lighting for weddings
 

do you guys use lights at all? or use lights at the reception where most of the time the dance room are dim? How about the getting ready shots, do you bring lights to their home? if yes then which lights do you use?

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Hi Victor, just small on camera LED lights, they can be dimmed if needed or moved off camera and put on a stand if needed.
They give a slight green spike to the light, but a custom white balance solves the problem.
best wishes John

Re: lighting for weddings
 

which led lights do you use? I have been hearing good things about the switronix led. I also have heard amazing things about z96

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Hi Victor

I get way better results since I switched from multi-led on camera lights to ones with powerleds!! Mine are 6 x 3W LED's rather than hundreds of smaller ones and give me a much better light and also more wattage too. The Comer lights (considered the best) use the same arrangement.

Chris

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Chris, which type and where do you purchase?

Troy

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I don't like to use lights during the reception, I feel like I get a lot more candid moments that way. Typically the important moments of the reception (cake cutting, speeches, etc.) there is enough light from a window or house lighting where I can just use a fast lens and get enough light. Once it's just dancing is where I can run into trouble, but I've found that I can bump up my ISO, shoot with a fast lens and use noise reduction software to get footage I'm comfortable using.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

It is a must! I have on-camera lights for interview and reception. I also setup light on light stand placed on corner of dance floor.

I attended wedding where there is no additional light. Guests doesn't know what's going on. For weddings I did, when they introduce family member, cake cutting... all these, guests know where to look at.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

That's an interesting observation. To be fair, I'm relatively new at filming weddings, but I haven't come across an issue where guest don't know what's happening or where to look.

Do you think people have trouble finding where to look when there is no videographer?

Re: lighting for weddings
 

That was my friend's wedding in a hotel ball room that I attended as guest . They dimmed down all ceiling lights. Just some uplights along the wall. Many times I can only hear the MC was saying things but can't see what's going on at the dance floor. When they introduce family members, I don't know where is that person.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

This is a video I did a while back. It shows the part where MC introduce family members. WIthout light, it's all dark.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I don't think it has to do with guests not being able to see what's going on at all. Frankly IMHO it has to do with quality of footage/image. PERIOD. Why would I say that? Simple. When it's dark it's dark. I don't care if you kick the ISO up open your iris, slow the shutter, stand on your head, when it's dark...it's dark! Photo and video need LIGHT! Period!
I've shot well in excess of 2500 weddings as both a still photograhper (back in the days of real film) and as a videographer using video cameras not DSLRs. (that's another story for another day). The principle is the same. You need light to produce a quality image. If you don't have enough light in the room then you must add some. Whether you use a light on the camera or off the camera when it's dark it's dark and when it's dark the quality suffers.
If you've ever shot breaking news events (I have) you'll find that in many cases you end up using a light outside. Why? The sun is out and it's bright enough! Right, but depending an where the sun is at in the sky you might have people squinting or racoon eye shadows so you use a light. Why do you think most news stations use a light for the outdoor standups? Same reason you use one indoors. The lighting may not be enough, may not give good enough coverage, usually it's in the ceiling so you get nasty shadows, the reasons are endless.
I used to use a low powered light (well low powered in relationship to what else was out there at the time) the Anton Bauer Ultralite was my fav. that with a 30W bulb and a softbox and you didn't blind anyone and had good enough light coverage to be able to run at 1/60th shutter with iris somewhere between f/1.6 and f/2.4. Now it's LEDs so I use a small one (LP Micro) on the camera with 2 of the 160LEDs on stands by the DJs speaker stands which are usually about 5 to 8 feet from the edge of the dance floor and up about 7 feet in the air. They're both on remote control and depending on the general lighting in the room, I will adjust the level up or down.
Regardless of the type of light you use or where you place it chances are you are only fooling yourself if you don't use some sort of additional lighting for a dark(er) reception. And BTW, in all my years and all the weddings I've done I can probably count on 2 hands the number of times people have told me my light is too bright. People expect lighting. I don't disappoint them. I'm there for the bride and groom and they expect a certain level of quality and using some sort of additional lighting is the only way to give it to them.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I was speaking on behave of a guest at the wedding. I was a guest. The reception is poorly lit. I didn't know what was going on except hearing MC voice through the PA.

We all agree it is fact that we need sufficient light to provide quality footage.

Funny I experienced a few times guests saying the light is too bright when I do guest interviews with on-camera light. And they are all female (not being a sexist). When they try to squint and use hand as shade, I noticed they were staring at the light thinking that's the lens. I have to remind them not to look at the light.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Taky, I understand. My point is that if a venue is that poorly lit, then the managment of the venue need to be smacked on the side of the head. That is dangerous to have the lighting down that low. If some sort of emergency were to happen (I've seen heart attacks and fires) the guests would be tripping over each other. There is absolutely no reason for the lighting to be that low. Turn it down sure but leave enough to be able to see. If they want mood lighting then the couple should have hired a lighting company to come in and light the room properly.
As for the guests saying the light is too bright during interviews...well, hate to say it but you're right. It's more women than men. Even when I do interviews at a seminar I sometimes get that and yes, it's mostly women. Can't figure it out.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I just don't understand why they have to stare at the light and complain it's too bright! Just don't look at it!

