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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Shooting the toasts/speeches

 
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Brackish
Veteran


Aug 5, 2007, 9:36 AM

Post #1 of 31 (1600 views)
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Shooting the toasts/speeches Can't Post
Just wondering what y'all are doing for this?

I know when I'm shooting video of the toasts
often the photog goes and stands about
10' or so in front of the toaster and
fires off some flash shots. Sometimes the
photog is blocking not only the video cam
but also the view of some of the guests ... it
just seems a bit obtrusive.

I've thought about maybe just squatting
down and taking a shot from a low angle
near the ground. One concern here is that
almost all my toasters stand behind the head table
which is raised about a foot off the ground and
so that the angle of the shot might not
look the best, what with me shooting from low
to the ground and the toaster being much higher
off the ground than me. Any thoughts on
this?

Alternatively, I've considered using a long
lens and shooting the toaster from some
distance away, so that I don't have to
stand in front of the guests to get the shot.
Any thoughts here?






(This post was edited by Brackish on Aug 10, 2007, 10:48 PM)


DarrenS
Veteran

Aug 5, 2007, 12:53 PM

Post #2 of 31 (1588 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
At a higher end one where the speeches are all pretty serious I'll shoot back from beside a pillar with a 200mm and get perfectly fine pictures. 100% candid and natural light. It seems customers really enjoy these. There's a way higher amount of unusable shots this way however. You just take more than usual and hopefully your camera noise doesn't distract. Last time I used my 200 I lucked-in to standing beside a old camera buff. He was facinated with the 200/2 unit and didn't mind the bit of noise I made. Usually try to shoot when people clap, or laugh or make some other loud sound to cover the shutter noise.


videochicke
Veteran


Aug 5, 2007, 2:15 PM

Post #3 of 31 (1580 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
I wouldn't shoot low. The flash will hit the tablecloth and will blow out in comparison to the couple. Better to just keep back a bit and zoom in which will light things more evenly. I also with both video and photo try to shoot to the side with the groom closest to me so the bride's gown is not what is closest to the flash.
Julie


Brackish
Veteran


Aug 5, 2007, 5:22 PM

Post #4 of 31 (1569 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
One thing I was wondering is about the type of toasts
shots you want to get. For example, do you usually
want to have them in mid-speech, where there mouth is
open while they're talking?






DarrenS
Veteran

Aug 5, 2007, 5:41 PM

Post #5 of 31 (1565 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
No you don't want that. You want the grin with the glance over to the head table, the smile during a pause, the wiping of tears, etc. People in mid-speech rarely look good on film, particularily weddings. Journalistic images of political figures perhaps.


RustyB
Veteran


Aug 5, 2007, 6:11 PM

Post #6 of 31 (1560 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
.....People in mid-speech rarely look good on film.....


It's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Laugh


It sounds like a good idea at the time...'til you actually look at the image at home...it makes the speaker look like an idiot...





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DarrenS
Veteran

Aug 5, 2007, 8:27 PM

Post #7 of 31 (1551 views)
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Re: [RustyB] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
Ask not what your country can do for you... Laugh

Other than the speaking mouth that's a really nice shot actually. Great composition and it looks cool with the sky and clouds as a complete backdrop. I'd clone-out that electrical pole or whatever it is bottom left.

edit: this was shot with what camera? difficult exposure is bang-on.


(This post was edited by DarrenS on Aug 5, 2007, 8:31 PM)


Brackish
Veteran


Aug 5, 2007, 8:53 PM

Post #8 of 31 (1545 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
People in mid-speech rarely look good on film, particularily weddings.
Well, how 'bout the preacher when he's giving his homily?
Good idea to make exception and have him with mouth open?

How about a reader?






RustyB
Veteran


Aug 6, 2007, 12:03 AM

Post #9 of 31 (1533 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Ask not what your country can do for you... Laugh

Other than the speaking mouth that's a really nice shot actually. Great composition and it looks cool with the sky and clouds as a complete backdrop. I'd clone-out that electrical pole or whatever it is bottom left.

edit: this was shot with what camera? difficult exposure is bang-on.

It was shot with my Olympus E-500, and I just ran a automatic retro black & white action on it for this post. All the customer got was a minimally processed disc full of images that I burned for them before I left the shoot.



Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc


Shadow
Veteran

Aug 6, 2007, 2:08 AM

Post #10 of 31 (1531 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
I've been taking a few different photos of each speaker, agreed, the talking shots look stupid. Usually at the end they do a toast or something, that's a good time, or if they are laughing. You need to be on the ball, paying attention to what is being said and anticipate a laugh or emotional moment.

