Here’s my repeatable wedding lighting setups for clean files and safe highlights. Prep at 5 pm window. Subject at 45 degrees to the glass. White wall behind. Black foam core on the shadow side for shape. Small reflector under chin for catch. Start ISO 400, f/2, 1/200. On Sony, dial zebra at 95 and watch the histogram. Keep the right tail off the edge, especially the dress. Compose with the window frame as a vertical line through the shoulder and keep the chin inside that line. Indoor ceremony. Mixed tungsten and LED. I set Kelvin to 4000 and stick with it. On‑camera bounce at 1/64 to lift eyes. Shutter 1/125 to dodge flicker, adjust if banding shows. Expose for faces by the histogram, not the LCD. Use the aisle as a leading line to the couple and avoid angled pews cutting heads. Reception dance floor. Two speedlights on 9 ft stands at opposite corners, bare with 1/4 CTO. Aim across the floor, not at people. Start 1/200, f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/16 power. Nudge ISO until the histogram right shoulder sits just left of clipping on foreheads. Gaffer tape the legs so guests don’t kick them. If DJ uplights clip, stop down to f/3.2 and bump flash to 1/8. Keep diagonals from the floor edges pointing to the first dance and avoid merges at hands. This keeps skin consistent and highlights safe.
I do the same but meter off the dress, not the face. Zebras at 95, histogram just kissing the right, then back 1/3 stop. If the window’s too hot and I still want f/2 at sync, I screw on a 2‑stop ND, recheck zebras, and shoot. Square the frame. lines to the eyes. You using ND in prep?