Using a video light for wedding portraits
When possible during a lull in the wedding reception, I like to sneak the bride and groom away for a few minutes to do romantic portraits. Since time is usually tight, and the couple wants to enjoy as much of their reception as possible, I like to work efficiently. Jessica and Michael had their reception at a venue where I hadn’t worked before, so during dinner time, I quickly went around the venue with my assistant, to scout a few places to photograph the couple.
In the basement of this venue, I noticed the light shining through gates … casting interesting shadows on the wall. I thought this might be ideal to pose the couple, and then light them beautifully with a hand-held video light.
This is the test shot without an additional light, with my assistant more or less in position. I wanted to see if my pre-visualization would work.
Yup, the patterns on the wall looked interesting … at these exposure settings.
1/30 @ f3.2 @ 1000 ISO
At those settings, this photo of my assistant was under-exposed. A great scenario for video light to light up the couple. Because video light has a fast light fall-off to the edges, it is perfect for lighting up just the couple, and not washing out the patterns on the wall. Bounce flash would’ve been unconfined, and would’ve lit up the entire place .. and I would’ve lost those interesting shapes on the walls. Just as important, the WB of the video light can be set to Incandescent WB, which better matches the existing light there. In this way the video light blends better with the ambient light than an ungelled flash would have.
The test shot confirmed that my idea would work. Then it was a quick set-up with the couple when I had them there. We could shoot fast, and move on.
Camera settings & Photo gear (or equivalents) used during this session
- 1/30 @ f3.2 @ 1000 ISO … with video light; no flash
- Nikon D3;
- Nikon 24-70mm f2.8G AF-S / Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II
- recommended LED video light
Interesting. You metered for ambient light and then let the video light be your light source. How would you know if the video light would provide enough light, since you’re not relying on TTL?
Hi Neil. Did you use a monopod? I see that you’re not mentioning it anymore in your gear. Regards!
Neil, you Litepanel must have been very close I’m guessing – any pull back shots?
Also, with continuous light you are not freezing motion so 1/30 seems a bit risky to me handheld no?
I like the effect, while a lite panel is not in my camera bag, I can see its value. Having read this blog for about a year now, Neil, thank you! You have expanded my horizon on how to take pictures in varied light conditions. Such conditions would have scared me off a year ago. With the tools that I have at my disposal I would have to use a snooted flash unit which would have retained the shadows on the wall at the expense of harsh light on the subject.
Thanks again,
Robert
A snoot/ grid on the flash would have worked as well right? The shadow transitions on the couple would have been a bit harder perhaps.
Can’t beat the video light for set-up speed though…
Cheers!
Bogdan