Rotolights - shooting outdoors at night

[Marge3000]

Hi guys - happy new year to you all!
I've been asked to do some night shots for my friends engagement by the river in London - I'm a newbie.
I've a canon 6d. Did a recce with a touristy photography tour last night for some spots.
Got some ok shots (have attached one - critique welcome!), but to include people in, she advised that I get a couple of footlights.
They're pretty expensive at £300 each and I've not found a cheaper alternative thats battery powered.
Advice please!
The shoot needs to be at night due to their schedule.
It's next Wednesday.
Many thanks in advance!

 

[Donnie]

Well if you are a newbie I would honestly say, given your inexperience and short short timeframe, simply don't do it.

If you insist on doing so however, I don't see why you would need expensive rotolights when one or two cheap off camera flashes will do the job just as easily. For that though you need off camera flashes, a way to trigger them and some stands.

 

[Phil V]

The advertising around the rotolights and similar is at best optimistic, and at worst fraudulent.

The simple truth is, flash is a much better tool to shoot people than continuous lights, and x that by 100 for cheap continuous lights.

Do you already have a speedlight?

Do you have an assistant for the shoot?

 

[Marge3000]

The advertising around the rotolights and similar is at best optimistic, and at worst fraudulent.

The simple truth is, flash is a much better tool to shoot people than continuous lights, and x that by 100 for cheap continuous lights.

Do you already have a speedlight?

Do you have an assistant for the shoot?

Hi Phil - thank you for your message. I have 1 speed light, yes. A 430ex? does that sound right?
thank you!

 

[Snapper67]

Hi Marge,

Great info on using your off camera flash here :-

http://strobist.blogspot.co.uk/2006/03/lighting-101.html

Couple of sections applicable to your current task.

Dougie.

 

[Phil V]

For triggering your flash off camera you’ll need a trigger and a receiver (unless it’s the mkIII version of the 430ex).

Then you’ll need a bracket of some description and a modifier, I’d go with this softbox kit

And a stand (though you can utilise a monopod or tripod you already own.

The key to shooting with flash is to remember you’re balancing 2 seperate exposures, the ambient and the flash.

So if you want to use the background you shot before, you’ll use the same settings (but focus on the couple), and allow the ETTL system to give you a head start on the flash lit subject, or use Manual flash settings

 

[Byker28i]

Someone once mentioned this godox softbox, so I bought one. It's brilliant, folds down into a tiny case.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Godox-Universal-Speedlite-Accessories-Adjustable/dp/B00JQ63G5K

If you haven't a stand, use an assistant/child as a voice activated remote controlled light stand

 

[ah5168]

To make your life simple you could just use a tripod and some longer exposures, people will will still look sharp stood still for a couple of seconds. You can also use your on camera flash to provide a bit of fill flash, if you can adjust the power and focus of your flash manually you will will get a better result.

 

[mike weeks]

The photograph was taken too late in the day, ideally at dusk, some call it the blue hour, more like 5 minutes at this time of year, you will get less noise and fewer blown highlights

Mike

 

[khakoo]

As a fairly competent fellow 6D user based in London, I may be able to help you out, and I have some experience managing people out of crises. There are lots of valid points being posted here, and your friend probably doesn't realise how much is involved in an apparently simple shoot like this.

So here is my suggestion. I have portable lighting gear you can borrow, including large folding softboxes, stands, speedlights, and wireless triggers. I can explain the techniques you need to balance flash illumination of your subjects with the ambient city lighting to capture both the couple and the scene. It takes practice to control all the factors at play, so manage expectations by explaining your lack of experience to your friend. Tell them you will try to take good pictures, but they might only end up with a record of the event.

As a beginner you ARE biting off more than you can chew (been there, done that). You're not being paid so they should be grateful you're trying. Unfortunately there isn't much time for you to prepare. Does it have to be Wednesday? I'm off work from Thursday and could do with an excuse to take my toys to the Southbank.

 

[khakoo]

Someone once mentioned this godox softbox, so I bought one. It's brilliant, folds down into a tiny case.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Godox-Universal-Speedlite-Accessories-Adjustable/dp/B00JQ63G5K

I bought 2 of the 80cm versions; thought I was probably asking too much of a speedlight but they throw a surprisingly useful amount of light. And yes, they fold up very small indeed. If only it were possible to get sturdy stands to fold down as much. I need some sandbags now, as they're obviously a bit prone to blowing over.

If you haven't a stand, use an assistant/child as a voice activated remote controlled light stand

I resemble this remark. Usually get a hand from teenage attendees at family events, happy to assist uncle Matt, unlike their argumentative parents.

 

[Marge3000]

As a fairly competent fellow 6D user based in London, I may be able to help you out, and I have some experience managing people out of crises. There are lots of valid points being posted here, and your friend probably doesn't realise how much is involved in an apparently simple shoot like this.

So here is my suggestion. I have portable lighting gear you can borrow, including large folding softboxes, stands, speedlights, and wireless triggers. I can explain the techniques you need to balance flash illumination of your subjects with the ambient city lighting to capture both the couple and the scene. It takes practice to control all the factors at play, so manage expectations by explaining your lack of experience to your friend. Tell them you will try to take good pictures, but they might only end up with a record of the event.

As a beginner you ARE biting off more than you can chew (been there, done that). You're not being paid so they should be grateful you're trying. Unfortunately there isn't much time for you to prepare. Does it have to be Wednesday? I'm off work from Thursday and could do with an excuse to take my toys to the Southbank.

Matt that is incredibly kind of you! Thank you ever so much!
I have managed to convince the bride it should be done ‘properly’ Or not at all... she’s now asked me to take some photos at her wedding! Which at least gives me some time to practice!
For some time now I’ve felt reluctant to do ‘snaps’ for people and I’d rather not share photos at all that I’m not happy with. Especially now I’m studying photography.
If you are happy to meet up another time, I’d most certainly love to!!
Thank you again!
And thank you to everyone on here-i’m quite overwhelmed by support and general niceness.
Happy 2018 all!

 

[khakoo]

No problem, I'm always delighted to find an opportunity to be useful. If you prefer to go it alone you're welcome to just borrow some kit. I strongly recommend you bring a friend or two as assistant(s) though, if possible. If you can arrange the shoot for one of my free days then I'll happily assist, and make suggestions if you like, but leave the camera work and executive decisions to you; it's your shoot, not mine. If there's time to meet before then I can bring the gear along and discuss your plan, ideally at your chosen shooting location.

I have managed to convince the bride it should be done ‘properly’

It's a wise move to persuade your friend not to rush it, but I think you should make it clear this is so the photos will be acceptable rather than awful, not amazing.

she’s now asked me to take some photos at her wedding!

I hope by this you mean as a supplementary shooter, not the official photographer? I've been asked to shoot a number of weddings over the years and rarely agree to it. Good wedding photography requires several advanced skills. I'm still not good enough, despite a lifelong interest in photography, because it's only quite recently I've been able to give it any priority in my life. When I view the portfolios of truly accomplished wedding togs, I imagine I might just about craft a single image, given all day and choice of any equipment, that's distantly comparable to the poorest they can produce effortlessly in real time.

I’ve felt reluctant to do ‘snaps’ for people and I’d rather not share photos at all that I’m not happy with.

I'm terrible for holding out on my images. One reason for finally engaging with this forum is to help me loosen up and release more pictures into the wild.