Lighting in churches
I'm not really a photographer... just an amateur with enough experience to be dangerous... but I've been doing lighting for my church (services, drama, concerts (including Randy Travis once... probably my biggest name artist :-)), all manner of things) for 20+ years. Included in that is lighting weddings for when the bride doesn't want the "standard setup" but instead something special.
I have just found it interesting that you can tell the experience/comfort level of the photographer by how much they expect from the lighting. I know a couple of the pro's that are used fairly often and as long as there are some lights on, they are good with it. They will deal with it, and/or bring their own flash(es) to make what they need. I've seen their work, and I don't think it suffers.
Some of the newer guys want changes, things brighter, darker, more "even", whatever. I understand why, but I sometimes wonder what they do in a smaller facility (we seat 2200+ and have a versatile lighting rig) that pretty much has "lights on or off".
I always do my best to provide whatever the photographer requests (although the bride is the final call if there is a disagreement), but sometimes the "newbies" get a bit over the top :-)
Not a slight to anybody, just thought people might be interested in a different viewpoint in the "dealing with wedding challenges" world.
If anybody has questions a church lighting guy might take a stab at, pass them over :-)
I have just found it interesting that you can tell the experience/comfort level of the photographer by how much they expect from the lighting. I know a couple of the pro's that are used fairly often and as long as there are some lights on, they are good with it. They will deal with it, and/or bring their own flash(es) to make what they need. I've seen their work, and I don't think it suffers.
Some of the newer guys want changes, things brighter, darker, more "even", whatever. I understand why, but I sometimes wonder what they do in a smaller facility (we seat 2200+ and have a versatile lighting rig) that pretty much has "lights on or off".
I always do my best to provide whatever the photographer requests (although the bride is the final call if there is a disagreement), but sometimes the "newbies" get a bit over the top :-)
Not a slight to anybody, just thought people might be interested in a different viewpoint in the "dealing with wedding challenges" world.
If anybody has questions a church lighting guy might take a stab at, pass them over :-)
0
Comments
Hi, and Welcome to DGRIN:D
answer to your question I highlighted: Suffer!
Of course, I've also never gotten to photograph a big enough wedding that there was any thought to lighting design.
Las Cruces Photographer / Las Cruces Wedding Photographer
Other site
Somehow I bet you're in the minority. The First Church Wedding I was invited to Shoot was surprising. I didn't know there were Churches without Windows. This Church had not one single window illuminating the Sanctuary and to top it off, they only used Candles Behind the couple and no flash~