Wedding shoot

[HighPlainsDox]

I'm going to shoot a friend's wedding next weekend. It will be my first, shooting people on purpose. I don't have to worry about screwing up too bad, 'cause I'm not getting paid. I don't want to shoot a "professional" shoot, per se'. I just want to record the event. (Yes, I intend to do the very best I can with what I have to work with.) I understand that it will be shot as a re-creation, since it's bad luck to shoot during the ceremony. :)

I have a limited supply of accessories, as is listed in my sig/tagline. Since it will be indoors, I am leaning towards only using my f/1.7 - f/22, 50mm fixed lens for most/all of the shooting. Might pop on the 2x teleconverter for a few. Both the 50mm and the teleconverter are fully compatible with the A3000's functions, including an Auto aperture mode. I'm hoping the lighting will be good enough to not have to use a flash. I only have the hotshoe-mounted AF200S flash unit if I had to use one. I could pick up a remote wireless auxiliary unit for about $20, but money is kinda tight.

This is all new to me, so any advice you could give concerning shooting weddings with my equipment would be appreciated, such as:

What film speed/ISO should I use? ...and what shutter speed is optimum
for that ISO?
To flash or not to flash? (My dedicated flash setting is 1/60 sec.)
If flash, should I invest in the aux. unit?
...etc....

TIA....

[mramos]

I've never heard that it's bad luck to shoot during the ceremony. This is the only way I have ever shot a wedding. You can recreate some poses at the end, but most people are ready to go and eat if you take to long. The film speed depends on where you are taking the pictures. If you do shoot during the wedding, this is what I recommend. If in a church, find out the rules from the officiater, and that will give you a point to start. Most will let you use flash until the bride has made it to the altar. Then it's usually no flash allowed until the kiss. I used to have all speeds just in case. 200,400,800,1600. I usually try to go to the wedding location a week or two in advance around the same time of the wedding to see the lighting in the church, and scout out some locations for pictures. Again to flash or not to flash depends on if you have any flash rules. If you have time , shoot a friend at that location so you can develop your prints and check some results.

[HighPlainsDox]

Originally Posted by mramos

I've never heard that it's bad luck to shoot during the ceremony. This is the only way I have ever shot a wedding. You can recreate some poses at the end, but most people are ready to go and eat if you take to long.

Points well taken. Not sure how the logistics will work out.

The film speed depends on where you are taking the pictures. If you do shoot during the wedding, this is what I recommend. If in a church, find out the rules from the officiater, and that will give you a point to start. Most will let you use flash until the bride has made it to the altar. Then it's usually no flash allowed until the kiss. I used to have all speeds just in case. 200,400,800,1600.

I won't have that luxury. I've shot indoors without flash before, and turned out pretty decent with 400. It's a good, all-'round speed. I'm leaning towards that number this time.

I usually try to go to the wedding location a week or two in advance around the same time of the wedding to see the lighting in the church, and scout out some locations for pictures.

That's not possible, I'm afraid. Maybe the day/night before, but that would be it.

Again to flash or not to flash depends on if you have any flash rules. If you have time , shoot a friend at that location so you can develop your prints and check some results.

I expect I'll be flying blind until I get back home. I probably won't have time to check any results. I seem to do ok with the "feel" of the lighting situation in most cases. That will probably be my main concern. It will be a relatively informal event, so rules wouldn't be a problem.

This is kind of an experiment for me, and I hope to get some memories recorded for him and his bride at the same time.

Thanks for your suggestions.