Weddings - The First Dance Advice Please at DVinfo.net

Julian Fox · September 2nd, 2006, 05:09 PM

I have downloaded the wedding custom preset from this website, the ceremony looks great!

I am white balancing before each section - I am not using a light on the camera and I am about to shoot on the dark dance floor. Does anyone have advice re shutter speeds/gain/exposure etc to capture the mood, and keep the darkness true on the footage of the first dance when using the custom preset. Should I continue to use the TV mode, or the Spotlight or Low light modes?

My second family wedding is forthcoming (in the UK) so should be able to experiment - but would like to hear of your preferences out there.

Allen McLaughlin · September 2nd, 2006, 05:35 PM

I tend to work with around 6-9db of gain in at this point in the proceedings. Assuming we're talking about typical night time/night club lighting then it seems to work ok in terms of representing the mood truthfully ?

I don't like working with the iris wide open, certainly no more than around f2.8 and ideally narrower when possible? It's a tricky situation, you can always ask for the lights to be left up a little for the first dance or two, without killing the atmosphere for the party goers.

Justine Haupt · September 2nd, 2006, 05:57 PM

Allen, just out of curiosity why dont you like to open the iris all the way?

Allen McLaughlin · September 3rd, 2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Haupt

Allen, just out of curiosity why dont you like to open the iris all the way?

Because it's difficult to assess the focus with the combination of a negligible depth of field and a poor LCD viewfinder. I think somewhere between f5.6-4.0 is the ideal hunting ground, but not easily attainable at a relatively uncontrollable event such as a wedding shoot.

Justine Haupt · September 6th, 2006, 12:01 PM

Ok, makes sense.

Allen McLaughlin · September 15th, 2006, 02:49 AM

Off Topic

I found this little clip via another forum and thought some of the wedding guys would appreciate the sentiment...

http://www.videobycarol.com/home_pag...otography.html

Richard Zlamany · September 15th, 2006, 10:01 AM

Allen, that was very funny.

September 2nd, 2006, 05:09 PM	#1
Julian Fox New Boot Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ashford, Middlesex (England) Posts: 22	Weddings - The First Dance Advice Please I have downloaded the wedding custom preset from this website, the ceremony looks great! I am white balancing before each section - I am not using a light on the camera and I am about to shoot on the dark dance floor. Does anyone have advice re shutter speeds/gain/exposure etc to capture the mood, and keep the darkness true on the footage of the first dance when using the custom preset. Should I continue to use the TV mode, or the Spotlight or Low light modes? My second family wedding is forthcoming (in the UK) so should be able to experiment - but would like to hear of your preferences out there.

September 2nd, 2006, 05:35 PM	#2
Allen McLaughlin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Paisley, Scotland UK Posts: 99	I tend to work with around 6-9db of gain in at this point in the proceedings. Assuming we're talking about typical night time/night club lighting then it seems to work ok in terms of representing the mood truthfully ? I don't like working with the iris wide open, certainly no more than around f2.8 and ideally narrower when possible? It's a tricky situation, you can always ask for the lights to be left up a little for the first dance or two, without killing the atmosphere for the party goers. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/theeejit

September 2nd, 2006, 05:57 PM	#3
Justine Haupt Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 208	Allen, just out of curiosity why dont you like to open the iris all the way? __________________ ~Justine "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams" -Arthur O'Shaunessey (as quoted by Willy Wonka)

September 6th, 2006, 12:01 PM	#5
Justine Haupt Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 208	Ok, makes sense. __________________ ~Justine "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams" -Arthur O'Shaunessey (as quoted by Willy Wonka)

September 15th, 2006, 02:49 AM	#6
Allen McLaughlin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Paisley, Scotland UK Posts: 99	Off Topic I found this little clip via another forum and thought some of the wedding guys would appreciate the sentiment... http://www.videobycarol.com/home_pag...otography.html __________________ http://www.myspace.com/theeejit

September 15th, 2006, 10:01 AM	#7
Richard Zlamany Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hamden CT Posts: 470	Allen, that was very funny.