I love my QFlashes!

Every photographer approaches an event, and each part of the day, differently. Some use available light only, some use a camera mounted flash, and some use OFF camera flash.  My QFlashes count as OFF camera flash.  They operate by remote, and I set the power level manually.  They are a little bulky, and sometimes make for logistical challenges (I'm carrying all of my things by myself) but the final result is SO worth it.  I LOVE these QFlashes.  Light that comes from a corner, a side, or behind the subject can add depth, dimension and detail.

I just posted about white balance, in another blog post.  The Q Flash has a huge impact on white balance.  It gives me a strong, clean white light, which is super helpful.  The photo is usually stronger, and less difficult to edit, which saves me time on the computer.

I'll tell you a secret.  I'm a self taught photographer.  When I was first photographing weddings 16 years ago, I relied on the flash on my camera, I had no idea.  It didn't take me long to realize that was getting me nowhere...FAST.  I don;t love lugging this setup around, but I wouldn't trade the results for anything.

This is how happy my QFlash makes me sometimes.

QFlash is set up behind a pillar of the church off to the right side.

Qflash is over to the left side.

If this had been shot as "available light", the sky wouldn't have had as much detail...I would have been exposing for the subject (my bride and groom) and the sky would have been blown out...no detail at all, just white.  Tis true!

Qflashes and white gazebos work well together.  I hide the Qflash behind my bride and groom, and then make exposure adjustments to create this effect.

With long church aisles, it's nice to be able to position TWO Qflashes...one at the end of the aisle (like in this photo) and one at the front, closer to me.  The flash on my camera could never reach all the way to the end of the aisle...the exposure would be horrible.

Backlit with the Qflash and filled with the flash on camera.

Again, white gazebo and hidden Qflash.

Qflash hidden behind bride and groom.  NO fill from on camera flash.

Lit from the right side, this cake takes on extra dimension.  This would have been a completely different photo without it.  A flash from the front would just have made for really awful shadows on the wall behind the cake.

Now, this is an example of a photo I do LIKE with the Qflash, but it also shows one of the risks associated with its use...aperture flare.  That green circle in the upper left corner is from the flash catching on the lens of my camera.  If I have time to get another shot, I can usually eliminate the flare by moving slightly.  

Backlit with Qflash and fill from on camera flash.

Backlit with Qflash, no on camera fill flash.

Same scene as above, a half minute later, but front lit with QFlash.  No backlighting.

Qflash is directly behind the bride and groom.  This can be tricky.  Everyone dances differently, and by default a dance means they're moving.  I am always dodging and crouching to get that flash behind their heads.  

Qflash behind couple and on camera fill flash.

Qflash behind couple and on camera fill flash. 

Another example of the Qflash causing aperture flare.  I had two set up...the one on the left did not get caught in my lens, the one on the right did.  It's ok.  I still like it!

Qflash set up to the left of the dress, to give a little ooomph and dimension.

Qflash set up to the left.  This was a tight space to work in...low ceilings, tight seating, and a full bridal party.  This is my assistants photo, I guess I got caught in it.  

Reception rooms look really nice with a Qflash set up to rake the light across the tables.

A misty night, and a wide environmental shots with the Qflash in the gazebo.  THIS gazebo is brown, not quite as much reflection as with white ones.  

On sunny days, I always bring my groups into the shade, and then use 2 Qflashes to fill.  This helps balance out the exposure for the areas around them that are being hit by sun, and yet no one actually has to BE in the sun.  

Dancing and Qflashes...I generally drag my shutter a bit, bring in some ambient light, and pop the Qflash (or two).  I like the effect.  My main Qflash is off to the right side.

Qflash off to the right side, set high and aimed down at my bride.

Exposure set for the sunset, then add in the Qflash to light the couple.

Qflash off to left side.  One of the FEW times during ceremony I dared to use it.

