night wedding advice needed

emeraldrose

So i know there's a thread already showing examples, but I need more specific advice. I'm fine with the bridal party portraits, already have tons of ideas and know pretty much what I'll do as I went today to the venue at about the same time the wedding will start.

Now for my problem... The wedding is OUTSIDE with only candles to light everything and this is my first night wedding. My bride really wants a lot of atmospheric shots, which I understand, but I'm terrified now. I didn't let her know that, but I need serious advice.

My camera is a Nikon D70 so high ISO's are out of the question as 400 is a lot of noise. I also have a 50mm 1.8 lens which will def. help, but risky as well with no leeway for correct focus. I also have my 18-70 3.5-5.8 (or 5.6 can't remember), but without a flash not too much help lol. I have also my sb-800 with lightstand and umbrella, but have trouble using it in manual as I can never seem to get the settings i want (yes too high tech lol just want to be able to manually set my fstop and apeture on it lol). So if I use the flash I'll loose the background ambiance... unless I get help from you wonderful dgrinners lol.

So basically any ideas and help hints will be greatly appreciated. Ideas on set up and what not. I'm considering hiring an assistant, but will need to train them too. Oh and my bride comes into the courtyard going straight and makes a left around a rectangular pond thing with candles all around and about 3 feet makes another left to walk down the aisle to the 'alter' of 2 pyramid candelabras and the aisle will have some small pillar candles as well. hope that made some sense think a big 'U' .

here is a shot of the venue in the day from the angle of the front rt. corner facing the onlookers. and yes in the right of the photo is a long black fence covered in bushes topped with palm trees.

jbakerphoto

You might be a little over your head with this one. I know I am one to talk as I am just starting out but I think one of the problems you are seriously going to encounter is that you aren't going to be able to get your camera to focus.

You need to seriously think about renting some better equipment. High Iso and fast glass....i guess nikon d300/d700 and like a 24 -70 or 17-55 or something would be a good place to start....After all it is a once in a lifetime event so the pressure is on to produce good work.

Also Here is a good link for how to shoot in dark places....
http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/3-dragging-the-shutter/

Art Scott

I will agree with unclejohn ......you definitely need to have a camera and flashes that will allow you to shoot using CLS .......I am new to the Nikon camp but I just shot a photo using my D300 and SB900 flash in remote mode the flash was approx 4 feet from my subject ( a black cf card reader installed in a black computer.....the sooc jpg is great.....the camera and I were less than a foot from the subject and I did have the supplied diffuser (sto-fen styled) on the flash......you also need to read Joe McNallys HOTSHOE DIARIES for shooting in this type of situation.....
It all comes down to getting your flash to embellish the surroundings and not just look like the sun peeked into the scene every time the flash goes off ...... I have never had flashes that worked so effortlessly with me......

Check out borrow lenses dot com for rentals on the d300 body and sb900 or if the D70 is a SD card cam then look at renting a D90 ......but are in definite need of a lot more than just the old standard of TTL dedication........

emeraldrose

So yeah I've been thinking of renting, but that's going to take most of my profit and so take away from the amount I'm saving for the d700 The last few years have given us amazing ISO capabilities, but I know photographers had this problem back in the film and early digital years, so what did they do, there has to be an answer even with the camera I have as it used to be one of the best cameras.

Qarik

to be frank you just do not have the equipment for this. At minimum you would need d90/d300 and another lens with 2.8 minimum.

Good Vibrations

With the limited capabilities of your equipment, I would not shoot this wedding without renting or purchasing. How much time do you have to learn the curve with new or rented? I realize you want to save money for the D700 but the likely hood of getting any referals with what you have is not good. I am nervous for you. If you can't get the right tools for the job don't take it.

emeraldrose

ok so If I rent, what's everyone's recommendations as far as companies are concerned? I'm looking at either http://prophotorental.com or http://www.borrowlenses.com they're about a difference of $20, but neither have fast zoom lenses.

Qarik

emeraldrose wrote:

ok so If I rent, what's everyone's recommendations as far as companies are concerned? I'm looking at either http://prophotorental.com or http://www.borrowlenses.com they're about a difference of $20, but neither have fast zoom lenses.

borrowlenses has a partnership with smumug I believe

emeraldrose

Qarik wrote:

borrowlenses has a partnership with smumug I believe

thanx!