Got back from doing a wedding for my cousin.

[fuzzybabybunny]

I didn't bring my Sigma 50-500mm, so looking at my lenses in my sig you'll notice that I have a gap between 50mm and 100mm. I forgot to bring the 1.4X TC that could have extended the 50mm.

I used two bodies: Rebel XT with the Sigma 10-20mm + 30D with the 100-300mm. The 17-50mm was interchanged between both bodies.

Some thoughts:

Wow, these guys have it down pat. They know exactly where to be at all times and know exactly how to pose people for the classic "shot at the beach when the sun is setting" and other classic shots.

There were two photogs, one who specialized in the up close and personal and another doing more faraway, telephoto stuff like candids.

One photog used a Nikon for indoor shots. He then switched to a Fuji body (which takes Nikon lenses) for outdoor shots because Fuji sensors have greater dynamic range and won't blow out highlights in the bride's white dress quite as easily.

The other photog used a Canon 1DMKIIN + Sigma 15-30mm + Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS + Canon 550EX. He didn't actually own any of this as it all belonged to the wedding photography agency. In fact, he didn't even own his own DSLR and was envious of MY stuff because I actually own my stuff...

Both used flash constantly. The up close photog used a flash bracket like a Stroboframe and both used a small diffuser like a Stofen. Indoors they always bounced from the ceiling. Outdoors the up close photog always used fill flash.

My gear is SO not designed for wedding photography. The 50-100mm gap was a big problem for me and my Sigma DG Super (flash) is a POS not designed for heavy use. It's cycle time is pathetically slow compared to the 550EX and it started to seriously malfunction towards the end of the night, like the internal flash motor inside started to lock up. In addition, its flash output actually made a black BURN MARK on the outside of its plastic lens and even along my flash diffuser.

The 30D's focusing accuracy is not what I want it to be.

The photogs never used any primes. There just isn't time for them.

The day was absolutely grueling. Setting up group shots, looking for candid opportunities, running around during the actual wedding, trying not to trip over wires or get in the way of the guests and the two videographers, and trying not to get into each other's space. Then there was shooting at the beach trying to beat the sunset and more shooting all throughout dinnertime and after dinner. And all the people asking me to take shots of them and I don't know what the heck to do because I'm a frickin' LANDSCAPE photographer

I don't think I want to be a wedding photographer. I'm used to just hiking out, setting up my tripod, and sitting on some ledge nibbling on a granola bar as I wait for the sun to rise. Not this OMG OMG OMG must catch the moment because there is only one chance in a lifetime OMG OMG OMG kind of thing.

 

[ElFenix]

were there any of those wacky asian wedding photos, or just the standard white people stuff?

 

[JulesMaximus]

You know, some of the best shots I ever got in motorsports photography were in the pit lane with a flash in broad daylight. Go figure.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I didn't bring my Sigma 50-500mm, so looking at my lenses in my sig you'll notice that I have a gap between 50mm and 100mm. I forgot to bring the 1.4X TC that could have extended the 50mm.

I used two bodies: Rebel XT with the Sigma 10-20mm + 30D with the 100-300mm. The 17-50mm was interchanged between both bodies.

Some thoughts:

Wow, these guys have it down pat. They know exactly where to be at all times and know exactly how to pose people for the classic "shot at the beach when the sun is setting" and other classic shots.

There were two photogs, one who specialized in the up close and personal and another doing more faraway, telephoto stuff like candids.

One photog used a Nikon for indoor shots. He then switched to a Fuji body (which takes Nikon lenses) for outdoor shots because Fuji sensors have greater dynamic range and won't blow out highlights in the bride's white dress quite as easily.

The other photog used a Canon 1DMKIIN + Sigma 15-30mm + Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS + Canon 550EX. He didn't actually own any of this as it all belonged to the wedding photography agency. In fact, he didn't even own his own DSLR and was envious of MY stuff because I actually own my stuff...

Both used flash constantly. The up close photog used a flash bracket like a Stroboframe and both used a small diffuser like a Stofen. Indoors they always bounced from the ceiling. Outdoors the up close photog always used fill flash.

My gear is SO not designed for wedding photography. The 50-100mm gap was a big problem for me and my Sigma DG Super (flash) is a POS not designed for heavy use. It's cycle time is pathetically slow compared to the 550EX and it started to seriously malfunction towards the end of the night, like the internal flash motor inside started to lock up. In addition, its flash output actually made a black BURN MARK on the outside of its plastic lens and even along my flash diffuser.

