2-Light Off-Camera Setup for Weddings

In todays' video I'm sharing my off-camera lighting setup I use when photographing weddings! This advanced setup involves a shoot through umbrella and an additional off-camera flash. If you want to see a simple 1 light setup, check out this video: • 1-Light Off Camera Fla...
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[@osirismarbles5177]

Quick comment regarding flash power. Remember (for your viewers) 1/16 on one flash is not 1/16 on another flash. The power ratio is based on the guide number (power output) of the flash. Maybe teach on that a bit? A flash w/ GN 64 set at 1/16 is VERY different from a GN 44 at 1/16. Otherwise, great tutorial! Definitely learning from you.

[@MrGarzaJavi]

Very informative. One thing tho, I wouldn't use speedlights for off camera flash. If they're never going to be seated on you camera the best way to go is with AD100/200pro which have better perfomance overall and are still as small and lightweight as a speedlight. So, one V860iii and two AD200pro would be my choice.

[@Mrsjoka2008]

Really appreciated this. It broke down some of what I've been doing wrong. Thank you!

[@downlink_x]

I've used a two-flash setup for several years and it worked great for me. Thanks to your video I switched to a three flash setup (two off camera) and wow, it's even better. One flash is obviously on the camera, the second is near the DJ / dance floor, and the third is somewhere at the opposite end of the room. So it doesn't matter where I stand, I always have light from two sides, which creates great contrast and colors and that glamorous look.

[@deandrajarboe3078]

This was a great tutorial, Katelyn!! Thank you!!

[@RaquelRuehl]

This is exactly what i needed! Thank you so much for breaking it down perfectly.😍

[@ripthroughlol9714]

Wonderful tips as always.

[@slydon75]

Thank you so so much for this great info!!

[@AnthonyBonillaPR]

Very good advice, thanks!

[@JimOutLoud]

Great tutorial! Loved it. Thank you!

[@KatelynJames]

Glad it was helpful!

[@merrymanson]

Katelyn, I really hope you're doing well and be blessed. You've helped me so much with your course on lighting! This was a game changer for me! One thing would be nice to get a tutorial on is mixed light and adapting to the light that its already in the venue. I've had weddings where the light is horrendous and using flashes just makes it even more terrible or complicated. Like, using flashes is okay, but if you have warm bulbs or light blanket hanging from the ceiling and or near the faces of the people its not okay. I've learned that I need to crank my ISO up in that situation and go without a flash at all.

[@DmitriMironov]

Thank you for the information Katelyn:-)

[@MartinV.]

Great Video!

[@davidtaranzaphotography3324]

Wonderful breakdown and great tips for camera settings. BTW, if you ever get overwhelmed with flash, watch Joe McNally at work 😀

[@wanneske1969]

Although I'm not a pro, I did understand this video and it was very informative :-). I do shoot weddings as a hobby, like 2x a year.

[@markparris5255]

Thank you

[@derekcunninghamRHS]

Katelyn, why would you not include the links to purchse your items?! I'm interested mostly at the moment in the Umbrella!

[@wendystumbaugh695]

Love the diagram at 2:24!!!

[@KatzieNelson-cn4ym]

What does Michael do/use as your second shooter for flashes during this time then? Do you have 5-6 total flashes with you or how are you balancing using two cameras for some of the special reception moments?

[@exeternardieu9509]

Katelyn - With a second shooter, do you have them tied into the same flash system and shoot at the same time, or do you only have one shooter tethered to the OCF and the other uses on camera?

[@viciwo3396]

Thanks Katelyn!. Just recently invested in the Consistency court. Curious how to transition to the All access plan if one has already purchased a single product.

[@shashim5646]

Super

[@Himanshuprakash]

Hi ma'am. i love your work. seriously🥰😇, i wanna ask you something like .. which is good umbrella or reflector for flashlight?

[@Dahliawoman]

I have been doing weddings for 25 plus years. My set up is similar and results are amazing. Place a light about 8 feet on both sides of the band or Dj. So the lights are about 30 feet apart. Set flash power to Manual. With a light meter, meter the dance floor for f/4. If possible to bounce off ceiling, that is even better. Then put on camera flash to TTL. As you move about the dance floor, your TTL will adjust. You, the photographer always try to shoot with your back to the band. The room is light up beautifully. Metering with a light meter is the key. At f/4 the dance shots are more crisp. Everyone loves the wide open apertures but why have the groom out of focus when dancing with the new wife!

