TWU Little Chapel in the Woods - lighting???

[klynam]

I'm scheduled to shoot a small wedding at the Little Chapel on TWU campus. Ceremony time is 4:30pm.

I've visited the facility (at the correct time of day.) The chapel is extremely dark (inside). The best I could get shooting ambient was at about 1/60th / f1.8 / ISO1600, which is too slow and grainy for my tastes.

Flash appears to be a necessity, and I struck a marginally acceptable balance with a little with on-camera flash bounced off the wall. However, I'd really like to get more light to work with overall.

Looking through the facility coordinators sample book and a couple of excellent framed prints (by Don Barnes) that were on the wall, I found several photos that really amazed me in terms of lighting. The overall levels were very well balanced (all things considered) with the bride/groom well illuminated and the facility quite natural looking.

My initial solution was to fire strobes (AB800's) at the bride and groom through white umbrellas about three rows back from the podium, on both sides of the chapel. This would give a fairly directional, but also slightly diffuse, balanced illumination on the couple.

My second idea was to place a single strobe (AB1600) with a 40x60 softbox in the balcony, pointed directly at the stage to illuminate the entire room with a soft, but directional light source.

For whomever has shot at this facility, would you mind advising me on the best modifiers and placement of strobes to properly light the bride and groom, while preserving (some of) the general ambiance?

Thank you...

[sandralemin]

The time we hsot there it was in the winter and the ceremony was a 6 so very dark. No lights during the ceremony I did use a monopod which I never use and high speed1600 and 3200.

What we did do was the rehearsal the day before was early enough that light was coming through the stain glass behind the alter but at the time of the ceremony it was black like a big black hole. We put the stain glass from teh rehearsal in teh shots from the ceremony and that made a hugh difference in the images. But it was a pian and my husband could of kicked my butt.

[doctahjones]

if i were in that situation i think i would try lighting from the balcony. i would imagine it would put the shadows lower than if you tried to light from the floor.

not sure exactly what the recycle times are, but i would think the ab800's would be faster to charge to full over the ab1600? maybe use those two with the umbrellas?

if you can get there early enough, might just bring them all and try out a couple shots with the different configs

[klynam]

Thanks - duly noted and please keep the advice coming.

Any pictures to post and comment on would be VERY appreciated...

[toverman]

I've shot there once during a fall ceremony in mid-afternoon and it was a cave. Remember that before planning your lighting setup to consult with the officiant, who typically has more say than even the officials at the venue. Some won't allow supplemental lighting to be set up in a conspicuous way (or sometimes at all). For me, I'd rather rely on fast glass and high ISO (rent better bodies if you need to), as lights that fail can put quite a damper on your plans.

For formals, obviously, put up a couple of lights. Better yet, there are very nice areas outside of the chapel that, if you have time, make great backdrops for formals.

[klynam]

Yeah, this place is fraught with challenges: inside dark, outside hot with high contrast dapply light. Rehearsal is Friday night and I'll be testing lighting setups then...

[ChristopherCoy]

Its a cave.... all the time. We did engagments there with every light in the building on, and the sun shining through the windows, and we were still at ISO800 or better! Bring flash, and lots of it.