The 30D's focusing accuracy is not what I want it to be.

The photogs never used any primes. There just isn't time for them.

The day was absolutely grueling. Setting up group shots, looking for candid opportunities, running around during the actual wedding, trying not to trip over wires or get in the way of the guests and the two videographers, and trying not to get into each other's space. Then there was shooting at the beach trying to beat the sunset and more shooting all throughout dinnertime and after dinner. And all the people asking me to take shots of them and I don't know what the heck to do because I'm a frickin' LANDSCAPE photographer

I don't think I want to be a wedding photographer. I'm used to just hiking out, setting up my tripod, and sitting on some ledge nibbling on a granola bar as I wait for the sun to rise. Not this OMG OMG OMG must catch the moment because there is only one chance in a lifetime OMG OMG OMG kind of thing.

It's there, then again...that's why I ditched the Tamron 17-50. AF sucks on it, so I had to opt for the Canon. I only get about 5 oof shots out of 3 gigs of jpegs. And those are usually in a dark club like reception when the party gets crazy and drunk.
I really thought I had to ditch the 30D for a better AF system, but it just takes practice.

There are others that do use primes. I don't know of any that ONLY use primes, but they do use them.
Belts help a ton. I can switch lenses in about 6-7 seconds without even looking at the camera, and I am still getting used to it

After more than a dozen weddings this season, I swear I am going to quit each time on the way home.
That is until I get to look at the images.

 

[Jawo]

I totally understand you FBB! I have shot four years in the past year (two with my A610 and two with my XTi). Thank goodness I was not the "official" photographer at any, but still took many, many pictures, some of them decent. The first wedding with my XTi another friend (and avid photog) had a whole backpack of lenses...all Canon including the 30D and 5D. The second wedding was husband/wife and only had the XTs, one with the Sigma 18-70, the other the Canon 70-300 II. I shot mostly with my Tamron 17-50, as the 70-300 IS USM was too much of a close up in churches. I have not seen any of the finished photographs, but its alot of work to get nice pictures, not to mention all of the post processing work. However, everyone was pleased with my better pictures...I guess that happens when you take 1500 pics at each wedding. I was so glad I didn't have to do the posing but just take pictures.

My family was saying I should be a professional wedding photog, since it pays so well, but I said heck no, since its too much stress.

 

[Anubis]

yea i dont shoot people basicially because i liek eating granola bars at sunset

 

[OdiN]

haha, shooting weddings is definitely an experience.

It is rewarding though I think.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: OdiN
haha, shooting weddings is definitely an experience.

It is rewarding though I think.

if you get it right...

 

[JulesMaximus]

Hey fuzzy,

Can we see some of the pics you shot at the wedding?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I think the problem with me and focusing is that I demand too much. Since I'm constantly switching between two bodies strapped to me, every time I switch to a new body it's very fast. It's literally swinging it up to my face, sighting in the viewfinder, and taking the shot in less than a second. I think I need to work on being slower. Sometimes I find that if I focus on an object multiple times while standing still, the lens focusing motor moves each time until the 3rd or 4th time, after which it doesn't move anymore due to absolute focus lock.

I HAVE heard complaints from other people who say that the 30D AF isn't that great though.

I use a belt as well, and yes, switching lenses can be very quick, but sometimes very quick is still too slow especially during a big wedding situation with a strict timeline and a setting sun or something. If it were more relaxed I'd probably be able to use primes.

As far as taking 1500 pictures... I did the same, but one of the photogs I talked to (the close-up one) told me that he came from a film background with an actual education in photography, so he's used to getting the picture right the first time while shooting on manual. He averages only 500 or so shots a wedding, with a very high keeper ratio. I on the other hand shoot a lot, probably because I'm not used to how to frame wedding shots, and in aperture priority while using exposure compensation if I need to. Is there really an advantage to shooting full manual? Both methods change the same exact variables, shutter speed and aperture...

The pics will be coming sometime soon. I've just been so busy this week with career fair and stuff that I didn't have a chance to get around to it. Hopefully tonight I can sit down and check things out. I'm trying to use a new RAW editor called Bibble, which seems a LOT more powerful than any RAW editor I've used before, including ACR and Capture One Pro. I think I'm going to be switching to Bibble from now on. Heck, by the looks of it if I were to switch to Bibble I wouldn't even have to OPEN Photoshop on the majority of my photos...

