Wedding photographers: How do you get good "motion" shots?

Question

Do you use a flash? What kind? If you use a tripod and slow shutter speed, it would blur the subject. How do you get good lighting indoors without a harsh flash?

Answer 1

You can use a technique called dragging the shutter.
to get motion blur. Use a slow shutter speed, but allow the flash to fire. The flash freezes some motion, while the slow shutter speed allows the ambient light to capture the background movement (or no movement, depends on if you're shooting formals or dancing.)

Most wedding photographers use some sort of flash diffuser to soften the light, or bouncing off of reflective surfaces, or a combination of both. I bounce and use a Fong Lightsphere or an omnibounce. You also need a fast lens for low light work and to limit depth of field. I only use a tripod from the balcony or the back of the church for the ceremony with a telephoto lens.

Answer 2

Shutter speed at 1/30 seconds and aperture at f/16 for motion shot,it won't get blur images with a flash. if you didn't want to using harsh flash,you using ISO 1600 for film speeds,very easy,lah.I am Bachelor of Arts in Photography (London),ARPS,APSNY(New York)

Answer 3

What ara57 said is a good technique, or a slow shutter speed and panning with the main subject will give you a blurred background with a relatively sharp subject.

This technique takes lots of practice.

Answer 4

I use an external flash on my camera, with a diffuser, usually set for bounce off the ceiling. I also use a couple of flash units with slave units on light stands for some locations. For outdoor shots I use the external flash with the diffuser as -1 to 1 1/2 f/stop fill for the natural light and white foam board held by an assistant for added fill light when needed.