• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Any Wedding Photographers ?

edro

edro

Lifer
I have a Canon XSi with some cheap lenses.
Canon 18-55mm IS Kit
Canon 55mm f1.8 Prime
Sigma 70-300mm
Canon 430EX External Flash

I take photos of Santa and kids every year at a large Christmas party (500+ kids) and I have been into SLR photography for about 5 years now.

I have been asked to take the wedding photos at my friend's destination wedding this summer. She cannot afford a professional photographer, and she said that if I don't do it, she will not have a photographer at all. Grrr...

Sooo... do you have any tips for me?
My first thought is that I need a new lens.
I was thinking about the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS, but it may not be that much better than my kit lens.
The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS looks nice, but its $1000!

I know I could bet by with my kit lens, but I think I need a lower aperture and IS for inside the church during the ceremony.

Any advice?

Thanks!

 
24-70mm f/2.8 would probably stay on the camera during the event itself; a 70-200mm f/2.8 is what I would use for staged portraits before/after the event.
 
If you aren't ready to commit the cash to either of the lenses jpeyton suggested, which are really probably the best tools for the job, you may want to consider renting them for the event. Most local camera shops will rent you the lenses, or there are websites that you can rent from as well. You will get much better results than you would sticking with the kit lens, and you won't have to spend a ton if you're not interested in owning the lenses going forward.
 
The nice thing is that you probably don't have the pressure of producing outstanding photos that would belong in a magazine or anything. As long as you get a representative sample of the event, along with some formals of the Bride + Groom, and the family, I'm sure they'll be elated.

Since they'll be happy to have whatever you can deliver, you can probably produce pleasing images with your existing equipment. In this case, you probably don't have to worry about not using your flash (except during the ceremony in the church). As long as you know how to effectively use your flash to get pleasing images, you'll come out fine and the speed of your existing lenses will be less important (as long as you're not looking for shallow DOF).
 
find a used tamron 17-50/2.8 on the fm forums or POTN. It's a great lens. I shot a wedding w/ that and a 50-135/2.8 and a 30/1.4. Keep in mind in the church, where can you be? a 17-50 or 24-70 might not be enough reach.

But yeah, if you really don't want to get these lenses in the future, just rent them. And be sure to lay out all the expectations beforehand... in writing even. I don't know how close of friends you are, but these things sometimes start off so innocently...
 
You know, one of the points of having a DSLR is that you don't always have to shoot ISO 100 - You could crank it up to ISO 800/1600 and still be ok. . .Shoot raw - and you can always change the exposure, colors, etc. ..
 
Originally posted by: edro
Any advice?
Click to expand...

Yeah, charge at least $1000 so you can get what you want, though personally I'd go for something faster than f/4 😛

It's a messy situation in general. There's the friend that's spending the money for a location wedding but doesn't want to hire a photographer, and while I'd like to say charge appropriately, it's difficult to say that when you're asking about lenses rather than the actual wedding (your priority needs to be the images, not the equipment). Think this over. If you're really serious about shooting the wedding, then gain some experience by assisting or something so you know what you're actually getting into.
 
Originally posted by: virtuamike
Originally posted by: edro
Any advice?
Click to expand...

Yeah, charge at least $1000 so you can get what you want, though personally I'd go for something faster than f/4 😛
Click to expand...

I agree with Vitruamike. Try to obtain 2.8 lenses if you can, try renting if you need to. F4 would cut it if the whole thing was outdoors. I'm currently assisting a local wedding photographer and I've now learned that you need every bit of speed possible ISO and anything 2.8 or lower are your best friends. Best thing to do is to check out the location before hand. That way you could practice a bit before the big day. Learn the lighting of the location, positions, etc. For some inspiration check out this site <3 She's so good. I hope one day I could take pics like her.

Edit: Wow just checked your site virtuamike. Impressive!
 
