Using Flash - ETTL and Auto Mode

[asnow]

I don't own a flash yet, so I can't answer this question. Any help would be appreciated

This is a question for a friend of mine. She has a Canon XSi (EOS 450). She is fairly new to photography and still only uses the Auto mode when taking pictures. The aperture and speed are completely set by the camera. She puts a flash on her camera (maybe a 430ex or the new 320ex) and sets it to ETTL. The camera has a max sync speed of 1/200. Will the camera be smart enough to not alow the speed to go any faster than 1/200.

Any suggestions on taking flash pictures for a person that still uses Auto mode. She got talked into by a friend of hers to take her wedding pictures (I know BAD idea) but I believe she has already agreed. I'm doing by best to try and come up with ideas to help her out.

[Richard]

you can set the 430exII to high-speed mode and then you are not limited by the 1/200 max sync speed, not sure about the newer 320, although I guess it wold also have this feature.

best thing to do is to try and blend that flash with natural light and if your shooting inside bounce it off the walls or ceiling to get more flattering light. It's also worth playing with the E-TTL flash compensation for some shots.... oh and practice practice practice before the big day.

[Marko]

Richard is correct but added a bit of extra info.

This is a question for a friend of mine. She has a Canon XSi (EOS 450). She is fairly new to photography and still only uses the Auto mode when taking pictures. The aperture and speed are completely set by the camera. She puts a flash on her camera (maybe a 430ex or the new 320ex) and sets it to ETTL. The camera has a max sync speed of 1/200. Will the camera be smart enough to not alow the speed to go any faster than 1/200.

I'm 99.9% sure the answer is yes. That her camera will be smart enough to not shoot at > than 1/200 on a fully automatic mode.

Any suggestions on taking flash pictures for a person that still uses Auto mode. She got talked into by a friend of hers to take her wedding pictures (I know BAD idea) but I believe she has already agreed. I'm doing by best to try and come up with ideas to help her out.

Yup - Practice before the wedding both INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TEST SHOTS...and keep the couple OUT of mixed light.
Choose either shade (preferred) or bright sun (when there is no shade) for outdoor shots. (This advice is based on the photographer knowing close to nothing about flash photography) Mixed light is harder to control.

You are right though....it's a bad idea. Any photography student in their final semester will likely do a better job shooting a wedding (and likely charge next to nothing) than someone that has almost no experience with flash and only used auto modes to shoot. Does this person even know basic exposure, aperture differences....way way way way way bad idea if the answer is no.

[asnow]

Thanks for the replies. I don't know yet if it is a bad as I perceived. My girlfriend was at her best friendsif I couk (the auto mode photographer) last weekend. When she got back home she mentioned that her best friend was asked by a friend of hers to take pictures at her wedding. It could be as simple as the fact that she kinows that she takes good pictures and as asked her to take some to compliment the ones that official photographer is taking. Or it could be the bad news that she will be the official photographer. Maybe it's a second marriage and more casual and pictures aren't as critical. Anyway the best friend asked my girlfriend, to ask me, if I could give her some guidance. In addition she was hoping that I could do the PP on the pictures.

I have not talked to this preson yet so I have no details so it is all speculation.

Here is what I'm thinking of for parameters in guidance / help.

1. Keep it as simple as possible as she has no idea how to make settings changes in the menus.
2. I though of suggesting renting a better lens than the kit lens, but then I'm thinging that may not be a good idea. Better to stick with what she is used to.
3. Change her camera settings to shoot in raw + jpeg instead of just jpeg she normally uses. That way there would be at least a bit more leaway in processing the picures.
4. She normally uses the on camera flash. Rent a good flash and simply tell her to swivel the flash and bounce it off walls or the ceiling. Don't point it directly at people.
5. If pictures are outside then really try take them in a shady area. Maybe rent a reflector, and get my girfriend who is going to assist her to hold it to help reduce shadows.
6. Make it VERY clear to the friend (bride) that these will be more candid pictures and not your standard wedding pictures

Any other simple suggestions are welcome.