Ever since I started doing weddings, I've hated the in church formals. I thought the shots always looked like crap because the churches are always dark as dungeons and my two speedlights shot through umbrellas just didn't do an adequate job, forcing me to shoot at iso 400, which I think looks like dirt on Nikons anyway. Plus, there was the whole "did that light fire?" "no, but only the one on the right fired", etc. that came from using Nikon's CLS.

Well, a few weeks ago I invested in an AB800, portable power and pocket wizards and today I used them for the first time for formals. WOW! All the shots are killer. The colors are so vibrant, the people look great, I was able to shoot at ISO200 and I didn't have a single "mis-fire". I'm in love with Alien Bees! =)

Now I'm wondering if I could use a ring flash for senior portraits or if that's too "hip" for my neck of the woods...

What modifier did you use on the AB? Do you have a pull back of the setup?

thanks

judy

Hi Judy,

I just used a 60 inch shoot through umbrella. It worked great, but a couple times I was standing too close to it and got some lens flare. Now that I'm aware of that, I can be more careful.

I don't have any set up shots. I'll have my second shoot one on Saturday. =)

Oh MAN, I have that same issue with my Nikon. Would you be SO kind as to:
* let me see some of the images
* give me a list of what you bought that solved your problem

I already have 3 PW's and two flashes, but I don't have ANY modeling lights and have been thinking about getting some AB's.

Thanks SO much for the tips! I have a shoot next Sunday I'm all freaking out about.

Sure thing. I'm attaching 2 pics. Hopefully it'll work. BTW, I know the posing on these is very average. I suck at posing church formals and yesterday I had 20 minutes to shoot 14 different shots (the ceremony began half an hour late) so I was more concerned with getting them in and out. If anyone has advice on posing church formals, I'd LOVE some. The pics are unedited except for David Jay's Brilliant preset in Lightroom, and resizing/sharpening for the web. I forgot to remove the vignette so the edges are dark.

I bought an AB800 from Alien Bees. I also ordered a Vagabond power system but the model I ordered was discontinued. They have a new one which might be out or is coming out soon, but I didn't want to wait (I orded a few weeks ago) and I bought an Innovatronix power system. I charged it up and it worked excellent. Here's a link.

http://www.innovatronix.com/cgi-bin/produc...p;categoryid=42

Aside from that, I just used Pocket Wizards on the strobe and camera. You'll need a cheap cord from Radio Shack to connect the PW to your Alien Bee, it was something like $4. I put a 60 inch white shoot through umbrella on the AB800, put it on a stand and set it about 6 1/2 feet high and slightly to my right, angled down just a bit.

Hope that helps.

Thanks so much!

Um, is that a mummy costume?

Congrats, Mike.

But is this a wording forum? Let me see your rockin' pictures, man!

I was also interested in buying ABs, but shipping and service policy of AB outside the US is really bad...

So, I took three Quantum Qflashs with Turbo batteries. They also work great outside the church, as you can see... :-) (Used ONE Qflash only)

Mario

EDIT: Sorry, you was faster than me, Mike. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

I've been doing this for a couple years, now. I use one AB800, a 60" umbrella (bounced). Up high, about 12', behind me. Use PWs and the Vagabond. Works so well and goes so quickly.

do any of you light the background?