Originally posted by: ElFenix
were there any of those wacky asian wedding photos, or just the standard white people stuff?

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I think the problem with me and focusing is that I demand too much. Since I'm constantly switching between two bodies strapped to me, every time I switch to a new body it's very fast. It's literally swinging it up to my face, sighting in the viewfinder, and taking the shot in less than a second. I think I need to work on being slower. Sometimes I find that if I focus on an object multiple times while standing still, the lens focusing motor moves each time until the 3rd or 4th time, after which it doesn't move anymore due to absolute focus lock.

I HAVE heard complaints from other people who say that the 30D AF isn't that great though.

I use a belt as well, and yes, switching lenses can be very quick, but sometimes very quick is still too slow especially during a big wedding situation with a strict timeline and a setting sun or something. If it were more relaxed I'd probably be able to use primes.

As far as taking 1500 pictures... I did the same, but one of the photogs I talked to (the close-up one) told me that he came from a film background with an actual education in photography, so he's used to getting the picture right the first time while shooting on manual. He averages only 500 or so shots a wedding, with a very high keeper ratio. I on the other hand shoot a lot, probably because I'm not used to how to frame wedding shots, and in aperture priority while using exposure compensation if I need to. Is there really an advantage to shooting full manual? Both methods change the same exact variables, shutter speed and aperture...

The pics will be coming sometime soon. I've just been so busy this week with career fair and stuff that I didn't have a chance to get around to it. Hopefully tonight I can sit down and check things out. I'm trying to use a new RAW editor called Bibble, which seems a LOT more powerful than any RAW editor I've used before, including ACR and Capture One Pro. I think I'm going to be switching to Bibble from now on. Heck, by the looks of it if I were to switch to Bibble I wouldn't even have to OPEN Photoshop on the majority of my photos...

Originally posted by: ElFenix
were there any of those wacky asian wedding photos, or just the standard white people stuff?

I shoot in Aperture mode most of the time. I think it gives you the best flexability in normal light....but I have trouble when shooting in low light using the flash. If anyone wants to look at my (better) photos One Two (latter shot with a soft Tamron 17-50 )

 

[jamesbond007]

I've done several weddings (just started this year) and you build experience through practice VERY fast...

I love my primes - they are the key to getting truly candid images that cannot be captured otherwise. Until I recently bought my 300 2.8 IS, I borrowed another friend's. This lens has been quite nice to mount on a tripod in the balcony as your 'safety shot' setup. I was doing a wedding this fall here and the pastor never said "You may now kiss the bride" until after the organ started playing...which of course, the crowd of people rose to their feet and made it impossible for me to get the first kiss shot. Luckily, I had a second shooter who was able to snap some images because he was in back and we made it out OK. It was until after this wedding that I realized that a telephoto in the balcony is a MUST...

I do shoot with a partner, so this helps immensely with the stress and trying to be in two places at once. I don't think I'd even try to do a wedding by myself because I demand so my from the images that I process. I typically handle the longer focal lengths while my secondary shoots shorter lenses or the zooms. I typically like my 135L and 50 1.8 for the super shallow DOF. (can't wait to get my 85L someday!)

Anyways, the first wedding will always be your worst...in one aspect, but you already know SO much more now than you did before, right?

As for the bad AF on the 30D, I don't know if it's user attributed in your case, but I can tell you the 30D is pretty amazing. I can tell you that my Tamron 28-75 was no match for low-light photography nor handling the receptions very well, but the 24-70 hits focus ALL the time, no matter what. It's like it has night vision and just snaps into focus, even if I can't see what I'm focusing on. (ie: guy wearing a black tux when there's near candle-lighting in the reception hall) The 580EX helps a lot on both the Tamron and the 24-70, but the 24-70 pays for itself over time, this is for sure.

I also do sports photography and have had nothing but praises about the AF on my 30D. Were you using center-point while using AI-Servo in Av mode? That's what I use 100% of the time when I shoot sports and it hasn't failed me yet.

Happy shooting,
~Travis

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
I've done several weddings (just started this year) and you build experience through practice VERY fast...

I love my primes - they are the key to getting truly candid images that cannot be captured otherwise. Until I recently bought my 300 2.8 IS, I borrowed another friend's. This lens has been quite nice to mount on a tripod in the balcony as your 'safety shot' setup. I was doing a wedding this fall here and the pastor never said "You may now kiss the bride" until after the organ started playing...which of course, the crowd of people rose to their feet and made it impossible for me to get the first kiss shot. Luckily, I had a second shooter who was able to snap some images because he was in back and we made it out OK. It was until after this wedding that I realized that a telephoto in the balcony is a MUST...

