A little help in wedding photography...?

At the weekend I got my first taste of wedding photography. After being strongarmed into being a second shooter by a professional wedding photographer. After being asked initially I said no in an instant. As its definately not my thing, But I do admire those that take it on.. But after being cagoled and sweet talked I stupidly agreed at the very last minute. On the understanding that there was no pressure to return any images at all.

The ceremony itself is, quite a fast paced affair, a very pressure cooker situation from the photographers point of view with a lot of shots to get in a short period of time. With none that can be missed..
"Its certainly a tough call..!!"

But having got through it reasonably successfully after going in blind and at the last minute.. A few questions have arisen for me....?

Firstly.. Equipment wise. I'm the proud owner of 2 K1's. So thought I had no issues there. Took along my DFA 15-30 DFA 24-70 and was asked to include my 70-200 to get some candid shots. And threw in a 50mm f1.4 for good measure. Now thinking I had all bases covered. The wedding was held in a reception room. Which at first glance seemed fairly well lit.
Then my first alarm bell... Flash photography would not be permitted...!! I wasn't expecting that.. And when I tested the exposure level. Using my f2.8 lenses. At f2.8 I would be shooting at ISO 6400.
The K1 produced decent results but obviously quite a narrow depth of field. And would need some noise reduction software to be applied.
Small point when the bride comes down the aisle 6 frames per sec isnt enough...
Are these the lenses the pro Pentax wedding photographers use ? Or are there better alternative choices ?

I'm rambling here a bit so i'll end it with one more discussion point... With the congregration of very capable Iphones, and mobile devices in attendance. Snapping away and videoing every move.. What steps should the DSLR owner be ensuring to make sure his results are of a far better quality ?

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K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

Morning Stuart,

Are you able to post a few examples ?

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Chris

www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk

" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".

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K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8

Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8

K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM

sorry Chris I cant on this occasion. The main photographer gets quite possesive over them being put online.

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K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

No problem Stuart, I did wonder if that would be the case, just would help us to give you the advice your looking for.

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Chris

www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk

" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".

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K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8

Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8

K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM

I understand why you would want to cover all bases but did the 15-30mm actually get used? I am no wedding photographer and like you would run a mile first, but where you found 6 fps to come up short I guess if there were two of you then would that not be enough? And re. the last question, in low light especially a phone couldn’t compete; what might look ok on a phone screen would not be ok on a decent sized print. And don’t forget you bring composition skills to the scene, wonky shots from behind someone’s head would not be good. One of my faults is I tend to underexpose and then have to recover in pp and luckily the K1 is excellent in pulling detail out of blackness.

So, when is the next gig?

Sorry I may not have explained myself too well.. There is not a lot wrong with the majority of the images.. Though a little more noisey than I would prefer. Thats fairly easily rectified in post.
The queries I had were more with equipment choice. Or lenses to be precise.!
Yes Rob as a matter of fact. Like you I thought I wouldn't use the 15-30 too much and it was there mainly as a precaution. But I found I used it quite a lot. Great for overall landscape type shots of the recepetion room and the guests attending. Same with the evening meal at the hotel. As I was only the second shooter I used it on some of the family portraits. Looking for something a little more alternative. Different aspects so to speak. The 24-70 is just my workhorse on these type of events. And the DFA is just a present sent from heaven.. I will have this lens buried with me I think....lol
It was at this point I started to get uneasy as quite a bit of the time 70mm wasnt long enough. Obviously in my case this meant changing lens and maybe losing a moment you want to capture. I dont always prefer the posed shots. But personally i find holding the 70-200 steady and acurate difficult most times. Though I did include my monopod to help. it just makes the whole job a little cumbersome. So I was inclined not to choose it. Luckily with the K1, though not ideal you can still crop in. My colleague who was a Sony Mirrorless shooter suggested that I just switch to crop mode which he often does because you can do it at the push of a button. I thought that's not a bad idea and wasnt too difficult on the K1 to switch modes. Though the drop in mega pixels was a lot more severe.. So I decided not to use that idea. It certainly a point that when you attend events like these you have to know the ins and out's of how your camera operates and the menu systems. I only thought I did...lol
So what i guess I'm really asking of those who do this kind of thing. Is what lens do you use for the mid range type shots...
DFA 28-105 would be ideal, ish,, but I fear a bit slow at the longer end.
100 macro.. Possibly but for me zoom would be more versatile..
Or maybe some old film lens that I dont yet know about as I mostly tried to steer away from them.. As the cheaper ones I have purchased have been poor.. So I have no confidence in them.. I am willing to be proved wrong..!!

Next one's in three weeks... Already looking for an escape excuse....lol

Again sorry for rambling on a bit...

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K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

Stuart. You don't know your born. I did weddings for approx 10 years on a film 645. One standard lens 75mm (medium format) Zoom with your feet. No fast motor drive just one shot at a time. Hammerhead flashgun. Usually no flash in the church. Light meter in one hand. Camera on a tripod. 15 shots to a roll of 120 ASA 160 film. Back up 35mm SLR.
Like I said you don't know your born.
CHEERS Vic.

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Born again biker with lots of Pentax bits. Every day I wake up is a good day. I'm so old I don't even buy green bananas.

See Vic your just the type of guy I want to talk to.. Man of experience....

You guys have my total respect...

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K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

It helps if you can do a recce beforehand to get an idea of the lighting etc. Of course this isn't always possible

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David

Yes David, I was thinking that myself ....! Agreeing to a shoot. with just about time to charge your camera battery beforehand isnt exactly ideal..

But other than I would have had prior knowledge. The light is the light on an indoor venue with no windows.

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K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

Stuart.
P.S. 5 rolls = 75 shots. 6 rolls at a push. No PS then either we relied on the printer to sort any dodgy ones.
Happy Days.
CHEERS Vic.

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Born again biker with lots of Pentax bits. Every day I wake up is a good day. I'm so old I don't even buy green bananas.

I grew up with film and an ME Super.. Only developed B&W though. With a very basic enlarger... My mum said the chemicals stink too much and banned me to the outdoor shed...lol

After 10 years of weddings Vic.. You must have a sausage roll addiction..!!

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K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

More like an allergy.
CHEERS Vic.

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Born again biker with lots of Pentax bits. Every day I wake up is a good day. I'm so old I don't even buy green bananas.

Re. The DFA 70-200 f2.8 lens, I love it but will often leave it behind if I need two or three lenses because of its weight. That was the case for a bonfire shoot, the fast aperture would be welcome but I would need to raise the shutter speed for its length and keeping it steady. Like you I ended up with the 24-70mm and cropped the results. I shall be interested in the new 70-200mm f4 promised in the new year as it should be much lighter and manageable, just hope the quality is as good.

sounds like you had the right cameras and lenses for the job... it is the guy who booked the wedding that needs to consult with the bride and groom and wedding planner who are in a position to make sure there's sufficient light to photograph in if the photos are important to them they can make arrangements to ensure the church and reception will have at least some light (bring in some candle holders with more candles and position them properly or make sure the house lights are only dimmed to a preset level and no less, placement of a fresnel or spot video light before hand )

Since I do both stills and video the "no flash" polices are moot, I ask if I can set up one or two small video lights and they usually approve it. then I know what light I have to work with before the ceremony even starts.

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Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.