Re: lighting for weddings
 

That made me laugh. How true. Sometimes you gotta remind people to breathe! lol!

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Hi Troy

If you search for video light 5010A on eBay you will find them... it is a poor man's version of the C omer lights that Taky sells..if you can afford a Comer then get one!!

Chris

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I agree with those who suggest the LED on camera lights. I have bought several off brands on a popular auction site but the absolute best value for the money has been the Z96 LED light with magnetic filters.

This light retails some places for $150 but can be had on an auction site from multiple vendors for right at $50 with free shipping. It uses Sony batteries or AA batteries.

Be wary of cheap LED lights that don't have a screwed in camera shoe mount. Those that are made of plastic and attached to the LED light by four tiny screws break easily and cannot be replaced. The Z96 and a few others have 1/4" shoe mounts that screw into a hole in the bottom of the light. These are great because if the shoe mount breaks there are a lot of replacement shoe mounts you can buy to screw into the LED to replace the original one.

We use CFL light boxes when doing some event videography where we are videotaping lecturers but for run and gun wedding receptions the on camera lights are the way to go.

We actually have three Z96's. Sometimes I carry one in my hand and will hold it above my head pointed at the dance floor while my primary shooter is getting wide shots. It is amazing how much better one or two of these little LED lights can make video of a dim venue look!

Re: lighting for weddings
 

How about a F1.4 lens to go with your DSLR and you can forget about the light, I have to use a light only a couple of times since I switch to DSLR a few years ago when the reception was pitch black, people react when you turn on your lights, LED or not it is still bright and they are aware of you are shooting them, without the light it is much more natural for the video and for the guests.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I'm already using f1.4 lens. The Venue and the DJ just think it's cool to turn down the light real low for the dance floor.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I'm sure there are not many wedding photographers who would consider not using a flash for the first dance
Therefore I also need light and for the same reasons.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

It's not just a question of the scene being adequately exposed it's the type & quality of lighting that is important. Even if you have a DSLR that excels in low light the images will look like crap if the lighting is flat & even. You need lights to throw shadows to make the video look three-dimensional. Photographers don't use flash because there isn't enough light they use it to enhance the image & we need to do the same with video lights. The only problem is that on-camera lights are just as unflattering as on-camera flash. If you can get the light off the camera & up to one side the quality of the images will be improved enormously.

We use those cheap 160-LED lamps & the latest ones that we bought are much brighter & even have barn doors but still cost less than £40/$50. I have a 50W spot light that runs off a 12V battery (the bulb is actually a halogen car headlamp bulb) that can be useful when held by an assistant.

I have just bought a cheap (£40/$50) used 1000W hand blaster off eBay but haven't had the nerve to use it at a wedding yet. It is really really bright runs really hot & has a built in fan. The downside of course is that I need a mains socket & extension lead to use it but it floods a room with light. Perhaps I should whip this out first so that they can complain that it's too bright then they won't complain when I switch to the LED lamps that I always wanted to use:-)

Re: lighting for weddings
 

In what way is it better than the multi-LED lamps? Brighter? More even? Throws further? The Comer knock-offs are about the same price as the 160-LEDs that we use.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I usually get by all day without extra light untill the first dance, had several weddings this year I ran into problems with my dslr and a f2.8 lens on a steadicam, then I just put my videocamera on a tripod and attached a videolight on it and direct it to the couple. But often the distance was too far and it still turned out underexposed. Now I just attach my sony cx730 to my steadicam which has a build in light but I need to get close enough to the couple which is not always the best option (I like to get them in the frame completely) but often it's the only option to get usable footage.

I have seen video's here where videographer bring their own lights on a lightstand but as much as I would like to have that as well, it certainly would not be appreciated in some cases, One venue I visited several times the past years is known for using candle light only and my dslr's and sony can cope until they start the first dance, adding too much light would ruin the mood for sure so it's often trying to find the right balance of how much you can add.

Honestly I do get tired of these venues that like you say think it's cool to turn the lights down completely so even my dslr with a f1.4 lens and at 3200 iso can't cope, I did purchase a lightstand recently to add a small camera in the church so I can get high enough, seriously considering getting a bit stronger light for it and then just place it right next to the DJ to add lights when needed, they probably will blame the DJ for it afterwards :)

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I use on-camera light for run and gun interviews. At reception, I also have video light mounted on light stand placed at the rear corner of dance floor. It works well too as I mounted a voice recorder on the same light stand to pick up sounds from DJ speakers for master audio track.

