How to shoot a wedding - Part 5 - Aperture, shutter and ISO settings

[Jems102]

Hi Matt, Thanks for your videos. Just a question regarding group shots esp big group shots where do you focus to get everyone in focus esp using a wide aperture like you used in your shot. I am assuming you are in AF-S mode. Also in your group shot is everyone in focus and fairly sharp or only the main ones. I would really like to know where to focus in group shots or to try and focus people who are staggered or objects that are staggered but want to get it all in focus.

Thanks

John

[thatnikonguy]

@Jems102 see my recent video on depth of field explained - it covers this.

[1stBEASTMASTER]

For example using a D90 and ??? flash and ??? lenses maybe from yongnuo and sigma etc... Cause that would be good to know, until i and some other get good enough and earn enough, to then buy better gear, thanks Matt.

[thatnikonguy]

@1stBEASTMASTER definitely knowing what you are doing is more important than the gear - check my video on budget kit challenge. Don't let your gear be a limit/excuse not to get out there. Just make sure you know how to use it properly.

[1stBEASTMASTER]

Hi Matt, Love the clips, all of them, not just the wedding ones. However with the wedding clips, you talk of basically some expensive gear that a newbie like myself getting into this field, might not have or afford, like SB-800 and SB900'S 2.8 lenses, Nikon D700 etc etc... Can you put together a kit of some basic priced equipment that you might be able to use to do a wedding.

[dhvanitamit]

hey Matt, great tutorial...my question is can i pull off a wedding shot with a nikon d200, a nikon d3100, a 70-200 f2.8, an 18-55 f3.5-5.6, and a nikon sb910? is that enough to pull off a wedding with good shoots as your result?

[thatnikonguy]

@dhvanitamit Hi mate, not to be a smart ass - but it all comes down to your skill. Someone experienced can do it on any gear. Someone with no idea cannot make great shots with all the gear int he world.

How experienced are you?

[dhvanitamit]

@thatnikonguy ive been shooting since two years, understand all tech aspects of photography, shoot in manual or apertue priority, and have shot a considerable amount of events and wildlife...a little bit of sports for my high school too

[hanmin147]

I'm no expert but shouldn't group shots be taken with a smaller aperture of say.. f/8 or f/11 instead of f/2.8 to ensure that everyone in the frame is sharp?

[thatnikonguy]

@hanmin147 haha, funny you should ask this now - check the video I just put live - ?v=JHjkeNnGe74

[hanmin147]

@thatnikonguy Thank you! :D

[cutisgol]

would you mind explanining why you took the group shot at 5:40 at f/2.8? The DOF is very shallow and people in the back would be out of focus. Thank you

[vic108701]

im new to photography i have only been this for about 6 months or so and i have my first wedding coming up in a couple months and i need and telephoto lense but there is no way i am going to be able to affored the nikon 70-200 2.8 so will the 55-200 3.5-5.6 be fine?

[thatnikonguy]

@vic108701 sure - you can do it with anything really. Just spend time to really get familiar with all your gear and settings before the day.

[7137271]

"I really like the effect of having a background that's too bright."

I noticed that in the last video. You use it well.

Good series. I've no intention of ever shooting a wedding, (I'm just a hobbyist, and I love macros and landscapes, not people) but it's still good to know how a shoot like this works. Thanks.

[markandshelby]

I'm a beginner wedding photographer and your videos have helped me tremendously. I have a question about the large group shot...I would have thought that at 2.8, there would be more people out of focus. How did 2.8 work for this photo?

Thanks again for your videos!

[Eiledon23]

I really like this photo although you may think it is over exposed as for the dress. I love the Dream effect...maybe Halo effect it gives this photo. I see it as if she were in a dream...and after all is not every girls wedding day the day she dreamed of?

[Skytalker777]

This is great series. Your explanations are very clear, so thanks a lot for that. I would definitely be interested in concert photography and how you address that. I would kindly ask you to folllow it in the same structure, planning, gear, on-the-job, backup and editing...

Thanks in advance.

[thatnikonguy]

@Skytalker777 great that you like the videos. Check my archive and playlists - I have already made some concert videos.

[hawk811]

I would love to see more advanced editing for weddings and would also be interested in advice on shooting concerts! Thanks!

[thatnikonguy]

@hawk811 check the archive - I have done a small series on shooting events/concerts

[AllStarAmerican]

How do you feel about leaving your camera on automatic (point and shoot)? Does that compromise on quality or is it something you would recommend for a beginner?

[thatnikonguy]

@AllStarAmerican check my video on 'get out of auto mode' - in that mode you are loosing a lot of control.

