce the flash, you can either learn to use manual flash speed which means you'll have. To adjust it for almost every stop, or use TTl flash which may result in some of your shots showing the subject as brightly lit against a dark background.
If that happens experiment with the exposure compensation settings.
I strongly advise practicing before the event!
Good luck!
Simpo Two's initial comment may sound a bit harsh, but he speaks the truth 
This sort of friend request can put a huge amount of pressure on the photographer and if something goes wrong and the results are not what's expected it can lead to all sorts of fall-out later on.
If you do it, make sure you take a lot of insurance shots. Do a lot of practise in similar lighting conditions. If you don't already use Photoshop or similar, you could have issues later if exposure/colour/WB is out as you won't easily be able to make corrections.
Have you discussed what type of wedding photos they want i.e. formal group shots and/or informal reportage type shots? That will dictate what lighting/lenses will be better to use.
I did it once and vowed I'd never do it again. If that helps.
You could always suggest buying several of those cheap disposable cameras and let a few semi-responsible people take snaps all through the day, which would give you more options and material later and could make a nice informal 'scrap-book' sort of presentation. Might take a bit of pressure off you. Just a thought.
This sort of friend request can put a huge amount of pressure on the photographer and if something goes wrong and the results are not what's expected it can lead to all sorts of fall-out later on.
If you do it, make sure you take a lot of insurance shots. Do a lot of practise in similar lighting conditions. If you don't already use Photoshop or similar, you could have issues later if exposure/colour/WB is out as you won't easily be able to make corrections.
Have you discussed what type of wedding photos they want i.e. formal group shots and/or informal reportage type shots? That will dictate what lighting/lenses will be better to use.
I did it once and vowed I'd never do it again. If that helps.
You could always suggest buying several of those cheap disposable cameras and let a few semi-responsible people take snaps all through the day, which would give you more options and material later and could make a nice informal 'scrap-book' sort of presentation. Might take a bit of pressure off you. Just a thought.
FurtiveFreddy said:
Have you discussed what type of wedding photos they want
A diamond one ;-)It's not the wedding
Although on that thought, maybe you could get hold of the original wedding photos and try to recreate some of them. That's be a nice thing to do and they'd probably be more pleased with the effort you put in even if he results aren't amazing (I'm sure they'll be fine)
Simpo Two said:
First, modern albums are made online from digital images, so you won't have to worry about printing. That just leaves you with taking the photos...
I suspect that most people celebrating a Diamond wedding anniversary will be more comfortable with a printed album rather than an online one. boyse7en said:
Simpo Two said:
First, modern albums are made online from digital images, so you won't have to worry about printing. That just leaves you with taking the photos...
I suspect that most people celebrating a Diamond wedding anniversary will be more comfortable with a printed album rather than an online one. RAW is highly recommended if you can cope with the processing.
Thanks for all the advice.
It is a good opportunity to get a bit more kit... their expectations are realistic but I obviously want to do my best. I can shoot in RAW as well as JPG and have the software and ability to do some processing.
I have just ordered the external flash linked to above, and have been thinking about a prime lens for a bit...
would this fit the bill on my D3200?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-50mm-f-1-8-AF-Nikk...
It is a good opportunity to get a bit more kit... their expectations are realistic but I obviously want to do my best. I can shoot in RAW as well as JPG and have the software and ability to do some processing.
I have just ordered the external flash linked to above, and have been thinking about a prime lens for a bit...
would this fit the bill on my D3200?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-50mm-f-1-8-AF-Nikk...
buzzer said:
Thanks for all the advice.
It is a good opportunity to get a bit more kit... their expectations are realistic but I obviously want to do my best. I can shoot in RAW as well as JPG and have the software and ability to do some processing.
I have just ordered the external flash linked to above, and have been thinking about a prime lens for a bit...
would this fit the bill on my D3200?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-50mm-f-1-8-AF-Nikk...
This is the lens everyone is referring too:It is a good opportunity to get a bit more kit... their expectations are realistic but I obviously want to do my best. I can shoot in RAW as well as JPG and have the software and ability to do some processing.
I have just ordered the external flash linked to above, and have been thinking about a prime lens for a bit...
would this fit the bill on my D3200?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-50mm-f-1-8-AF-Nikk...
http://www.hdewcameras.co.uk/nikon-af-s-nikkor-50m...
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G £159 no idea if it's cheaper elsewhere, I have used this place for two lens, excellent service.
Good hunting!
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