Taking indoor photos with Nikon D3000

Alena Fears

New member
I have my first wedding shoot tomorrow and need some suggestions on the best way to shoot indoors with the 3000.I have only had it a few months and have been doing outdoor work, so I'm unfamiliar in this area. Please, any suggestions you may have would really help. I dont wanna screw it up. Thanks.
 

anjz

New member
First thing you need to do is get yourself an external flash...I use the SB 800, can't comment on the 600 or 900. Once you mount the flash on the hot shoe, you do not want to shoot with the flash pointing directly at your subjects unless you have a diffuser on your flash (does NOT apply when using the flash for fill light ONLY, such as outdoors in daylight...then bare flash is fine). Before resorting to the diffuser, try bouncing the flash off the ceiling or a wall. You are going to need to experiment with the effects of bouncing BEFORE the wedding...i mean, like now...you need some time with this and you have very very little time to work with. Bouncing flash can be great, or you can end up with half a lit face and a really really p.o'd bride.

All of the above said: A friend of mine shot a wedding for a friend (NOT paid) with a D5000 and the onboard flash and it looked pretty darn good...it is a good thing you have a Nikon DSLR. If you are getting paid for this though, practice with the external flash tonight. You do not want to "chance it" with the onboard unit.

Oh, fast lens. Do you have a fast lens so you can potentially use natural light (if there are windows and the wedding is during the day)? Fast lens...faster than 2.8. Preferably faster than f/2. If you can go without a flash you are in much better shape. Natural light is beautiful. Flash can be beautiful...can be tragic.

If you aren't getting paid for this wedding and didn't sell your skills to the bride to get a portfolio (in other words, if your friend saw you have a camera and said, "hey, can you shoot my wedding?"), then use your onboard flash and have fun. Chances are the photos will come out fine...they will still be far superior to a P&S.
 
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Alena Fears

New member
I fiigured the camera alone wouldn't be enough.:( I haven't purchased ANY accessories yet. I sure want/need to...just not yet. I am getting paid for this wedding, but I work cheap so I guess they can't complain too much. I'll just have to try my hardest with what I got I guess. I have put the things you suggested on my "Things to get" list. Thank you for your help.
 

blueiron

New member
Wow! You are really starting out the hard way using a new camera with no accessories and your first wedding for hire.

Get with the church or facility where the wedding is being held at and ask about flash photography. Many places do not allow it during the ceremony, so it has to be done before or if you have a very patient customer, after the ceremony. I would rent a flash unit, a 35mm f1.4 or f1.8 lens for close and panoramic work, a 85mm f1.4 lens for portraiture, and a 70-200mm f2.8 lens for head and shoulder shots and distances.

Good luck!
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
I agree with the renting of the lenses if you can...a 50 or 85mm 1.4/1.8 would be real good for portraits and small groups...you might be able to shoot some without a flash depending on how bright it is. But you might have to play with ISO and white balance. Haw fast can you change lenses? Generally in a wedding you do not want to be far away from your 85mm low light lens to capture the bride and groom..however you need group and atmosphere pictures...generally a 18-35mm lens...do you have a option to use two cameras? Much faster to grab the other camera than to swap lenses.
You definitely need to go to the wedding site and shoot a few dozen to a few hundred shots with the same lenses and flash you plan to use...also you need to know what is going to happen in the wedding before it happens so you can move forward backward..you will not be able to shoot the wedding from one location most likely...the more you practice the better you will be...don't take the battery life lightly..know how many pictures you plan to take and what your flash/camera can do without extra batteries...you don't want dead batteries at the wrong time....
 

SAFC_NIKON

New member
That really is brave! Mind I used mine to shoot photos at a friend's baby's christening not long after I got the camera. Fortunately everyone was taking pictures using flash so I ploughed on and used the onboard flash. Otherwise I'd have been screwed, I hadn't intended to use the flash, but since everyone else was I went for it. I was nervous as hell but the results were pretty pleasing on my part, and more importantly the father of the child liked them. I wouldn't feel confident doing a wedding just yet, but I'll get there. Good luck!
 

shutter

New member
I have my first wedding shoot tomorrow and need some suggestions on the best way to shoot indoors with the 3000.I have only had it a few months and have been doing outdoor work, so I'm unfamiliar in this area. Please, any suggestions you may have would really help. I dont wanna screw it up. Thanks.

Good Luck Alena. You ARE a brave soul! I have had my Nikon D3000 since Dec. 2009 and still fell that I have more to learn before venturing into the Wedding area of photography. My husband says I am my own worst critic. Let me know how things go.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Alena....you have just received excellent advice from all. I sincerely hope you use that advice and have a great shoot. Let us know how it turned out. :)
 

Alena Fears

New member
I'm so sorry for the delay in response. I believe that the wedding went quit well! I was unable to purchase the suggested items at that moment, but have since have extended my collection of goodies. :D
I learned A LOT from this "shoot" as well. I am proud of myself for not backing away due to being ill equipped. I took everyones comments and suggestions with me in thought, and I thank you ALL for your help. I have not learned all I want to about this business yet, but I am steady growing. I did not realize how much competition is out there! It feels so good to know there ARE others willing to help. Going into this business blind, building from the ground up is scary. You all helped to put my mind at ease. Thank you again.
 
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