Backdrop at reception

If you use two in the front, you will have a grey background, not white. So, If it were my job, and I only had two lights, I would put one if front, just off center, with a reflector on the other side. Be careful if you put you front light too far to the side, you might get too much shadow from one side to the other. Make sure your back light is metered for 1-1/2 stops brighter than the front light to blow out your background.

What or who are you going to be photographing? Groups, couples, individuals, kids, small families...? With certain subjects, and in a situation like a reception, you can't get too specific with lighting set ups due to time constraints.

Kari, thanks for your advise...I too am from Grand Rapids, MI! That set up crossed my mind. I guess I just need to set it up and test...I'm just stating to play with studio lighting. Nadine, I will be shooting anywhere from individuals up to as many as can squeeze into 107 inches of backdrop. These are going to be more fun than formal.

Well if you have to switch back and forth fast between groups and couples and/or individuals, you may have problems with the background light. If it were me, I'd actually let the background go gray and drape-y--even show the background stands, etc. and use one diffused light slightly to one side or the other of the camera. Maybe bring a chair so people can get creative. That way you aren't fussing with lights, reflectors, ratios and etc. Use the on-camera flash as fill if needed. This way you can let people do what they want, even dance or move around, without worrying about the lights. If you used two, one on each side, you'd get cross shadows. Or, light the backdrop from one side, not below, pointing up.

Hi Matt, Glad to meet another Grand Rapids photographer. Anyway, I agree with Nadine on this one. I figured it would be mostly couples, two at the most. If you are doing some individuals and some groups, it is going to be hard to get even lighting across the entire backdrop with one light. You might be better off not lighting the back. If you do try it, there are some tricks to fixing it in Photoshop, but you will have a lot of work to do afterwards. Play around and do some testing before hand.

I would recommend using a different color. I like the look of the high key white, but not too much for this type of situation. Can you use a different color? You can make a nice muslin backdrop for around $40 if you don't have one. I have made 7 or 8 of them myself. I would recommend a nice brown or denim blue, or charcole grey (although I haven't found a good dye for a charcole grey yet). Let me know if you need directions.

Changing the color of the backdrop will simplify your life signigicantly. If you have to ask how to set the lights for an event fow which you are already booked, then you've put the proverbial horse before the cart - but that's a different topic. Given your need to expand your lighting knowledge, eliminating the white background will give you more pleasing results. Blue works nicely, by the way. Not too pale, not too deep. It's complimentary to most skin tones and gowns.

By the way, isn't "candid backdrop" a photographic oxymoron?

Wait!! I meant the "cart before the horse." Damn! Just when I thought I was being so clever. I hate it when I'm reminded that I'm not perfect.

I'm afraid I have to agree about the backdrop color... White backdrop, white bridal gown... light wrap-around effect... unforgiving to wrinkles... Best to go with something else.

My advice would be to buy a good "old master" canvas or a mulsin. A good investment, and cheap enough on ebay. Try sellers "amvona.com" and "2dreammaker" - usually have some good ones.

Here's a shot done on location, at a wedding, on an amvona backdrop with 3 point strobe lighting:

I appreciate the feedback. I am thinking about a different color...fortunately this is a friends wedding and is a few months away. What my friend want's is what she saw in my own personal wedding album...yes, I'm a newly wed! She has given me the green light to do whatever I want. Take a look at the link below. A friend, Mitch Ranger, took our pics. My wife and I are featured in the "Characters" section. This is what I meant by "candid backdrop". Though I vision my work slightly more traditional. Mitch does break some lighting 101 rules but that is his style.

http://mitchrangerweddings.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=9063&Akey=2D8W2GNT

Very Fun! Still, can you use a different color than white? How did Mitch have his lighted? Typically with white I put two lights on the background, and one or two in front. But, if you use somehting with color, even similar to his red background, you won't have to worry about lighting the background. Then you can use two lights in front. Did you have white at your wedding that your friend saw in your album? If the wedding is a few months away, you can still do some testing. Test the wight with two lights like I mentioned above. Take some images similar to the ones in your album or on Mitches site, and see how the background looks. If you don't like it, go with a color. You can still use paper if you want... it looks like the red on Mithc's site is paper also.

That's exactly the kind of thing that came to my mind--in fact, I've seen this kind of shot before, where showing all the wrinkles in the background and even the backdrop stands is all part of the fun feel. There are no background lights used in the examples either. You just put the subject on the backdrop and let them go, photographing with one diffused main light to one side and perhaps an on-camera fill.

Yes, you are right Nadine, no lighting on the white backdrop. I didn't look too closely last time. One thing though, they are not standing too far away from the backdrop in the bride and groom images. The further you stand away from the backdrop, the more light fall off you will have and the more grey the backdrop will look.

Thanks for your feedback. I am definately thinking about another color to make it easier the first time around. Mitch typically blasts away with one XL softbox. Perhaps I'll post some shots to get some opinions.