Suggestions for settings when shooting baptism

[AbangR]

I am shooting a friend's baby baptism on Sunday

So, I am hoping to get some input about settings to use on my D90.

Now, I want to take two types of pictures during this.
1. A wider shot of the parents + god parents + holy father + baby standing by, what I guess would be, a basin.
2. Close up of the baby with the holy water poured on her head

My plan is to shoot several wider shots when they just arrived and set up at the basin and when the father is citing the rites.
Then, I come in for close up shots of the baby.

These are my gears at the moment: 16-85mm, 55-200mm, 35mm 1.8, and SB400
I imagine that I won't be switching any lenses. So, I'm probably putting 16-85mm and sb400.

Right now, I'm thinking:
Scene 1. Use A mode at 24mm f8 with flash (flash card bounce?). Everything should be sharp.
Scene 2. Use A mode at 85mm f5.6 (wide open), no flash.

Alternatively, set it at P and forget about everything else.

Suggestions and comments will be highly appreciated. TIA

[huggable]

From my experience at infant baptism, family members/photographers can up to the front of altar during baptism, hence a 85mm would be too long.

I'd think anything between 35-50mm on the D90 would allow you to capture the water baptism process. Check out the procedures beforehand, like signing of the cross on forehead, lighting of the candle, etc. These moments should be captured too.

As for the family picture, 20-24mm should be wide enough. If the church has high ceiling, forget about bounce. Just diffuse the flash. Personally I'd prefer using a direct diffused flash to kill the shadows.

[pooQy]

Originally Posted by AbangR I am shooting a friend's baby baptism on Sunday So, I am hoping to get some input about settings to use on my D90. Now, I want to take two types of pictures during this. 1. A wider shot of the parents + god parents + holy father + baby standing by, what I guess would be, a basin. 2. Close up of the baby with the holy water poured on her head My plan is to shoot several wider shots when they just arrived and set up at the basin and when the father is citing the rites. Then, I come in for close up shots of the baby. These are my gears at the moment: 16-85mm, 55-200mm, 35mm 1.8, and SB400 I imagine that I won't be switching any lenses. So, I'm probably putting 16-85mm and sb400. Right now, I'm thinking: Scene 1. Use A mode at 24mm f8 with flash (flash card bounce?). Everything should be sharp. Scene 2. Use A mode at 85mm f5.6 (wide open), no flash. Alternatively, set it at P and forget about everything else. Suggestions and comments will be highly appreciated. TIA

It's best you check out the place before-hand... to estimate the positioning for yourself.
A-mode is the correct choice, but do not limit yourself to a fixed aperture.

My suggestion:

A) Indoor - Do a test shot with the lighting during recce to get urself familiar with the aperture settings to use on the actual day. Use a diffuser instead if the ceiling is too high.

B) Outdoor - Do likewise a test shot before the actual event begins, to select the suitable aperture

[stupidbloke]

when i shoot with flash i put the camera and let the flash do the exposure compensation.
Whoah shoot f8. Alot of flash battery? Haha joking.

[ortega]

if you want to get more ambient light then set your shutter speed to as slow as you dare
set your ISO to as high as you can tahan (i believe the d90 has good noise control at ISO 1600/800)
as for aperture, you need to decide on how mush DOF you need
shoot using M mode and let the flash do the work

[AbangR]

Thanks for all the inputs.

Yes, prefer ambient light, and will do fill in flash if necessary. Also, i don't want to use flash when taking baby's close up pictures. Bad for them.
I can live with ISO 1600 on the D90.

What do you guys think of 35mm f1.8 as the only lens for this? Too restricting?

[nemo]

also watch for backlighting. the last time i did for my friend i need to compensate for that. which church will you be going?

[deepanshus]

i never shot such an event but been to many churches for sight seeing. My advice, if you can then go down to the venue few days before hand at the same time and check for ambient light. I have seen few churches which have very beautiful colored glasses which provide a very colorful internal ambience - esp at the main alter area, for which a flashlight will be disasterous. On the other hand there are few which have only artificial lights coming from the corners of the walls and ceiling, even during the day time.

You can decide on the aperture and ISO once you have an idea of how the lights gonna be at the venue.

[Cactus jACK]

i have shot baptisms with the 35f2. so, i'd go with the 35f1.8 wideopen (w/o flash) all the way.

[AbangR]

Thank you all.. will try to go to the church (Holy Cross at Clementi) tomorrow around noon time (the time of baptism).

[nemo]

Originally Posted by AbangR Thank you all.. will try to go to the church (Holy Cross at Clementi) tomorrow around noon time (the time of baptism).

abangr, if it's holy cross, then u have to watch the backlight. very bad if u shooting direct from the front bcos priest will be standing with the glass window behind him.

either u compensate for it or shoot from the left/right side.

[photobugg]

Originally Posted by AbangR Thanks for all the inputs. Yes, prefer ambient light, and will do fill in flash if necessary. Also, i don't want to use flash when taking baby's close up pictures. Bad for them. I can live with ISO 1600 on the D90. What do you guys think of 35mm f1.8 as the only lens for this? Too restricting?

That's what I would use for ambient light. You need a fast lens to freeze action also.