What the heck do I do with this?

[HotHolly]

I have a wedding at the location below in a few weeks. The stained glass scares the tar out of me. This is the chapels photo - not mine. But I have seen MANY images from this chapel that are horrible. The bride is red, skin tones yuck, and the background just crushes the bride.

Notice the colors coming through the glass...

I've had a few others with stained glass, but this monster makes everything red. Combine that with the grayish carpet and images just look blah or evil

This location is strict with flash usage - which is part of the issue. They have been skitzo as to whether or not we can be on the floor, so I may be able to, but flash is going to be a no no. Any suggestions on how to get better images from this location?

Any suggestions?

[edpouso]

white balance your camera
shoot raw
take good meter readings
plan your shoot, shoot your plan
any place that has weddings should allow the photographers to be on the floor
what i have done in the past is to set up a camera that shoots time lapse
of the bride groom and minster
its just an old e20n.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by edpouso

any place that has weddings should allow the photographers to be on the floor.

You'd think that, but no. There have been many threads in here as to why churches banish photogs to the balcony.

This is a chapel, and they are strict on the fact that the wedding is a religious ceremony and will be treated according to their sanctity guidelines. Which is currently balcony at worst and back of chapel on the floor at best.

How do I keep the wall from over powering the bride in every shot? And not make everything ugly...Im not seeing it yet.

[JPalmer]

tell the bride-to-be that she's screwed.....and pray for an overcast day

Any chance she'll want all B/W ?

[JPalmer]

wait a minute....religious sanctity my butt. There's a kid with a tripod on the left side of the alter

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by JPalmer

tell the bride-to-be that she's screwed.....and pray for an overcast day

Any chance she'll want all B/W ?

Thats the only thing I could think of! Rain or B&Ws. Man!

Theres gotta be something creative I can do with this...from that angle. I just dont see it...maybe its not there and thats why all the photos taken there look the same...

[HotHolly]

photographers are not allowed on the floor... Im guessing past wonderful photogs that did something stupid. We have one guy in town that has the wrong lens and is inches from their faces during vows...at every wedding. So the rest of us have been pushed back.

[edpouso]

if you look at the left side you will see a video camera set up

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

photographers are not allowed on the floor...

Again...

[edpouso]

In NY i have never had a problem whith the churches. talk to the person planning the wedding and the person incharge of weddings at the church.
kindly explain your problems and why you are different than the others.
its just like getting someone to pose for you that doest want to.
also offer to take some headshots in the church for free.always a good bribe.

[*Mike*]

This is actually the chapel of a local seminary. May be part of the reason they're stricter. Photog's have really gotten a bum rap, thanks to a few around here, which also doesn't help. Videographers are definitely cut a lot more slack by quite a few places.

Nevertheless, the problem remains (pretty much regardless of where you shoot from) that there is a huge overpowering wall behind the ceremony. How do you make it into an asset instead of just a big headache???

[photosbysergio]

Just discuss it with the B&G and tell them you will do your best with what you have to work with. After the ceremony, get up close, improvise and get some closeups of them. Good Luck.

[CobyPhoto]

That window would take one hell of a scrim! LOL

I have shot at churches where there were other photogs that did crazy things and hence the rules and banishment to balconies and back of the room. Can't really get around that, immediately. I have developed a working relationship with the individuals in charge of the ceremonies and that helps, they understand that I am not going to overstep and I am not going to violate the santicity of the service, just to get a photo.

I can't see anyway to beat that overpowering window without strobes or an overcast day.

[HotHolly]

So, general idea on the red wall of glass is that its ugly?

There has got to be something I can do with it...

The B&G liked it...which is why they are getting married there. So telling them its uggo doesnt really work.

I thought there would be some creative ideas or something that someone saw. I've been staring at this wall for a while now and got nothing.

Edit: On the floor or up high - I still have that red wall of glass. Its the glass I need to figure out how to tie in. Is the photo thats here as good as it gets? I hope not!

[johnastovall]

Stop thinking about the wall. Think about the light and how Marc Chagall would use it to create a beautiful wedding. Make the light and color work, don't think conventionally. Fast lenses wide open, clouds of bokeh colors in behind the faces. Splashes of color every where and on everything it can be so beautiful and different.