As far as being unobtrusive, it totally depends on the set up and lighting and I do the best that I can. If I can stand back and get a good shot I will, but if I need to get closer, I move in, get the shot and move back out again. If I block a guest for a few minutes - oh well! I'd rather do that then explain to the couple later that I didn't get many good shots because I was afraid of blocking a guest for a couple of minutes throughout the speeches.

I think sometimes we worry about this too much. The b&g hire us to capture the day, and I am sure they won't mind if you walk up to get some shots at certain points.


Postal Boy
Veteran


Aug 6, 2007, 9:09 AM

Post #11 of 31 (1524 views)
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Re: [Shadow] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
Anyone try a long range flash? If you put a "muzzle" on the flash then you don't get any spill and can direct a flash to a very specific spot...don't know how it would work, though. I'm still learning new lighting tricks to play with (not at a real event, but for practice).

-Postal


Brackish
Veteran


Aug 6, 2007, 5:34 PM

Post #12 of 31 (1513 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Anyone try a long range flash?
I haven't tried it but the thought has crossed my mind.
Maybe combine a long range flash with a 200mm.
Not sure if a 580EX/430EX/SB800/383 type flash
would cover the distance. Anyone have an opinion
on whether these flashes would cover the distance
for full-body or half-body shots in dim lighting, using
a 200mm?






DarrenS
Veteran

Aug 6, 2007, 7:22 PM

Post #13 of 31 (1500 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
I like wedding pictures of people smiling and grinning and crying. If I'm looking at political pictures of, say, Adolf Hitler giving a speech then I like to see the mouth open; their point being made on film. But it just doesn't work in a wedding context. Nobody at a wedding has anything important enough to say to shoot them speaking, anyway.Laugh


RustyB
Veteran


Aug 6, 2007, 7:42 PM

Post #14 of 31 (1496 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
I like wedding pictures of people smiling and grinning and crying. If I'm looking at political pictures of, say, Adolf Hitler giving a speech then I like to see the mouth open; their point being made on film. But it just doesn't work in a wedding context. Nobody at a wedding has anything important enough to say to shoot them speaking, anyway.Laugh


Ah, what's the point in taking pictures of someone giving toasts anyways, except for them hugging the B&G afterwards. When it comes to speeches, that's what video is for. Cool

Even Hitler didn't mess around hiring a cheapo videographer like Herr Rusty's Videotaping Service for his speech...he booked groundbreaking filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, and gave her an unlimited budget.





Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc


Brackish
Veteran


Aug 6, 2007, 8:02 PM

Post #15 of 31 (1491 views)
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Re: [RustyB] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
In Reply To

Ah, what's the point in taking pictures of someone giving toasts anyways, except for them hugging the B&G afterwards. When it comes to speeches, that's what video is for.
 I know. That's one big reason right there for a couple to have a video in addition to the photos.






DarrenS
Veteran

Aug 6, 2007, 8:07 PM

Post #16 of 31 (1487 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
That's one big reason right there for a couple to have a video in addition to the photos.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Rusty may have infact just uncovered the Killer Application of wedding video marketing. Hmmmm...


RustyB
Veteran


Aug 6, 2007, 8:29 PM

Post #17 of 31 (1482 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
That's one big reason right there for a couple to have a video in addition to the photos.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Rusty may have infact just uncovered the Killer Application of wedding video marketing. Hmmmm...

Customers repeatedly tell me,"we don't want anything fancy, we just want to be able to hear the vows and toasts...", when telling me why they want a video.

I'm tellin' ya, if you needed the extra money, as a wedding photographer you could offer a basic photo montage DVD, and record the vows and toasts with a small digital recorder, and put it in the background of the photos, along with their first dance song, etc. Customers would pick it over a wedding video, easily, and you could charge a heck of a lot more for it than a videographer can charge for a photo montage...just because brides put a higher value on anything the photographer does versus the "video guy".



Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc


Brackish
Veteran


Aug 8, 2007, 2:20 AM

Post #18 of 31 (1445 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
In Reply To
Anyone try a long range flash?

Not sure if a 580EX/430EX/SB800/383 type flash
would cover the distance. Anyone have an opinion
on whether these flashes would cover the distance
for full-body or half-body shots in dim lighting, using
a 200mm?
I did some test shots in dim lighting and was able to
get surprisingly good flash range. I tested at the distance
I frequently videotape my toasts from, about 60 to 90 feet
away. At 60 feet I got proper subject brightness set at
800 ISO + f/5.0 using 100% power. At 90 feet I got
proper brightness set at 800 ISO + f/4.0 on 100%
power.






