LOVE your blog, thanks for entertaining me Hope there will be more posts soon regards, terry ps - sorry im not that good in writing in english because I came from europe - but i understand a lot

Found you via strobist. What great stuff! I am still in my first year as a wedding pro, and this kind of stuff just tugs my bobber! I love the how wedding shooters now share the love and spread their knowledge. Awesome work, and many thanks.

Ha, the trump is that they use it! without flash can be inspiring, if you're able to focus on the light. But it helps to highlight the subject doesn't it!

Wow, what a clever, clever idea. I had never thought about hiding a flash in the crowd. I'm pretty sure I will be trying it now :-)

Hi Matt, I am looking for the blog of an image I recall I saw at this site. It was a photo of the bride and groom in their car lit by a flash with a blue gel on it, creating the most unusual effect, could I have directions for that blog please ?

Hi, again! I love this pictures, and last weekend I tried to do the same. I set my flash output to 1/4, might be to weak, and triggered the flash with ST-E2. The problem with ST-E2 it cannot see the flash behind the bride. So I will try to get a radio control instead. Again, thanks for sharing! Best Robert http://www.roberthammar.se/?p=165

Saw you on LightRoomKillerTips.com I have had the pleasure of shooting video at a few weddings with you Matt, and I must say the style and animation you put in to play are insane. You seems to put every ounce of his character into each shot. Nice to see you spreading the enthusiasm you have for your work. Your images set a benchmark for us wedding photographers out here. Chase the shadows, brilliant stuff!

G'day Mate, Came in via Planet Photoshop. Absolutely fantatic shots.. VERY inspirational. Really do love your work. As far as the No Flash Zones, well rules are rules and I for one certainly don't want to get struck down by a lightening bolt but I agree with you that a couple of befores and afters aren't going to hurt. I just don't abuse the privilege.

Yes, I do actually shoot full manual.  I know Manny does too as we spoke the other night..I'd love to see some of his stuff!! TTL does not exist (well) with off camera speedlights set to manual power output. I diffuse, bounce, direct, throw, gel, whatever you can think of, we do. There is no right answer or correct method, just the method that works for YOU. I'd love to chat in Rhode Island... I'm a big traveler in July though... What dates? M

Christine, I am not Matt but I am sure hi seta his camera in full M and his flash units also in manual. Manny

Great images!! I am anxious to try some of your techniques. Strobe with digital is the area, I really want to improve on. Do you use a diffuser(i.e. Lightsphere)? Is the strobe bounced, direct? Is your camera on Aperture priorirty ever? iTTl with the sb-800? Sorry, so much I want to learn. Interested in speaking to Pros in Rhode Island in July?? Warm Regards, Christine Keene Christine Keene Photography 401-597-0383

When are you coming to Australia to run a workshop!!!!!!!!!

Really impressive shot(s). found via strobist. Keep up the great work. -Jon

Great images! I always use off camera flash, it really makes a difference, Thr Riviera Maya shots are really wonderful! Matt, we talk in the phone earlier today and I dont remember what flash units do you use with your PW, I use sunpak 555 but they are not available no more, I guess I have to buy used ones. GREAT IMAGES again!

Can you say OCD? I cant stop looking at your photos !!!! I cant wait to get my dates firmed up so we can book you - and we'll have you all to ourselves ;) KIDDING (sort of) ;) First the car, now the flash - I cant get enough !!! Becky Bride to be 08

I totally agree with Matt here and respectfully disagree with Ben. One pop from an assistant will not be remembered by the bride (now, if you forget to turn off your PW, you are in trouble) and I agree with Mark that most weddings will allow you to shoot during the procession and recession with flash, so no worries. I am a HUGE believer in respecting the ceremony and respecting the church's wishes, etc, but if Uncle BOB can pop his flash 8 times during the ceremony, my one or two isn't going to hurt. I would never do it after they've walked to the alter, etc. Just on the way in and out, baby!

