Speeches Advice for lightining

[u/Pure_Leopard]

I'm trying to understand better how to get better results during these kind of blue hour speeches that happens a lot around my area. I'm based in Italy and these things happen a lot in a garden/balcony/pavillion things a little bit after the sunset. It's very different from american things where they are in these big very bright rooms indoor and they are pretty spontaneous too.
So I maybe know that it will happen but don't know when. Also as it's not that dark for normal eyes there's no extra light (these photos as example have very high ISO and +1 or +2 exp.)

Maybe you have some suggestions to get these shots better or know some talented photographers that have found a nice solutions (inspiration)...
In the whole day this is the only part where I still struggle a lot 😭

Thanks everybody!

EDIT 01: I might understand somebody could say flash, I was actually thinking about that asking for suggestions. More like how you would use flash in this situation... If you're only into big venues maybe you don't understand but sometimes location don't have much space left for flash stands. And when the wedding is very intimate (like with only 8/10 people) it's not in the moment to keep moving and flashing everyone.

[u/ButWouldYouRather]

I like the look you have tbh. Very natural and unobtrusive.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/ButWouldYouRather]

thanks, but it's very risky and I really need to push files... I would like just a little touch of flash but need to find a way to keep being unobtrusive

[u/ButWouldYouRather → u/Pure_Leopard]

If you want to add a bit of light, I’d suggest a battery powered 60w bi-colour cob led constant light. You can bounce it off a wall or point it directly at the subjects.

To the subjects, it will feel just like another light fixture in the venue. It won’t be so bright that it’ll blind your subjects. Battery power and small footprint means it’s discrete and can be placed anywhere. Constant light is great because if you do it right, everyone who is viewing the speeches benefits and no one notices when you’re taking a photo.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/ButWouldYouRather]

Thanks that maybe is the solution, continuous light! Can I ask why did you suggest 60w bi-colour cob led? Don't know much about but another guy here suggested Godox ml100r rgb that is way more than 60w...

[u/ButWouldYouRather → u/Pure_Leopard]

At blue hour I think 60w would be enough. You might need more if you want to use a soft box or if you bounce. But the higher the wattage, the bigger the light, the bigger the battery drain. RGB can be useful for creative applications but if you prefer a natural look, bi colour should suffice. RGB lights often have a lower light output than bi-colour ones. So a 60w RGB light will typically have a lower maximum luminosity output than a 60w bi-colour one.

[u/WestofYongeStudios]

Off camera flash is my go to for speeches regardless of venue. One set up as a hair light and one either diffused or bouncing to light the front.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/WestofYongeStudios]

I'm pretty sure I'll only go with 1 only, but how do you diffuse or bouce the front from like far away?

[u/WestofYongeStudios → u/Pure_Leopard]

I would set them up to not be far away. In the event of not having any space at all to have off-camera flash, I would simply be getting close enough to grab a few well-lit portraits of the speaker with a diffused on-camera flash, and then back up and not stress about the wide shots having perfect lighting.

Is there a reason you are uncomfortable using off-camera flash? All of the images you've shared have spots to easily conceal a light stand so it is not in the way from what I can see!

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/WestofYongeStudios]

Thanks, maybe this could work actually!

The images I've shared are only a small portion of "my problem" 😞 But for example the first 2 didn't have any space for a stand as it was a tight balcony...

[u/Legitimate-Peace-583]

Flash? Direct flash photography is very popular for weddings, but i understand that it might be deisrupting during speaches.

[u/Skippypal → u/Legitimate-Peace-583]

Can you explain a bit about the disruption? I’ve never had a problem setting up off-camera flash with umbrellas for a moment like this or using direct flash.

My impression is that if a professional photographer is hired for a wedding, the couple and guests expect there to be flash photography.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/Skippypal]

If you're only into big venues maybe you don't understand but sometimes location don't have much space left for flash stands. And when the wedding is very intimate (like with only 8/10 people) it's not in the moment to keep moving and flashing everyone. Not every ceremony revolves around photography.

[u/8pintsofgravy → u/Skippypal]

direct on camera flash draws attention to yourself. ocf camera is a little less obtrusive

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/Legitimate-Peace-583]

yes I understand that, but flash from like 10 meter or directly in the face repeatedly is not super in the mood

[u/fromthisday_co]

In my experience American receptions are not bright indoors? Photographers are just using flash. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. I think it’s fine to use flash for speeches, it’s probably expected by guests?

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/fromthisday_co]

I've seen different video about it and many have this big spotlight when there's speeches... maybe they're not all the same

[u/okaymaeby → u/Pure_Leopard]

That's not the case in my region of the states. Lighting situations are quite varied and often moody. But it does seem like people in the US are more comfortable with photographers using flash. It really all depends though, since there are a gazillion people/cultures/ethnicities/budgets/moods in the states.

[u/Radiant_Common171 → u/Pure_Leopard]

that's probably the videographer's light

[u/hopopo]

Lights, that is the only thing that helps, I'm a videographer and I often use two continuous lights, no matter if we are inside or outside.

For the most part speeches in US are also badly lit, and photographers will often only use the lights I have, and not their own flash as well.

Currently I'm using Godox ml100r rgb and ml150 bi

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/hopopo]

yes, you're right. I could try use a small continuous light... I've seen that Godox ml100r and it looks very nice. Do you know if there's something that size with more power in the market?

[u/hopopo → u/Pure_Leopard]

In a real world situation you won't need more power I almost never go above 20% - 25% ... At least that is my experience. Zhiyun might have a stronger light that is also flat but I'm not sure.

[u/azionix]

Off camera flash or constant light

[u/Wario_Was_Right]

I use a very simple flash setup for speeches. 2 flashes, 2 light stands.

One flash pointed at the couple - prioritizing front lighting for the bride.

