First time wedding shoot, need help

[jlooney]

I am shooting a wedding on Saturday as a second shooter and am looking for some advice on camera settings. The wedding is in the evening so I am assuming the lighting will be low. I have a Nikon D300 and will be using a SB 800 light. Do any of you have any suggests on settings for the camera and/or light? This is my first time photographing a wedding and would love some help. Thanks

[CaptainTom]

There's so much to say I couldn't get it out in one thread.
Have you searched for any previous discussion on this topic ?

I think you'll find more information that way rather than waiting for us to retell it all.

[Daniel Bates]

Here's a few threads to get you started (some are from the Time Machine, e.g. a few years ago, but they're still relevant):

Some general questions about camera settings and shooting locations:
Please help....

Some settings, and some posing help:
Please Help with Suggestions

Shooting without flash (and a side discussion that you may or may not find interesting):
Any Tips on church wedding with no flash?

The pros weigh in on how to shoot a wedding if you don't have any experience:
Wedding Advice

If these threads don't answer all your questions, feel free to ask away. I'll do my best to help you out.

--Daniel

[jlooney]

Thanks for posting those links. I have read them all and hopefully will be able to take some good pics. I took some practice pictures in RAW and now I can't get them to download. I don't have the best software but I thought it would allow RAW pics. It is Photoshop Elements 5. Any tricks for getting these to show on here? I don't want to take a lot of pictures I won't be able to download. Thanks again for all of your help.

[CaptainTom]

Some programs don't accept RAW from some of the newer cameras i.e. 40D. D300 ??

Go to Adobes web site and download their free DNG converter program.
You can process your Nikon RAW files into .DNG files without any loss. The .dng files should be able to be processed by your program. It's a simple process. I did it for all my files until I got PS3 installed.

[Daniel Bates]

What Tom said.

For further clarification: Nikon D300 RAW Files in PHotoshop Elements - external link

[Ahh!]

What Tom and Dano said!
As a second shooter, position and timing can be as important as settings. Here's a few tips, notwithstanding all the threads and all the advice heretofor: [/In no apparent order]

1. If all else fails, shoot raw and set camera to A and f8 for formals to keep good DOF. ISO - 100-640 tops. If all you have is one SB800 (on the camera), set its mode to A or BLTTL, and I prefer to drop it by 1-2/3s under (-) so I don't blow out the dress. (Remember, its about the dress). If you are a second, slide over to about 20-45 degrees off axis from the main camera, and fire immediately after the main goes off. If the subjects keep getting confused about who to look at, come out from behind your camera and tell them to look at the primary or stay out from behind your camera, looking at the primary shooter until they fire, then recompose and fire. If your camera angle is missing some of the faces, or your bride's nose breaks the side of her cheek, you are too far. If the primary can touch you or keeps running into you, you are way, way, too close!
2. You can't do much to extend the range of the flash at a dark reception. So to bring in room lighting, switch over to S mode on the camera, and slow your shutter to 1/20 or so. The flash will freeze action, but it is up to you to keep the camera as still as possible to freeze the room if you choose. It can be kinda artsy-schmartsy to sweep the camera slightly and make the room swim around the dancing. Style is your choice. I still run 1-2/3rds under with my flash, depending on what I can do with it in post processing.
3. Ask about what printing/media is going to be coming out of the event, and shoot for backgrounds and "color" to be used for the album, DVD, or framed composit shots. Is it in portrait or landscape more? Should details of the decoration in in the right, left, upper, or lower corners of the composite.
4. Back to the SB800 - I use the stoffen that comes with it and not the Fong or other stuff. I also extend the white card before attaching the stoffen. Most every place you will be, bouncing off the wall behind you wastes your light, unless you are shooting in a white bedroom. I also shoot it with the bounce set to 45 degrees forward. You get some ceiling (if it is white and low) and mostly forward and softened by the stoffen.

All this to say, M is better, and all this stuff is what I consider a good place to start. It is not the ultimate final recipe by any means. I shoot with commander/poppers or meter and wizards and a second flash with a softbox (either SB800 or Photogenic). I suggest not shooting off your primary's off camera flash so you don't overheat it or mess up their timing while it is recharging. Also practice being fully self sufficient and even being fully prepared to loan the primary something (or fetch it for them if there is no assistant around) if their equipment fails. Its all about the primary and reducing their work load, not trying to provide a second shot of the same image. Get your own, but make sure the primary gets what they need.

[trahanw]

Great Advice Peter really good....