posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 in Photographers Matt Adcock
We wanted to get this blog started with a post about BREAKING THE RULES as the off camera flash typically presents many challenges at weddings where you have very little time to think and react, moreover, change the settings quickly on your off camera strobe. (I'm not suggesting that all the photographers in the world go out there and flood church ceremonies with strobe lights... just a small "flavor" now and then)
I have a fun example where we have all seen the rule:
Wedding Ceremony | NO FLASH
This is a rule that we see in just about every church in the world, I don’t blame them. Typically, they are referencing the photographer that walks up with the on-camera potato masher blasting away. Most of us should agree that we don't need to use the on-camera rig to actually get our shots.…. One thing that we can always count on is that Aunt Bee has her P&S film camera and rest assured she will be snapping away, flash bulbs popping…probably at least half a dozen other guests too. I figured that it was time that I capitalize on this excessive use of flash in a “FLASH FORBIDDEN†environment.
SO, why not break the rules and do it cleverly. :) Every now and again, we will incorporate one of our interns as a “Guest†in the audience sitting about half way down and at the end of the isle. This technique is risky and one that can’t be practiced to much without being noticed. Here, you see one of my associates operating a flash set to 1/2 power…. You only get 1 exposure here folks, don’t blow it.
We instruct our intern to turn the flash OFF after our (1 chance shot). I also turn the PW transmitter off to be safe.
This church actually has a HUGE banner of this print that they showcase at bridal shows :)
But, they still publish a booklet to their brides, inside a keynote still reads: ---flash photography not allowed during ceremony--
i love my job :)
***this was the first time we tried this type of shot*** My friend Matt Mcgraw inspired me on this one:)
Here is another example where we were limited by the natural light (no flash during ceremony). This worked out like a champ as the natural light during the ceremony was perfect at the alter. During this hour long Catholic Mass, we decided that the recessional would start to get dark once the bride & groom started to make their exit.
!!!!Bright idea!!!!.... Aim a flash at them from the balcony, triggered from the floor.... If we were smart, we could have figured this out an hour or so earlier but that just wasn't on my brain as I was shooting other things. SO, once we figured out that we could get this shot, we set our flash to 1/16 power and took a couple of shots as they were first announced as bride and groom. We took the ambient exposure and used the distance of 10-20 feet at 1/16 power, and rattled off a few on their exit.
*note --jpg shooters* if you were shooting a Kelvin WB or a Custom WB at the alter, you need to remember to switch back to AWB (my usual preference) for the speedlight. I'd also recommend a slightly lower ISO adjustment.
cheers!
MATT
Here is another example where we were limited by the natural light (no flash during ceremony). This worked out like a champ as the natural light during the ceremony was perfect at the alter. During this hour long Catholic Mass, we decided that the recessional would start to get dark once the bride & groom started to make their exit.
!!!!Bright idea!!!!.... Aim a flash at them from the balcony, triggered from the floor.... If we were smart, we could have figured this out an hour or so earlier but that just wasn't on my brain as I was shooting other things. SO, once we figured out that we could get this shot, we set our flash to 1/16 power and took a couple of shots as they were first announced as bride and groom. We took the ambient exposure and used the distance of 10-20 feet at 1/16 power, and rattled off a few on their exit.
*note --jpg shooters* if you were shooting a Kelvin WB or a Custom WB at the alter, you need to remember to switch back to AWB (my usual preference) for the speedlight. I'd also recommend a slightly lower ISO adjustment.
cheers!
MATT 
I stepped back and layered the composition with the driver in the foreground,
shot 14 seconds after the Frame #1
Frame #2 Shot at 7.41pm with 20 seconds
Frame #3 was shot at 7.41pm with 52 seconds
...and finally, this last moment from the sequence. Honestly, I felt like I blew this one out a little too much... the car was rolling as I took this shot. I had rather they not be as camera aware as they are here... oh well. This ended up being their favorite photo, or the most commented on shot from the family. I later found out that the driver was father of the bride's best childhood friend!
Frame #4, Shot at 7:42pm with 20 seconds, as they were headed out. My speedlight stayed with them then entire drive to the reception. 
Stay on your toes and have fun with your images. Drop a speedlight in the scene to make it a little more dynamic.
Cheers!
matt 
Here, We actually were only using 1 speedlight. I was holding the speedlight away from the wall so it would wash the color across the back wall...definitely adds some flavor!
This documentary video pretty much tells the story...