Off-axle lighting brings depth to the object with highlight and shadow. more dynamic image tone.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

I respectfully disagree on this. In this iphone/digital/mobile age, everybody has a camera phone. People used to act in front of camera. I put together a blog post about this Concern of Using Video Light at Event | L.A. Color Online Blog

:)

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Hey Nigel

It definately gives you more bang for your buck..my 6 x PowerLED units push out nearly 15w compared to the 160LED that barely makes 11W and yes, I do find that the light is a lot more even and for some reason the powerleds have a slightly lower colour temp too so my WB handles the light from the 5010 perfectly but if I use my 160LED light I have to clamp on the amber filter otherwise everything goes blue and you have to do a manual white balance.... Some cams ATW might not handle the 5010 light but the Panasonics have no issue with it and white is instantly white!! I usually only use it for fairly close work so I suspect the lux dropoff will be much the same as a multi-led light...I currently have a 126LED light, a 160 with barn doors, then a 5010 which has 6 LEDs in a round cluster and a 5010A which has the Comer style configuration.....I always choose the 5010A now...a Sony FP70 battery will last all night too!!!

Chris

Re: lighting for weddings
 

100% in agreement with Don's comments above. As I have said many times before, light is our friend, we need good light for good images. a lighting kit is just as important as a good tripod and audio equipment, never leave home without it.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Chris, I just ordered a 5510A on your recommendation so it had better be good:-) It was just £50/$80 including a battery & charger.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

That is why I don't use light, take advantage of available light and if you are doing int., position them for the best picture, with on camera light then it is one dimension unless you have someone holding the light for you off axle or mount it on a stand but then you are confine to the area where the light can reach, that is why I have change my style completely, only use light when it is completely dark.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Hi Nigel

Well I find them way better than multileds and the construction is also better and the form factor is smaller. Every multiled light I have put on the camera seems to have a poor cold shoe mount so I ended up buying an extra mini-ballhead and cold shoe to strengthen the mount so it didn't wobble around.

I found that the overall performance was a lot more consistent and the battery pack clips on and stays on! I became very tired of lights using AA rechargeables that died or came loose or adapters that needed mods. On my 160 light (seldom used now) I ended up with a hot glue gun and squirted a ton of glue and spacers into the Panasonic battery fitting to stop it falling out.

The great thing about eBay is you can always put an item back on there if you don't like it..!!

I'd appreciate your overview once you have tried it out ?

Chris

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Chris, my 5510A lamp arrived this morning & I am very pleased. Construction is excellent, the foot is much better made than the other cheap LED lamps we have & it is _really_ bright compared to the 126/160-LED lamps. The light seems harder & throws further so you can use it more as a spot. The battery charger is pretty crummy as it is a US wall bug supplied with a wobbly continental plug adaptor but that's a minor point as I do have decent Sony battery chargers. Thanks for the tip. I shall be ordering another.

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Hi Nigel

I'm glad you like it..the construction is good..just be careful of one weak point, the barn doors..I had the light still on the camera at midnight and whilst placing the cam in my car boot, the barn door (left open) caught against the boot lid and snapped off. Apart from that I have had no issues.

DOH!!! Why didn't I think about getting a Sony charger!!!! Yeah, same problem here..I have to prop the charger up with something otherwise it just falls over and stops charging with the USA plug and sstandard adaptor!!! I'll grab a Sony charger that has a cable not one of those direct plug-in devices....You could, also do a simple rewire so it has it's own cable and correct plug and sits on the floor or desk!!

I currently have the 5010 and the 5010A like you have and the 5010 has been running for 12 months so far..at that price I'm happy to replace every 12 months!

Chris

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Nigel, do you have a link for the light ? Delivery seems quite speedy if its a Hong Kong supplier

Re: lighting for weddings
 

It's a UK supplier & I just ordered another as I am so pleased with the first one BRAND NEW LED 5010A CAMERA LIGHT FOR DSLR CAMERAS CAMCORDERS 5055593412063 | eBay

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Much appreciated Nigel. Think I will give one a whirl, thanks

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Can I ask those of you using lighting on stands near the dance floor, what type of setup you use for that? More importantly what type of remote control is it?

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Mark, I use 2 remote lled lights. I got the Logisys 12v 6A remotes. They come with 2 keychain controls and both were different freqs (yay for me ;-). It was a pretty easy install first one I had help---you know who you are ;-) took about 5 minutes and the 2nd even quicker. They work great with the remotes. Oh yeah these came from the big auction place that has an E in the name and were about $17.00 a piece
HTHs

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Hey Don

I have no objection if you mention me regarding wiring the remotes at all. That's what we do here..assist each other!! Mark, If you do buy them you do have to perform minor surgery on the light itself so the remote will work with it. If you need some help with the mod just let me know..it's fairly simple to do!!

Chris

Re: lighting for weddings
 

Chris,
I didn't mention you because I was afraid of the credits thing. You know, mention a someone in an ad and they migh be looking for money ;-)

Anyway, Chris Harding helped me with the wiring. His explaination made it an easy job for me to cut, snip, solder. I've still got the diagram so if anyone needs it let me know.

Thanks Chris!

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Re: lighting for weddings
 

and about focus too, i would love to see coming in shot at f/1.4