using video light as fill-light for the romantic wedding portraits
Having just photographed my first wedding of 2011, I’m back in the groove of things. Keeping to the recent theme of showing how video lights are used for photography, I’d like to show a small selection of images of Cherryl and Jim’s wedding where I used a video light to enhance the existing incandescent lighting at the reception venue …
The bridal portrait above of Cherryl was shot in a closed elevator door.
I used the Nikon 24-70mm f2.8G on a D3 body.
Camera settings: 1/125 @ f2.8 @ 1250 ISO
There was already a lot of light around from the various light sources, but to make sure that I get great light on her face, I added the video light. I used the Litepanels MicroPro, my usual go-to video light at weddings. For this image, I had my assistant hold it up for me. (Here’s the pull-back shot.) But for the other two image shown here, I had the Litepanels LED light on a light-stand. This was to free Jessica up to shoot some video on the Canon 5D mk2. We’ll get a video clip up later this week of Cherryl and Jim’s wedding day.
Nikon D3; Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S VR II (B&H)
camera settings: 1/60 @ f2.8 @ 1250 ISO
Nikon D3; Nikon 85mm f1.4G (B&H)
camera settings: 1/250 @ f1.6 @ 1000 ISO
With these images, the video light wasn’t the dominant light source as in other examples I’ve shown before in various articles. Instead, I used the video light here to enhance the existing incandescent light. The video light I used here is an LED light which has to have a filter placed over it to change it from a daylight-balanced light source, to an incandescent-balanced light source.
In all the images, the video light was to my right-hand side, adding a fill-light to the bride’s face. Just enough to light up her face and clean up any shadows that might have been there from the existing light.
Hey Neil are you worried about have a good dof when you shoot a couple with the 85m at f1.6?
Thanks Neil, great work as usual!
very nice images, thank you for sharing everything that you do, it is always such a blessing :)
in above shoots did you shoot first with no extra light to get the right background and then you added LED lights?
Oi Neil!
Este é um post interessante sobre luz de video. Parabéns!
Vejo que você também tem usado nos seus casamentos.
Eu também tenho usado bastante a luz de video (led). A grande vantagem é que sei como vai ficar o resultado e me agrada bastante.
Estou resolvendo comprar um kit de 500 led
mas aqui no Brazil não tem.
Uso também um kit de luz halogena de 1000 wats com 2 difusores para filtrar a luz nos casamentos, mas confesso que esquenta um pouco e tenho a preoculpação de colocar um pouco distante.
Segue o link do kit de luz halogena.
Fazendo minhas visitas nesse blog de um grande fotografo brasileiro, vi que uma impresa brasileira lançou um led super potente. Achei interessante.
Segue o link
Confesso de deixei o flash um pouco de lado. A tecnologia led, tem ajudado bastante.
Abraço,
Ricardo Carvalho – Fotografia de Casamento
Ilha Grande – Piauí – Brazil
via a Google translation:
Hi Neil!
This is an interesting post about the video light. Congratulations!
I see that you also have used in their weddings.
I have also used a lot of video light (LED). The big advantage is that I know how it goes the
and the result pleases me greatly.
I’m resolving to buy this kit with 500 LED
But here in Brazil has not.
I also use a halogen light kit for 1000 watts with 2 diffusers to filter light in weddings,
but I confess that heats up a little and I worry a little put off.
Follow the link to the halogen light kit.
Making my visits this blog from a Brazilian great photographer, I saw a printed
Brazil launched a super power LED. I found it interesting.
Follow the link
I confess I left the flash in a little while. The LED technology has helped a lot.
Regards,
Ricardo Carvalho – Wedding Photography
Ilha Grande – Piauí – Brazil
Neil, I guess that your work flow is to adjust your settings in manual mode after you have set up the pose to ensure the ambient is correct ? Then you turn on your video light on the bride’s face to put enough light (either stronger or weaker light or move the LED closer or further) to take out the shadow ?
Your light is so perfect on the third pic where the couple is holding hands that I can’t tell you used video light at all !
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Neil, great work as always. You said that you gelled the video light for incandescent. What gel did you use..e.g. color temp from B&H?
Wes E
Hi Neil! Just discovered your Tangents blog and am loving it! Thanks so much for all your hard work to teach others. Quick question, just wanted to confirm you had used no other light other than ambient and the video LED light? I think that’s what I’m getting from your #7 post above. I’m completely new to flash photography and excited to learn from you as you continue to share your skills! Thanks again, Neil!
I found this a very useful lesson that I learned on your course in Dublin.