I do shoot with a partner, so this helps immensely with the stress and trying to be in two places at once. I don't think I'd even try to do a wedding by myself because I demand so my from the images that I process. I typically handle the longer focal lengths while my secondary shoots shorter lenses or the zooms. I typically like my 135L and 50 1.8 for the super shallow DOF. (can't wait to get my 85L someday!)

Anyways, the first wedding will always be your worst...in one aspect, but you already know SO much more now than you did before, right?

As for the bad AF on the 30D, I don't know if it's user attributed in your case, but I can tell you the 30D is pretty amazing. I can tell you that my Tamron 28-75 was no match for low-light photography nor handling the receptions very well, but the 24-70 hits focus ALL the time, no matter what. It's like it has night vision and just snaps into focus, even if I can't see what I'm focusing on. (ie: guy wearing a black tux when there's near candle-lighting in the reception hall) The 580EX helps a lot on both the Tamron and the 24-70, but the 24-70 pays for itself over time, this is for sure.

I also do sports photography and have had nothing but praises about the AF on my 30D. Were you using center-point while using AI-Servo in Av mode? That's what I use 100% of the time when I shoot sports and it hasn't failed me yet.

Happy shooting,
~Travis

I've found this to be the case with Canon L lenses as well. They focus lightening quick and silently. I've had mixed luck with the autofocus on some third party lenses. I had a Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 lens that would hunt, creep when pointed down, and the motor was loud as hell...not to mention that lens was unusable with the on camera flash due to its size.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: ElFenix
were there any of those wacky asian wedding photos, or just the standard white people stuff?

oh, wait, it was the wedding, not the pre-wedding photos.

every asian wedding i've been to (granted, not many) have had pre-wedding photos where, for instance, the bride will be playing the violin, and the groom will be standing behind her covering his ears and looking like he is in pain. stuff like that. as opposed to the standard wasp photos of the bride and groom in a field somewhere.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: ElFenix
were there any of those wacky asian wedding photos, or just the standard white people stuff?

oh, wait, it was the wedding, not the pre-wedding photos.

every asian wedding i've been to (granted, not many) have had pre-wedding photos where, for instance, the bride will be playing the violin, and the groom will be standing behind her covering his ears and looking like he is in pain. stuff like that. as opposed to the standard wasp photos of the bride and groom in a field somewhere.

I'm not aware of any pre-wedding photos that were taken other than make-up and group shots of the family members and stuff. I did arrive at the wedding somewhat late though, so I could have missed it.

However, the day before they did a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony in their own home. It was like the two families getting together and the father of the bride handing his daughter over to the groom and offerings of tea and stuff. It was really confusing and I had no idea what was going on.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I'm not aware of any pre-wedding photos that were taken other than make-up and group shots of the family members and stuff. I did arrive at the wedding somewhat late though, so I could have missed it.

However, the day before they did a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony in their own home. It was like the two families getting together and the father of the bride handing his daughter over to the groom and offerings of tea and stuff. It was really confusing and I had no idea what was going on.

Chinese tea ceremony. Both of the B&G's parents host a tea party, where the other's family and friends are invited to. The B&G are standing in front of some chairs. People take turns sitting in front of them. When they are seated, they are served tea by the B&G. Then the seated guest gives them an ornate red card with money, jewelry, or what not. They give their blessings, get up, and the next set of guests sits down. It's often very emotional. Tears pour all the time.
Once this is done at the Bride's parents house, it's off to the groom's parent's house. Rinse, Repeat.
The other traditional part is that the groom sees the bride long before the wedding ceremony.
When the groom and groomsmen show up at the brides house, the bridesmaids make the groom play a game to gain entrance into the house. It's often very funny.
The one I remember is the groom had to sing "only fools fall in love" by Elvis.
Also, they have a whole train of gifts (usually traditional feast type foods).
There are many variations, but this strikes me as the most traditional you can have in the states because they meld their traditions with western ones.
The one I described was about 4 hours of shooting at the tea ceremony (went home to rest for a bit), followed by 6-7 hours for the wedding ceremony (western and secular).

Sorry about the long post, but just thought I'd share. It was very moving since it was very new to me. (not asian myself)