For those of you who use external lights at receptions. What does your setup look like?

I have a 3 light kit.. 2 500W and 1 250W

I would like to use them one day at a reception but I'm not to sure how the guests would feel.
Ideally I would like to break them out only for the main parts (bouquet toss, cake cutting, first dance, ect....)

Just curious where most people set up there kits at, and how most people feel about it?

steve

I currently just use a single light setup .. 300w or 600w. I expected resistance from guests, but so far it's been pretty good. I have been shutting it down when the general dancing begins, though.

Hi

We have been using 500 watts light for the special moments of the reception, first dance cake cutting etc... we are changing over to NRG dimmable light 2 ,100 watts battery powered. We have gotten a lot of comments to shut the lights off but we always tell those who do comment to go talk to the bride and they usually go away. Switched to NRG VARALUX PROFESSIONAL one on camera the other mounted on a stand aiming at the dance floor. Lighter and easier to move around. The work well don't kill the mood although I still like my 500 watt flood. One other thing we have told people who don't like the bright light is if it were and outdoor wedding wouldn't they be dancing, that works also.

Travis... how do you use your single light? I would most likely do the same. Do you try to bounce off of walls or do you just aim it at what you need?

Hi

We have been using 500 watts light for the special moments of the reception, first dance cake cutting etc... we are changing over to NRG dimmable light 2 ,100 watts battery powered. We have gotten a lot of comments to shut the lights off but we always tell those who do comment to go talk to the bride and they usually go away. Switched to NRG VARALUX PROFESSIONAL one on camera the other mounted on a stand aiming at the dance floor. Lighter and easier to move around. The work well don't kill the mood although I still like my 500 watt flood. One other thing we have told people who don't like the bright light is if it were and outdoor wedding wouldn't they be dancing, that works also.

Walt look like a good system.. I'm currently using a 50W light on a stand with a wireless remote (all battery powered). It works fairly well, I love the mobility... There were a few parts though where I could tell it just didn't have enough power though. I wouldn't mind switching to something new someday.

My goal is to get the light up high and position it so that it won't be in the guest's eyes. And make sure you get it turned on before you need it, that way it feels more like a part of the original setup.

For what it's worth: I'm not doing what you guys are doing, but I have a 500w light which I have made a dimmer for...so with such a light/dimmer at a wedding, you wouldn't be stuck with 500w only...

I am using a 350W single light bounced on an umbrella with a dimmer. This way it doesn't annoy the guest; and now with my Z5 I can even dim it right to the minimum. On the camera I use the HVL-20DW2 Battery Video Light 20W/10W.

Stelios

... Switched to NRG VARALUX PROFESSIONAL one on camera ...

Walt, How do you power this light? Aren't the batteries too heavy to carry around?

Stelios

Bescor make 2 different battery pack sizes, both last the whole night since they are not on all the time. Yes the big belt is a little heavy the other one is have the size but it works great.

if you have a harbor freight tools, you can get dimmers for $15! they are in the power tools sectioin, called router speed controls.

I use one 500W light, I use to have two but realized one is more than enough with minimum disruption to guests.

I'm thinking of using one of my 500W w/ an umbrella raised high and out of the way... I'm a little worried about 2 things.

1) harsh shadows (I'm thinking with an umbrella though they might not be to bad)

2) Someone knocking the light over.

Steve

I've been avoiding using lights at receptions, but with the XH-A1, you need the extra photons (and on-camera has always been 1-dimensional looking). My advice would be two-fold:
1. Get the tallest light stand you can. I have one that hits 13ft, but folds down no bigger than any others. The higher you can put your light, the less it will be in the eyes of your guests. Heck, you might even fool them into thinking its a room light.
2. Dimmer. Don't do a hard on/off if you want to keep your presence subtle. As a bonus, I would keep the light at 25-30% level BEFORE the guests enter the room. That way, its part of the ambience and they're less likely to notice it.

For stability, you can't beat a sandbag...but that adds weight to your gear...so a roll of gaffer's tape is almost as good. Run tape across a section of each leg to the floor. If possible, you can 'hide' your stand behind the DJ's speakers and jigsaw the two stands together (with the DJ's permission). That way, it also looks like part of his gear (fewer complaints for you).

Oren...

Awesome advice.... especially using a dimmer and keeping the lighting at 20%...

I'll pick up some dimmers tomorrow and wire them in.

If the DJ is cooperative (they often control the lights) and doesn't put the reception into pitch black darkness, I go with natural lighting. Lots of nice shadows and cascading light on the guests, especially on the closeups.

John

For the reception, I only light the head table and the podium. 2 x 750w Totas and 1 x 500w Omni. I put the Totas in the front facing the head table - nice and high, one tota is facing just the head table the other one is facing the podium and the head table. The omni light is behind the podium up against the wall - giving me hairlight on the speaker (some depth). I have the lights all wirelessly controlled so when I don't need them I just press a button. Once they are on the dance floor I just turn one tota around (just loosen one knob instead of turning the whole light around) and light the dance floor.