Mark, the ISO3200 tmax days are definitely in my memory. My career started learning on film with the nikon f4... That tmax had an awesome look...I cant seem to duplicate it with digital! Ben, I use no distance scales or readings on the flash to determine anything. 100% intuition. my recommendations: forget about reading the back of your flash and dialing in the distance and so forth and trying to incorporate a speedlight into a situation where you have uncontrolled wedding circumstances where moments come and go with the blink of an eye. You must develop an intuition with your flash settings and grow a comfort zone with the power settings. In my example, we set our cameras to expose some of the ambient light. I know that at 1//16 power at iso 400-800, I can throw the light approx 10-20 feet (range subjects are walking) and get an exposure. This process will begin with a trial and error process and grow into something that is instinct for you. I recommend setting a safe camera exposure, Iso 800, 2.8 at 1/60. Shoot in some controlled environment and find a comfort zone for distance to subject with the flash. Play with opening up and stopping down in the camera and leaving the light settings as they were... Then, change it up and make mental notes. Soon, this will grow on you. hope this helps! EDITED COMMENT:  I thought about this and came back with better "how to" when in this circumstance.    I have developed my "instinct" with the flash and settings over some time.  BUT, a great way to figure this one out is to set the flash at 1/16 power.   Now, as they are exiting (not in your flash range yet) fire off a shot.   The flash will spill on the floor where you instructed your assistant to aim it.   Quickly evaluate your LCD for the exposure.   Say you were shooting wide open 2.8 at 1/60 at 1250 ISO.   You may quickly see that your image is over exposed... Make an ISO adjustment (2-4 stops or whatever you determine you were off)  and reshoot.  By this time, you should have it dialed in. SO, it is like a trial and error thing in that circumstance if you aren't too sure about what to set the flash to.   In my case, I knew that 10-20 feet at 1/16 power would produce a fine exposure.       good luck, cheers! matt

I assume that you input your aperture and ISO into the flash, then selected a flash power which, on the flash display, yielded the appropriate distance.

Hi Matt, I'm not quite sure what you mean here: "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."

I too came here by way of Strobist.com. Love all your posts and have subscribed. You have some great ideas. I look forward to learning more. Great shots too, by the way.

Just wanted to say that in all of the Churches that I have shot in with the "no flash"rule it has been reserved for just the vows them self. Most don't seen to care if you us flash as the bride and father come up the isle and the same for the bride and grooms exit. I have always followed this rule for myself and haven't been kicked out yet. Been doing photoj weddings since TMax 3200. However I find it best pick up at least one 2.8 or faster, 135mm or longer to shot the rest. I event turn of the AF as to not make noise.

Comment: Got the nod over to this article from Strobist. It's a great shot - and I mean really great - but I've got to say, if a venue states "no flash", I take it to heart. There are many places and times to be cheeky/sneaky, but in my humblest of opinions, in the church, especially before the vows are taken, isn't one of them, even for a killer shot like this. I know we can justify this with saying that guests will be doing it anyway, so we'll probably get away with it, but aren't we at risk of letting the photography get in the way of the most important part of the day? I know it's always a fine line, and I toe it every time I shoot, but for me this is that one risk too far. I'd hate to have the bride walk away with the memory of a full-face blast as she walked down the isle. Having said that, I certainly take your point in the post just above this one - one or two pops in a ceremony is pretty low risk. And I'm sure they must have been overjoyed with the result here. What's other people's opinion on this? Anyone else have part of the day that they consider sacrosanct in terms of being invisible (as I've mentioned, mine is from the beginning of the ceremony to the end of the vows)?

Thanks so much for taking time to comment! Key thing is that we don't use strobes at weddings usually. If you plan to use one, it needs to be done incognito. I say this because I believe that all the church nazi coordinators in the world have developed this pissed off relationship with any photographer that walks in the door because some YAHOO flash user must have streaked the isle naked busting flash all over the place. So key is keep it unknown, if possible and super limited to 1 or 2 bursts per ceremony if you are trying these techniques.. My setup is simple, a transmitter (PW) on my 5d. Nikon sb-28 speedlight operated by a personal assistant.

Hi Matt This is great stuff. I shoot weddings down here in Australia. I am often frustrated by the lack of light in churches. I have recently invested in a few pocket wizards and am keen to experiment with flash setups. What setup did you use with the photo above. I am looking at ways to quickly setup a couple of speedlights in the church to improve the overall lighting of shots during the ceramony.

wow ! MATT awesome ! COOL ! i 'm learning a lot ! thanks for the cool video too ! TRASH THE DRESS ?! wild . and COOL !