Originally posted by: edro
I have a Canon XSi with some cheap lenses.
Canon 18-55mm IS Kit
Canon 55mm f1.8 Prime
Sigma 70-300mm
Canon 430EX External Flash

I take photos of Santa and kids every year at a large Christmas party (500+ kids) and I have been into SLR photography for about 5 years now.

I have been asked to take the wedding photos at my friend's destination wedding this summer. She cannot afford a professional photographer, and she said that if I don't do it, she will not have a photographer at all. Grrr...

Sooo... do you have any tips for me?
My first thought is that I need a new lens.
I was thinking about the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS, but it may not be that much better than my kit lens.
The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS looks nice, but its $1000!

I know I could bet by with my kit lens, but I think I need a lower aperture and IS for inside the church during the ceremony.

Any advice?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Well, you can rent a lens, and renting a 2.8f lens is a good idea for this job.

Also, as for buying, I would get a 50mm 1.8f lens. That will serve you well for this job and others. Finally, most wedding photogs have a flash. I would either rent or buy an external flash. I just bought one myself, and it was one of the greatest purchases for my camera yet -- and I used to HATE flash photography.

Finally, it will be HARD to get great shots your first time doing this. Get a LOT of memory, and take a LOT of photos. Some will be decent. haha.
 
I called all of the known camera shops in my area, and none of them rent glass.
All of the websites I have seen charge $35 a week, plus $15 shipping each way.
That seems too high to test out lenses.
If I KNEW that a certain lens would work well, it would be worth it to rent for the event.

I guess with my current experience, I know that an f2.8 would work well.

I was recently at a wedding in a church, and the guy was shooting with a Nikon.
He was in very low light, and was shooting 5 frames a sec. but without flash.
I don't see how he could have gotten good photos even with a 2.8.
 
Originally posted by: edro
I called all of the known camera shops in my area, and none of them rent glass.
All of the websites I have seen charge $35 a week, plus $15 shipping each way.
That seems too high to test out lenses.
If I KNEW that a certain lens would work well, it would be worth it to rent for the event.

I guess with my current experience, I know that an f2.8 would work well.

I was recently at a wedding in a church, and the guy was shooting with a Nikon.
He was in very low light, and was shooting 5 frames a sec. but without flash.
I don't see how he could have gotten good photos even with a 2.8.
Click to expand...

Well, depending on when and where the thing is, I can loan you my f/2.8 lenses in my sig. You'd just have to rent a Nikon camera body and maybe a speedlight 😉 I might also want to tag along for some practice. You can take point with the wide or standard and I can cover from afar with the tele 😛

I'm in Cleveland.

The Nikon guy shooting 5fps, that's probably all he could do if the church didn't allow flash... just gotta switch to a fast prime or something and make do with what available light is there.
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Originally posted by: edro
I called all of the known camera shops in my area, and none of them rent glass.
All of the websites I have seen charge $35 a week, plus $15 shipping each way.
That seems too high to test out lenses.
If I KNEW that a certain lens would work well, it would be worth it to rent for the event.
I guess with my current experience, I know that an f2.8 would work well.
I was recently at a wedding in a church, and the guy was shooting with a Nikon.
He was in very low light, and was shooting 5 frames a sec. but without flash.
I don't see how he could have gotten good photos even with a 2.8.
Click to expand...
Well, depending on when and where the thing is, I can loan you my f/2.8 lenses in my sig. You'd just have to rent a Nikon camera body and maybe a speedlight 😉 I might also want to tag along for some practice. You can take point with the wide or standard and I can cover from afar with the tele 😛
I'm in Cleveland.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the offer, but I am a Canon man. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: edro
Thanks for the offer, but I am a Canon man. 🙂
Click to expand...