[@87dinab]

If your back is to the band then you are front lighting them with your flash PLUS the off camera flash? No rim lighting?

[@Dahliawoman]

@@87dinab By bouncing the lights off the ceiling you get an even dance floor lighting that also extends into the dining area. Over the past few years I have seen the trend to shoot into or off side of room lights creating a burst of light look behind subjects head. This is not wrong but a different approach. It’s my opinion. Shooting with your back to the band shows an almost entire room of even light. No glare and no room light. The on camera flash is bounced slightly upward and lights the main subject perfectly through TTL. The reception room should not look like a sparkler event.

[@miguelangel857]

Excellent 🎉 !!!!

[@elaztecapecador]

do you have umbrellas ☂️ on your OCFs?

[@Dahliawoman]

No umbrellas. First of all I believe that couples book a venue because of its beauty. As a professional photographer, our job is first and foremost to take reception images that are documentary style. By the time the DJ sets his crap down and even worse, a band, my light stands get pushed all over the place while they adjust their speakers, sound board, etc. Adding two umbrellas surely makes it look like a construction site along with their stuff. Bounce off the ceiling if you can which softens the light or even tilt your flash up a bit so it is not pointing directly into the dance floor. I can’t stress enough a hand held meter to meter the dance floor. Remember, these are documentary style images. 99% will go into the album. The real portraits 1:31 taken earlier usually go on the wall or gifts. The idea here is to add SOME light to the venue but not blow it out. You want a clean image. By hour 2 of the reception, the images of cousin Bobby drunk dancing while holding one leg may not be in the album but on the video.

[@ared18t]

LOL I thought I looked Crazy using a shoot through umbrella haha

[@davidfknoop4209]

I am looking for two light stands and an umbrella. What kind of light stands and umbrellas do you use????

[@danidah]

I just started playing with flash (on camera for now) and when I used it everything was coming out yellow/orange. I haven’t found much information on that so I’m assuming it’s a function of auto white balance and possibly some surrounding colors? Curious if you’ve dealt with this and what the solution was.

[@onlyfacts4me]

Have you every tried a shoot-through umbrella with the reflective backing? They seem like they would enhance what a shoot-through already does, but I never see people using them.

[@macca.production]

Hi KJ, ty for this setup, very useful. If I use 3X Godoc V1C, how many battery should I have for one day?

[@macca.production]

And what's the ref of your tripod/ umbrella?

[@eliyahu101]

What size umbrella

[@thomasclare8642]

Hi, Katelyn, I love your work! Just to clarify is the flash behind your subjects pointing toward them or away from them ( walls - background.)

[@tabathaprice3406]

I have this same question! Also, how tall are we wanting to set the flashes?

[@chrisserino9757]

Is this tutorial in the light and location course?

[@dbenedict357]

Am I missing the 1 light setup? Or was the link in the video? Sorry.. wanted to watch that one too. Love the content!

[@KatelynJames]

Sorry about that! Check now!

[@dbenedict357]

@@KatelynJames no worries.. I just thought I was going crazy!!😜😁

[@J-diy]

Wonderful work Katelyn, I am 53 am I to old to start wedding photography have some basics ? Jack

[@steveh8658]

Age is no barrier. As long as you're in good enough health to stay on your feet for 4-12 hours and can survive on a snack or two throughout.

[@user-uv4fr4tg4b]

Do you always use a flash, I got one but not really sure how to use it, I picked up at a yard sale for 25€

[@art_by_adrian2913]

KZbin the name of your flash, also to use it off camera you need a trigger once you start flash it changes the game

[@thats_mr_b_]

Kaitlyn, based on your comment about disposable camera, you are not a fan of the magma sphere?

[@hop-mb3bu]

Please help me. My Canon 35mm and 70-200mmm are dark on manual mode but light on other modes. I have to crank up my ISO like crazy on manual mode and of course, the pictures are quite blurry. I know about apertures, ISO, and more. What could I be doing wrong that my camera keeps coming up dark on Manual mode?

[@steveh8658]

What is dark? Is there no image on your LCD while trying to take photo? Or the picture turns out dark once taken?

[@TNQ941]

​@@steveh8658the lenses work well in outdoor lighting but indoor lightin is a complete joke. I can't get any nice photos :(

[@user-uv4fr4tg4b]

Also Katelyn I sent you a email

[@davidclein]

Thank you