Settings and tips for a wedding in April

onoblvdonoblvd
edited February 2012 Posted in » Nikon D5100 Forum
Looking to shoot a wedding with a kit lens. I may end up purchasing a zoom along with a fixed 50mm or 35mm, but not sure. What setting should I put my camera on? It's going to be a low key wedding. They just wants nice snapshots... thank goodness.

Comments

  • MooseMoose
    edited March 2013
    @Onoblvd - You'll definitively want to look into getting a nice prime lens like the 35mm f/1.8 or the 50mm f/1.8. Either of these lenses would be great for portraits, candids, hands, flowers, food, etc... thanks to an extremely shallow depth of field that isolates subjects against silky smooth backgrounds.

    Your kit lens (18-55mm) will be beneficial for wide group shots of the wedding party. I wouldn't worry about a zoom lens, unless you'll be restricted from getting close to the bride and groom.

    In addition to a prime lens, you might also think about getting a good speedlight, like the SB-700. With the speedlight, you'll be able to illumate groups of people outdoors, provide fill light for intimate bride and groom shots and bounce light for more natural looking shots when shooting indoors.

    As for settings, I would shoot in Aperture priority (A on the mode dial) and select your f-number based on the subject or scene. Select low f-numbers for close-ups and portraits. Select an f-number between f/4 for small groups (2 to 4 people) and f/5.6 for larger groups (4 to 8 people).

    I would also leave the ISO set to Auto to ensure you get accurate exposures. In addition to that, you might think about enabling the center focus point rather than relying on the D5100 to select the focus point for you.

    That should get you going in the right direction. Best of luck and happy shooting! :)
  • onoblvdonoblvd
    Thanks so much, I actually do have a SB - 800. I do have trouble with it, trying to learn how to bounce, when to bounce and where it needs to bounce to have the best result.
    How do you enable the center focus. I do have issues with that already, just around the house, two or three people or children, only one is in focus! Really a problem....
    thank u soooo much for your help. Look foward to further ! (o:
  • MooseMoose
    @onoblvd - Generally speaking it's a good idea to bounce light anytime you're in an averaged sized room. If you're shooting in a large room (church, auditorium, gym, etc...) it's better to point the flash directly at your subject. If you're capturing people shots in a large room, try adding a diffuser to your SB-800 which softens the light for more natural skin tones.

    As for the center focus point...just press the "i" button and navigate to the AF Area mode option, which is located in the right hand column, 4th tab from the bottom. Select the Single-point AF option and you'll be able to shoot using the center focus point.

    As for capturing groups of kids, be sure to shoot in Aperture priority and select an f-number between f/4 to f/5.6 to get all of them in focus. I usually focus on the person in the middle of the group. Hope that helps. Happy shooting! :)
  • onoblvdonoblvd
    I don't know how you have time to answer all these questions but we really appreciate your help! thanks
  • MooseMoose
    @onoblvd - Thanks for the kinds words :)
  • onoblvdonoblvd
    edited March 2013
    Howdy @onoblvd! I moved your question into it's own thread and replied to it here. Thanks, Moose :)
  • onoblvdonoblvd
    edited March 2013
    Howdy @onoblvd! I moved your question into it's own thread and replied to it here. Thanks, Moose :)

    P.S. When you want to post a question, just click the large red button towards the top right of this page, labeled 'Start a New Thread'.
  • CaesarCaesar
    edited April 2012
    WOW! These answers have really helped!
  • MooseMoose
    @Caesar - Glad to hear it! :)
  • tristanedtristaned
    edited September 2012
    Hello Moose! Great tips you've got here. I would like to clarify, can you select Auto in ISO while using Aperture priority mode? I tried to do it on my D5100 but there's no option for Auto, only 100 and up. Thanks in advance for your clarification.
  • daloisiodaloisio
    edited September 2012
    Also waiting on a response to @tristaned.
  • rhinorhino
    edited October 2012
    I'm sure you must be able to select auto ISO while shooting in aperture mode. I've got a D3100 and ran into the same issue. If I hit the info button to go into the quick edit screen and scroll to ISO there is no option for Auto. To enable auto ISO, I have to hit the menu button and scroll to the shooting menu. There's an ISO sub menu there which allows me to enable Auto ISO as well as the maximum ISO to which I want to let it increase. I've got to imagine that the D5100 is set up similarly.
  • purplenat75purplenat75
    edited December 2012
    @tristaned I'm also wondering how to select auto ISO while shooting in aperture mode. I tried what @rhino suggested but it wouldn't let me select auto. I'm a complete newbie to DSLR's, I've only used point and shoots before. There is so much to learn and I have found so many great tips on this forum so far.
  • rhinorhino
    edited January 2013
    I just got my hands on a D5100 to check on the Auto ISO issues. To enable auto ISO, first make sure you select an exposure mode (P,A,S, or M, not Auto mode) then hit menu. Scroll to the shooting menu, select ISO sensitivity, then enable Auto ISO as well as select maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed.
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