(This post was edited by Brackish on Aug 8, 2007, 2:56 AM)


Brackish
Veteran


Aug 8, 2007, 3:01 AM

Post #19 of 31 (1438 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
Hey Postal ... with your new avatar you don't look
sinister anymore. Sly






Postal Boy
Veteran


Aug 8, 2007, 9:21 AM

Post #20 of 31 (1430 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
Heh....I got some new flashes and played around...Granted, I didn't "purty" myself up for them, but with the small size you can't see my bed-head, scruffy whiskers, etc...that strobist.blogspot.com site I mentioned in the other post really has some good flash ideas.


videogeek
Enthusiast

Aug 10, 2007, 9:26 PM

Post #21 of 31 (1398 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Brack...
Read your stuff all the time- dont always post.. but this was interesting to me!

I have 2 stand "positions" for shooting the toast with one cam..

When all of the BP id at the head table .. usually the BM is to the left of the groom .. so I will shoot on the right ( of the groom ) framing the b and g in the toasters shot... allowing guests to see the b and g and bm!

if the b and g are at a "sweetheart" table.. I try to stand behind them and frame the b and g to get a head on of the bm then I get natural reactions from the b and g as they laugh to eachother.. and toast the bm!

curious.. when I watch the photographer too .. they only seem to grab basically one head on angle of the toaster... personally - as the photographer.. you would think that he/she would be interested in getting some really interesting perspectives during this time... ?? oh well!

Thanks for being such a staple in this topic!
S
S.
check out the WFD blog for news and films!
http://wfdblog.blogspot.com
Brushes:PD150's, Palette:Edius, Canvas:LiveEvents!


Shadow
Veteran

Aug 10, 2007, 10:01 PM

Post #22 of 31 (1396 views)
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Re: [videogeek] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
when I watch the photographer too .. they only seem to grab basically one head on angle of the toaster... personally - as the photographer.. you would think that he/she would be interested in getting some really interesting perspectives during this time... ?? oh well!
 I know what you mean. Laugh There's times I am capturing something from a neat angle with my camera or a moment that is just so real and I'm wondering why the photographer is standing there not getting this stuff. I guess it just boils down to different tastes, experiences and styles. I think the experience of video, having to keep a continuous good shot, has helped many of us who decided to expand with photography.


videogeek
Enthusiast

Aug 11, 2007, 10:37 AM

Post #23 of 31 (1381 views)
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Re: [Shadow] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
Quote
I guess it just boils down to different tastes, experiences and styles. I think the experience of video, having to keep a continuous good shot, has helped many of us who decided to expand with photography.
I can agree with that..
having "picked up" photography to my video biz... I do a pretty good job...
I can definately say that my experience with video has given me an experience level with framing and compositioning that I actually never really paid attention to ... I just knew "it looked good"

great post!
S
S.
check out the WFD blog for news and films!
http://wfdblog.blogspot.com
Brushes:PD150's, Palette:Edius, Canvas:LiveEvents!


Brackish
Veteran


Aug 12, 2007, 7:35 PM

Post #24 of 31 (1359 views)
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Re: [videogeek] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Hi Brack...
Read your stuff all the time- dont always post.. but this was interesting to me!
...
Thanks for being such a staple in this topic!
Thank you, S! Nice to know I'm appreciated. I used to hear more
from some of my "fans" who follow my posts but it's been a while. Smile

As I recall from your other posts, you have now begun offering
photo, I think. How's photo going for you?






videogeek
Enthusiast

Aug 13, 2007, 9:08 AM

Post #25 of 31 (1331 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Shooting the toasts/speeches [In reply to] Can't Post
Well, interesting you ask!

Techno and work wise.. Photo is SOOOOO much easier than pulling a video together!

on the actual "job" end.. I have only done a few photo so far.. but I have come to realize that I am "not that bad" for an "amature" photographer...

I really am looking to find a way to (cough) marry my photo and video into one .. but that is proving more difficult than I thought.. I have a tough time trusting others to do the work for me.. and feel that I need to "get over myself" at some point if I am going to move my business forward!

What do you do EXACTLY...?? I read alot of your stuff and I cant tell if you run your biz for photo or video or what?? I am soo curious!

S
S.
check out the WFD blog for news and films!
http://wfdblog.blogspot.com
Brushes:PD150's, Palette:Edius, Canvas:LiveEvents!

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