[kfur1214]

Realizing completely I am quite behind the ball on this video (3 months ago!), I want to thank you for posting this video. I have enjoyed watching the full series, but this has by far been my favorite! I also just love that you often shoot aperture priority, as so many people seem to look down on this (I don't know why, it confuses me why you might not want to use something some engineer obviously thought was worthwhile to put on every slr-digital or not!) I will be "stalking" all your videos!

[thatnikonguy]

@kfur1214 glad to hear it!

[thatnikonguy]

@kfur1214 PS - people may look down on auto or program mode - but if you shoot in aperture or shutter priority, and adjust exposure and metering to suit the situation, you retain creative control of your shots.

[TheYFlyer]

Matt, thanks for sharing your videos. I have watched several of them over the past week and have enjoyed them greatly.



[TheCameraGear]

Great series Matt, this takes time to put together, so thanks for sharing your experience, for helping those of us learning and for the easy to understand instruction.

The detail you go to really does lend itself to making learning from you easy.

I have a full compliment of Nikon pro gear inc;

All Nikkor f2.8 glass 17-400mm + all 3 new TC's, 200/4 Micro

Full Lee ND & GND filters

Elinchrom Ranger RX Speed AS portable studio

Need a mobile lightstand? Let me know, love to learn from you.

[0roshana]

Thanks for the wedding series 1-5.

Very imformative.

Any chance you could shed some light on using a flash in the manual setting and hoe to maximise its use.

Thanks in advance

[thatnikonguy]

@0roshana Sure - i have covered a lot in the strobist series - check it out.

[kurtschoemig]

Just wanted to say Thank you for sharing your skill. I am shooting my first wedding on the 25th of this month. Up until now I have only been a second shooter so I am a bit apprehensive about this new venture! But, I like how you stated that this event is actually a fun one for you because I think I smile more than the ppl at the wedding sometimes!! I appreciate how you simply state what you are doing and why. great advice please keep it up! I will share my images after the wedding! thanks!

[thatnikonguy]

@kurtschoemig thanks for the response - look forward to seeing the images. Good luck and have fun!

[peely64]

Cheers for for a great insite, would love some portrait/ posing videos.

[thatnikonguy]

@peely64 coming soon - some in my recent behind the scenes.

[BillybobSpangleberry]

You mention bouncing flash off the ceiling from the left or above your subjects; are you moving the flash off-camera, or using on-camera flash with the head angled towards a nearby wall or the ceiling? Your fill-flash shots look natural and this is one area I struggle with.  Great video, thanks for posting.

[thatnikonguy]

@BillybobSpangleberry thanks.in this case I used on camera, just rotating flash head for bounce. Maybe a good topic for a future video

[dah7772]

I'm really enjoying the wedding as well as all of your videos. Thanks for doing them

[thatnikonguy]

@dah7772 glad to hear.

[the007harry]

Great series of videos! I have been looking to get into paid photography work. I'm building my range of kit and I would rate myself as advanced amateur. Any tips on how to build my confidence and take the leap ti start shooting professionally before I pack up from my current job.

Keep up the good work.

[thatnikonguy]

@the007harry thats a very personal question, depends on your situation. Offer to act as assistant for free, and learn all you can. Then start to charge, then take your own jobs. Once your income stream is high enough for your lifestyle - jump ship :)

[ThePhotographybysimo]

nice one thanks again just waiting for the portrait session video

[thatnikonguy]

@ThePhotographybysimo THank you. I plan to do the concert series first - but if you are in a rush, The strobist series, and ugly series are both demonstrating portrait skills.

[tango60]

Hi Matt, nice to see how the other guy does it. Amazing really to see how by trial and error I have come to much the same way of working as you have. A couple of your shots I wouldn't have used in the final edit but otherwise a very nice and informative video. Here in Quebec people's expectations are a little different and I find they expect a few grayscale pics or selective colour. Good one Matt. Keep 'em coming.

[thatnikonguy]

@tango60 thanks for the comment. Note, the shots I have shown here were to get a range of topics to discuss, not all of these will be delivered to the couple.

[augustomet]

That is a lot of info.. I will have to watch it a lot!

[thatnikonguy]

@augustomet Good one. Any questions, let me know.

[ranhma]

Thanks for sharing your experience in this great series. I'd like to know if you shot this wedding in Manual or Aperture priority mode? How did you adjust for changing lighting condition?

[thatnikonguy]

@ranhma I usually shoot in aperture priority. Lighting conditions... well I quickly choose how it want it to look, and make adjustments to achieve it... maybe a future video :)

[thatnikonguy]

@meijerinkfotografie great!

[NDSCollector]

Why did you make most of your photos sepia or B/W?

[thatnikonguy]

@NDSCollector just what I happened to show. Actually I leave at least half in full colour.

[xjoshurzx]

thank you for this matt!!

[thatnikonguy]

@xjoshurzx my pleasure, hope it helps