Diversify! It's always good to know how to shoot on multiple systems. Just imagine if you were in a photography firefight and the Nikon guy just went down and your Canon suddenly ran out of juice and the bride is about to kiss the groom. You could drop your Canon, do a tactical roll towards the Nikon guy and pick up his camera and continue shooting without a hitch. Then you could create a diversion by chucking the camera at the minister's face and during the chaos grab the bride and jump out the window, giving her the best O of her life in midair with your stunning cunnilingus skills before you two fall onto a strategically located bush that you planted there ahead of time and then buzz off into the sunset with the bride (who now really wants a peek at your real "Cannon") in one of the guest's Lamborghinis that you hotwired with one arm tied behind your back just because you can.
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Originally posted by: edro
Thanks for the offer, but I am a Canon man. 🙂
Click to expand...
Diversify! It's always good to know how to shoot on multiple systems. Just imagine if you were in a photography firefight and the Nikon guy just went down and your Canon suddenly ran out of juice and the bride is about to kiss the groom. You could drop your Canon, do a tactical roll towards the Nikon guy and pick up his camera and continue shooting without a hitch. Then you could create a diversion by chucking the camera at the minister's face and during the chaos grab the bride and jump out the window, giving her the best O of her life in midair with your stunning cunnilingus skills before you two fall onto a strategically located bush that you planted there ahead of time and then buzz off into the sunset with the bride (who now really wants a peek at your real "Cannon") in one of the guest's Lamborghinis that you hotwired with one arm tied behind your back just because you can.
Click to expand...
Good point. I guess I should get a Nikon.
 
Speaking without any experience as a wedding photographer, but as a guy with a camera at my cousin's wedding, take what I say with a grain of salt. If the church allows flash and has a low enough ceiling and light-colored walls, then you may be able to get by with a non-F/2.8 lens with bounced flash. Just bring plenty of batteries for that 430EX. If not, and you can't get a nicer lens, get lots of shots outdoors, at the reception (where I presume you can use the flash), lit with the assistance of windows and posed. You'll probably be missing out on a lot of candid/action shots, but there's really no way around that. Your 50mm F/1.8 will have trouble focusing in dim situations.

Otherwise, pick up a F/2.8 lens or faster prime. I have a Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 that I use almost all the time. But even this lens, with its slower focus, wasn't able to properly handle my cousin's wedding.
 
Originally posted by: ghostman
Speaking without any experience as a wedding photographer, but as a guy with a camera at my cousin's wedding, take what I say with a grain of salt. If the church allows flash and has a low enough ceiling and light-colored walls, then you may be able to get by with a non-F/2.8 lens with bounced flash. Just bring plenty of batteries for that 430EX.
Click to expand...

Hard to say without knowing what the church looks like, whether or not there's ambient to work with also, how experienced OP is with flash, etc. The less left up to chance, the better. Besides, weddings really aren't the right environments to make first attempts.

Originally posted by: ghostman
If not, and you can't get a nicer lens, get lots of shots outdoors, at the reception (where I presume you can use the flash), lit with the assistance of windows and posed. You'll probably be missing out on a lot of candid/action shots, but there's really no way around that. Your 50mm F/1.8 will have trouble focusing in dim situations.

Otherwise, pick up a F/2.8 lens or faster prime. I have a Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 that I use almost all the time. But even this lens, with its slower focus, wasn't able to properly handle my cousin's wedding.
Click to expand...

The problem is that you're prioritizing lighting over the moment, and that's a bad mindset to take at a wedding. Good wedding photographers don't miss out on shots.
 
Originally posted by: edro
I was recently at a wedding in a church, and the guy was shooting with a Nikon.
He was in very low light, and was shooting 5 frames a sec. but without flash.
I don't see how he could have gotten good photos even with a 2.8.
Click to expand...

So, have you seen the shots?
 
Originally posted by: virtuamike
The problem is that you're prioritizing lighting over the moment, and that's a bad mindset to take at a wedding. Good wedding photographers don't miss out on shots.
Click to expand...
Indeed. Sometimes the artist in you wants to get every wedding shot lit perfectly, but the fact is that couples would rather have a point-and-shoot-quality picture of the right moment vs. a professional quality picture of the wrong moment.

Take LOTS of photos. I've taken wedding shots that I thought were sub-par, and ended up being surprised when a couple chose the picture to be in their album.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top