Noob wedding equipment

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Dab

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Hi everyone,

I need a bit of advice from anyone with some wedding tog knowledge. My sister is getting married in April and she has asked me to take some photos- I will not be the main photographer (she has already booked one) but I think she wants some additional photos the other tog won't take/charge extra for, and more of general people enjoying themselves etc. Currently i've only got a kit lens and nifty fifty for my 450d, so i think i'll probably need either a faster lens or a flash.

At the moment im looking at either a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (or similar) or a Canon Speedlight 430 EXII. The flash is obviously a lot cheaper, and i already have the focal length covered by my kit lens, so is the Tamron worth the extra money or would i be better off just getting a flash? Id like to save money if possible coz i also want to get a Sigma 10-20 for when i go to Ireland for the wedding :D.

Thanks in advance!
 
I think you 50mm is ideal for what you want to achieve, that's what I'd use.
 
I did consider the 50mm but I didn't want to be too limited to one focal length. Has anyone here shot a wedding with just a 50mm prime?

Renting a 24-70 would be awesome, i'll have to have a look into cost though because the wedding is in Ireland and I'm away for over a week.
 
Group shots will be hard! You might find it a little limiting, especially if you haven't shot a wedding before, knowing what to expect is vital and framing shots as they happen might be difficult with a prime.

Just read you have the kit lens though...which invalidates my point! But you can't use them both at the same time!
 
since the tog will get all the formal shots, i would just use the 50mm in the background or hire a 70-200 or something similar, www.lensesforhire.co.uk is a member here and i havent heard a bad word bout him or his company
 
Id look at either getting a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 or a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 as im guessing that it will be mainly the shots at the reception you will be shooting?

Mike
 
MJ Stebbings said:
Id look at either getting a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 or a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 as im guessing that it will be mainly the shots at the reception you will be shooting?

Mike
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Yeah i think so, as i said the main tog will be getting all the main shots (the ceremony etc) so i'll be running around afterwards whenever im not needed in the shots. Im guessing you can recommend the Sigma 24-70 seeing as you own it?
 
I was a wedding photographer for over two years. I used medium format for the posed, formal shots and an 85mm lens on a 35mm body for the candids. This is similar to using the 50mm on a APS-C body like yours. Shooting at a wide aperture to blur the background and conentrating on head and shoulders shots of individuals or small groups, I could wander round and record peoples' expressions. I got a great set once, the groom whispering in the brides ear, her shocked reaction and then her throwing her head back in laughter.
 
Some good suggestions on here and I would agree with the 50mm suggestions, it's not too big or cumbersome (it is your sister's wedding after all) and you should be able to get some cracking shots. If you feel too restricted I too can recommend lensesforhire.


I must admit this part of your original post had me concerned, shouldn't your sister as the paying client dictate what shots she would like?

Dab said:
...... but I think she wants some additional photos the other tog won't take/charge extra for
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Very bizarre.
 
It all depends "where" you will be taking these shots too. Do you know whether you will be indoors or out?

I shoot a lot of my candids on a 70-200mm (but I use a full frame camera so no crop factor). I tend to shoot a fair few of them between 100-200mm too. It allows me to go "sniping" so I can capture people when they are relaxed and laughing. If that's the kind of thing your sis is after then I'd recommend hiring something that will give you that kind of range on your camera. lensesforhire are not as expensive as most and I can really recommend them. I've used them for lenses for weddings before 35mm f1.4 is a peach :)

If you are going to be outdoors, that may make more sense than a flash.

However if you want to be taking pics into the night...........flash would make sense.
 
Hacker said:
I must admit this part of your original post had me concerned, shouldn't your sister as the paying client dictate what shots she would like?

Very bizarre.
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Apologies, i didn't mean to suggest the tog wouldn't be taking the photos my sister had asked for. I just meant that i think she wants me to take photos other than the ones she has agreed with the official photographer, as i believe she has to pay him extra for more photos.
 
Dab said:
Apologies, i didn't mean to suggest the tog wouldn't be taking the photos my sister had asked for. I just meant that i think she wants me to take photos other than the ones she has agreed with the official photographer, as i believe she has to pay him extra for more photos.
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No need to apologise Dab but I still find it odd that she has to pay him extra - is she paying for a set amount of pre-determined shots? The only reason I ask is that most wedding photographers charge for their time and not per shot.
 
i would guess she has bought one of the packages, and would like dab to sort out the evening etc. he will obviously be cheaper for prints than said pro tog as well.

thats my take on it anyway.
 
Take one lens, get any shots that you see without getting in the way and then enjoy the wedding.
 
I'm not 100% sure of the terms of the contract but i think the agreement is that she is paying for a certain amount of shots which are agreed on beforehand, but the tog will take more than this and if she wants them afterwards, she has to pay extra. I'm guessing from your reply this is not the usual way of doing things?
 
Weird - a) he's guaranteeing a number of shots regardless of how the day unfolds and b) why not just charge for time? Sounds like he shot film and still has that business model.
 
or they are talking prints, not shots??:shrug:
 
fletch5 said:
or they are talking prints, not shots??:shrug:
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Thats exactly how I interpreted it, she has paid for an agreed number of prints from the pro tog that will be selected from all his shots on the day. She is hoping her brother (the OP) will get some good candid coverage so she can save buying more prints at his rate and get them cheap off him.
 
Radiohead said:
Take one lens, get any shots that you see without getting in the way and then enjoy the wedding.
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^^ Thats the one right there, capture the fun side of the wedding while also having fun.

Jobs a good 'un :thumbs:
 
a1ex2001 said:
Thats exactly how I interpreted it, she has paid for an agreed number of prints from the pro tog that will be selected from all his shots on the day. She is hoping her brother (the OP) will get some good candid coverage so she can save buying more prints at his rate and get them cheap off him.
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Spot on. My english has failed me today, thats what happens when you try and stealth-post at work! :p
 
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