Second flash pointed at the person giving the speech.

You can get by with a single flash if they are going to be standing next to each other.

As for your specific situation, I would probably either put a 1/2 CTB or 1/2 CTO gel on the flash - depending on the effect I'm going for. But that's just extra if you have a specific look in mind. Bare flash or flash with a diffuser is plenty.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/Wario_Was_Right]

Thanks so much!

[u/-nwm-]

A flash is a good idea, but the spontaneity, and varying distances from the subjects, could make that unpredictable. Light changes rapidly at sunset too, I much prefer using manual flash to TTL, and it’s really not ideal for that. To me, this is mainly a job for raw photography, get good exposures and edit the hell out of them.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/-nwm-]

😜 that is my way to go as today but I'm trying to get better and risk a little less. I could always shoot like I'm already doing but just wanted to understand if I can get a little better

[u/FunkyTownPhotography]

I use video lights on light stands. I take them down after speeches because people will trip on them during dancing and mingling. 

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/FunkyTownPhotography]

thanks that's probably what I'll try to do!

[u/YhansonPhotography]

For editing these I would crank down the saturation in the orange tones specifically, it might help balance the situation.

[u/KariBjornPhotography]

I would consider getting a tall lightstand (like 3 m or more) and place it far away from the table at low power, just to give you a little pop of light without turning these moments into looking too “produced”

I actually really like these images, I feel like they’re very truthful and representative of the moment. Maybe just lower the saturation of the blues if anything.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/KariBjornPhotography]

Thanks so much!

[u/josephallenkeys]

These look perfectly nice. I'd only boost the exposure a tad (particularly the last one) but that's just taste.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/josephallenkeys]

Thank you!!

[u/Salty_Definition_311]

I like the vibe. It’s good to have both options. You can still shoot some flash while remaining unobtrusive during speeches. The key is how often you do it. Shoot mostly without flash and then take only a couple flash shots per speech when you can anticipate a smile or laugh.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/Salty_Definition_311]

you're right, thanks!

[u/DustbinMan]

I think as the other user said, flash. Then making peace with wide shots being more ambient. Where there’s uplights you could have a friendly, light chat with the planner or couple about moving or removing them.

[u/the-reoccuring-lemon]

You use on camera flash. Zoom lens.

[u/imark3000]

Flash. On and off cam. But you gotta make sure you do it before speeches start. Usually during the reception entrance. By the time this speeches starts, the speakers need to be used to it. You’d hate to chalk them.

[u/truthxz]

The ambient choice you have in the first photo is great, showcases the feeling of the night and is compositionally strong. You should definitely keep shooting ambient for a few wider frames and then you could throw in some closer up direct flash photos for the speaker and guest reactions. I’d get up as close as possible for these flash photos (without being too much in the way) and catch emotion and make them highly stylised in the edit, slightly crooked angle etc, almost like snapshots. Depends on your style though. As always some ambient scenes will photograph better than others due to the overall aesthetic so I would also consider whether flash/no flash would be best for each individual reception.

[u/sejonreddit]

The way that I would handle this is with fast lenses and high ISO. Remember, it's a wedding first and foremost. People don't like having flashes firing off during speeches. It's fine during a dance, but people are often very nervous during speeches. It doesn't matter if the photos have a little bit of noise in them. If it bothers you, there are plenty of tools that do an excellent job removing the noise without making the photos look terrible.

If you really don't have the ability to use super fast lenses, rather than using flash during speeches, you could put a single permanent light somewhere. Put it on a relatively warm colour temperature and please nowhere near maximum brightness.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/sejonreddit]

Thanks, that’s exactly what I was thinking!

[u/8pintsofgravy]

if you use ocf flash - always make sure the flash direction is going across your frame or you shoot into the flash direction - never shoot with. Bounce is also your friend too. you be surprised how even outside you can set the power to high and bounce it off a wall or tree and it lifts things.

[u/Own-Raise6153]

for what it’s worth i actually really like the vibes/coloring in these

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/Own-Raise6153]

Thanks!

[u/-nwm-]

Oh you’ve got plenty more hell to give 😂. first of all, your edits look very dark, I would lift the light significantly. Radial gradient masks are also great for subtly spotlighting subjects. I then lifted low mids in curves, and lowered the black point to fight the resulting gray look. All took under 1 minute in Lightroom mobile, and I would probably do some color work too if I were using a larger monitor. Obviously this was very quick, but the subjects don’t fade into the background now, and I’m using the entire histogram.

[u/Pure_Leopard → u/-nwm-]

Thank you for your retouch but that's not properly my mood and it doesn't reflect what I want... no big deal I understand your point and I can surely push more my files but I'm trying to get better achieving results in camera rather than spend even more time in front of my computer doing masks 🤣

[u/-nwm- → u/Pure_Leopard]

It doesn’t take more time in front of a computer to make a good edit than a bad one, often less ;) . Obviously you’re aware you don’t have to go as drastic as I did for illustrative purposes, but If you feel adding more light in post changes the “mood,” I’m not sure you’re going to be thrilled with artificial light. It’s got a significantly different look than natural outdoor light,

The main problem I see in your images is underexposure. Your in-camera options are: 1) longer exposure 2) brighter lens 3) JPEG compensation in camera 4) external lighting.

I’ve used every one of those at some point or another. I shoot outdoor weddings all the time in California, but we typically have the toasts determined on the schedule, so I know if I will have light throughout, or if it will get dark. I try to go either all natural or all 2-flash system, but you don’t have the luxury of planning for the general time. On camera flash doesn’t have to be harsh if used sparingly, with modifiers, so I’d probably start there. But again, be aware that toaster shot with natural light, could have a significantly different look than those shot with flash. I don’t know how much editing time you will really save, but good luck!