Another Qflash set at end of aisle so that as they exit church, i can use that one for lighting.  Each Qflash can be set to a different channel, so that the one I had in the front of the church isn't going off unnecessarily.

Qflash hidden behind pillar to left.

Qflashes for group, exposure set to balance sky/sunset and bridal party.

Qflash hidden behind couple and on camera fill flash used also.

Dramatic lighting courtesy of Qflash set next to wall on left.

Qflash hidden behind bride and groom, light bounces off of white church entryway.

Qflash to left side, no fill flash.

Qflash set up in front hall with bride and groom, fairly low power, allowing for ambient light in main church space to come into image.

Qflash to left, no fill flash.

One of the downsides to Qflashes (they're set in place and on a tripod) is that sometimes you can get funny shadows.  This one, however, made me laugh, so I kept it.

Qflash off to right, fill flash on camera.

Qflash at left side of dance floor.

Qflash to left side of dance floor.

A huge, spontaneous group shot...one Qflash, plus on camera flash.

What does "Editing" mean...really? Focus on WHITE BALANCE

After a wedding has been photographed, I come home and edit thousands of images.  Most weddings end up with between 1,000 and 1,400 images...and I edit EVERY single one.  Or at least look at them individually to determine what changes I'd like to make.  A few things I will always correct: White balance, exposure, contrast, straighten out horizon lines, crop as needed (I prefer to crop as I shoot), and mini photoshop makeovers.  This blog post shows a few examples for white balance changes.

Churches can be tricky...sometimes I'm not allowed to use flash.  I always die a little inside when they tell me that, because I know I'll be stuck with an image like the one...BELOW.  During this ceremony, I triggered my QFlash 3 times, not too much to be a distraction, but enough to capture pivotal moments.  

Available light image.  It will do the job, and I can make a few adjustments to get it just right...but the photo above is more what I had in mind.

Original image...needs a little help in the computer. Room lights have given it a color cast, and it was underexposed a little, as well.  

The exposure was a little under, and the white balance is off.  I changed both.

Original white balance...yellow.  True to lights being used in the room, but NOT true to color of actual TShirt being signed by guests.  So, I change it.  A simple change, but this means I am going thru each image one by one, making these changes for you.

Ahhhhh.  I feel better already!  White balance has been changed to a more normal point.

Photographing Details...exposure and placement

When it comes to the "getting ready" part of the day (as it relates to weddings) I will often encourage my brides to allow me to be there while they're having their hair and makeup done.  Sometimes they visibly wince...why would they need an hour or two worth of photos of THAT?  And my answer is..you don't.  BUT it's the only time of the day that I have access to the details.  Wedding gown, shoes, special jewelry and family keepsakes.

Having access to these things is just one part of the equation.  Deciding where to bring them and how to photograph them is the other. Here's a preview into a couple of scenarios...

When I photograph weddings (and in particular...DETAILS), I show up really early.  If you think I'm starting at 1, I usually show up a little after 12.  Why?  Because I want the extra time to arrange things and decide on how to light them.  And to do this properly, I need time to think and try different ideas out.

This first shot is a great example of available light and manual camera settings.  I set the shoes on a window ledge.  The manual exposure I chose gave me the image above (awesome!).  Then, I laughed to myself as I looked out the window at the parking lot and buildings.  No one would believe I shot this with all of that distracting stuff behind it.  So I exposed for the background instead, and shot the picture below.  It never ceases to amaze me what you can DO with a camera if you control the settings manually.  

Shoes on the ledge...exposed for the background, not the subject.

For this photo, I was trying to find the right background t make the lettering on her hanger show up the best.  The wall worked alright (above), but I wasn't sure that was the best I could do. 

...so I brought it over and hung it on the darkest thing I could find...the TV set!  (See photo below) I like this one best, but I will give both images to my bride, so she can decide which one she prefers.  

One of the few times I've appreciated a large TV set in a hotel room.  Mounted on the wall, it could easily hold the weight of the brides dress while I shot this detail.