For the reception, I only light the head table and the podium. 2 x 750w Totas and 1 x 500w Omni.

Wow- (2) 750 Totas , that sounds like a lot. I guess it depends on the room too. Mind sharing what you're using for the wireless remote? I'd like to be able to turn on/off as well as dim remotely. I saw a Hunter fan remote at Lowes but not sure how compatible it would be with my Lowell lights.

Art

Wow- (2) 750 Totas , that sounds like a lot. I guess it depends on the room too. Mind sharing what you're using for the wireless remote? I'd like to be able to turn on/off as well as dim remotely. I saw a Hunter fan remote at Lowes but not sure how compatible it would be with my Lowell lights.

Art

Art I was thinking the same thing along the lines of using remotes... I think the fan remotes could work, but only with low wattage bulbs.

IMHO anything over 100 watts per light is overkill for receptions and run the enhanced risk of appearing obtrusive. We use three 75 watt lights on dimmers and it's provided ample lighting for even the darkest caves also known as reception venues. :)

Of course I can't shoot with no gain with this lighting- often times I'm at 1/24th and +12db however it's better to max your camera out first and add enough additional light to get the image to pop rather than trying to light the camera basing it on an image a 1/48-1/60th with low gain.

Bear in mind there's always a critical balance between image quality and perceived obtrusiveness. Both of them are paramount. If either of the two edged out the other in importance it would be unobtrusiveness.

Wow- (2) 750 Totas , that sounds like a lot. I guess it depends on the room too. Mind sharing what you're using for the wireless remote? I'd like to be able to turn on/off as well as dim remotely. I saw a Hunter fan remote at Lowes but not sure how compatible it would be with my Lowell lights.

Art


It does sound like alot but most of the venues that I get to shoot in are large. Im using a wireless light control by NOVA from Canadian Tire for like $30cdn but no dimming ability.

IMHO anything over 100 watts per light is overkill for receptions and run the enhanced risk of appearing obtrusive. We use three 75 watt lights on dimmers and it's provided ample lighting for even the darkest caves also known as reception venues. :)

Of course I can't shoot with no gain with this lighting- often times I'm at 1/24th and +12db however it's better to max your camera out first and add enough additional light to get the image to pop rather than trying to light the camera basing it on an image a 1/48-1/60th with low gain.

Bear in mind there's always a critical balance between image quality and perceived obtrusiveness. Both of them are paramount. If either of the two edged out the other in importance it would be unobtrusiveness.

I haven't had one client complain, or even a guest about the lights I have used (knock on wood)- that is probably because I light the headtable and not the entire hall or guests. I find that shooting on 1/24th will cause motion blurs for any movements and +12 is a definite no go for ME. I would rather shoot 1/48th or 1/60th with at most +3db rather than 1/24th and 12+db.

But as long as you're getting the image quality that you need then your settings are fine.

I haven't had one client complain, or even a guest about the lights I have used (knock on wood)- that is probably because I light the headtable and not the entire hall or guests. I find that shooting on 1/24th will cause motion blurs for any movements and +12 is a definite no go for ME. I would rather shoot 1/48th or 1/60th with at most +3db rather than 1/24th and 12+db.

But as long as you're getting the image quality that you need then your settings are fine.

Motion isn't as clean with 1/24th but it's far from blurry. If you've seen any of my reception footage it's ALL +12db @ 1/24th. What camera are you using?

Glen: are you shooting with the XHA1?

Motion isn't as clean with 1/24th but it's far from blurry. If you've seen any of my reception footage it's ALL +12db @ 1/24th. What camera are you using?

I'm using the A1, what about you?

XH-A1...yes.

Hey Glen,

XH-A1...yes.

I'm shooting with 2 x 75's and a 20 on a smaller stand for cake cutting of other remote locations. I'm at 24 fps and 1/24th for nearly the entire reception too. I'm able to shoot the dance floor with 6db and the PFVISION preset. I was at 12db with my previous preset. I'd love to try your preset though...

i am about ready to ugrade my kit, not sure whether to add lowel omnis or some
fresnels. Fresnels look high end, so I may just go with those. this will be my
first year using additional lighting for receptions.

i am about ready to ugrade my kit, not sure whether to add lowel omnis or some
fresnels. Fresnels look high end, so I may just go with those. this will be my
first year using additional lighting for receptions.
well, I've been using a lighting setup similar to Glenn's, two, 75 watt lights on light stands with remote controls, that are placed by the DJ or stage for bands.

Works wonders for me shooting with FX1's running about 9-12db gain.
We still use on camera dimable lights for fill, when needed. And the combo of off camera with some fill lighting, really creates a nice image with good depth of field that's not flat like normal on camera lighting is.

Are you guys using halogen, or flourescent lighting??