Suggested Canon kit for Weddings

subseasniper

subseasniper

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Hey all.

I am getting to the point where people are asking me to do photos for them and it won't be long before I start doing weddings.

My (Canon) kit is in need if an upgrade.

I was thinking of the following for doing weddings. I plan to shoot mainly with natural light. Any comments on the suitability of this gear please let me know

Canon eos 5d mkii
Grip for above
Canon 50mm f1.4 (already own)
Canon 85mm f1.8
Canon 70-200mm f2.8 sum
Speed lire 430 ex ii (already own)

This will all be kept in a stealth reporter bag.

Any thoughts?
 
x2?

Public Liability and professional indemnity insurance?

Maybe a 24-70 f/2.8 (or 2).
 
Need something wider than 50mm or you will get no interior shots, no full length shots, hardly any dance floor dancing shots. You will have an abundance of head and shoulders shots though.
 
You don't need x2 of everything just enough kit to keep going should something fail so add another body and an f2.8 standard zoom which will give you something wider for groups.

Not sure when insurance became kit? Oh yeah it's not it's just a bitchy way of snipping at people who want to start shooting weddings
 
No, it's not! It's just a helpful hint to help the OP avoid potentially huge lawsuits should **** happen (like part of the main kit failing and the photographer having no backup...) I personally have little problem with Uncle Bobs - for our wedding, we had no "official" photographer, the guests with cameras just let me copy their pictures from the day - IMO, far more personal (and indeed far cheaper!) memories than the sometimes rather artificial "official" photos.
 
a1ex2001 said:
You don't need x2 of everything just enough kit to keep going should something fail so add another body and an f2.8 standard zoom which will give you something wider for groups.

Not sure when insurance became kit? Oh yeah it's not it's just a bitchy way of snipping at people who want to start shooting weddings
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:agree:
 
I've said this before, whilst I agree you do need the kit mentioned above, I could quite happily shoot a wedding with the 50mm and 70-200

I must also be the only person not to like using mid range zooms
 
TonyNI said:
I've said this before, whilst I agree you do need the kit mentioned above, I could quite happily shoot a wedding with the 50mm and 70-200

I must also be the only person not to like using mid range zooms
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I don't think you are at all, more and more wedding togs seem to be moving towards an all prime setup. I do think it's slightly unusual that you rekon you could get through the day with nothing wider than a 50mm I'd have thought at least a 35mm would come in handy for larger groups and indoors.
 
a1ex2001 said:
I don't think you are at all, more and more wedding togs seem to be moving towards an all prime setup. I do think it's slightly unusual that you rekon you could get through the day with nothing wider than a 50mm I'd have thought at least a 35mm would come in handy for larger groups and indoors.
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I do use wider lenses for a few shots but they would total to less than 5% I'd imagine. I'm gonna buy a 35mm 1.4 and see if I use that much
 
Guys, thanks for the replies. I am purely looking to discuss kit here rather than insurance.

I am an experienced photographer with good business sense and have found a definite niche worth exploiting. I was interested to see what other wedding photographers used.

I should have mentioned I currently have an EOS 40D with a wide angle Sigma zoom. I am contemplating trading that in towards my set up. Also thinking about a Canon 28mm lens.

Any more thoughts (please no 'don't do it, you suck' posts).
 
TonyNI said:
I do use wider lenses for a few shots but they would total to less than 5% I'd imagine. I'm gonna buy a 35mm 1.4 and see if I use that much
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Good for close up detail @1.4. Also pre focus to around 8ft @ f5.6 then switch to mf and leave the focus alone. Anything from 6-12ft will be sharp, so you can run around snapping away on the dance floor in low light without worrying about AF hunting. Just check exposure occasionally.
 
sss, no problem! Only mentioned insurance since it seems to be an area ignored by many who could come a cropper.

As for the "don't do it", I say go for it! As long as you're competent (not seen any of your work so can't comment on it.)

I stand by my suggestion that a complete back up is (if not an absolute necessity) a bloody good idea! Even your current 40D and a decent zoom or 2 will do.
 
I would suggest you move up to a 5D mk2 and a few primes. Its a great piece of kit for weddings, plenty of MP for cropping in when needed too!. I would say ideally get the MK2 , 50 1.8 or 1.4 and 85mm 1.8 to get you going.
 
TrevorP said:
Good for close up detail @1.4. Also pre focus to around 8ft @ f5.6 then switch to mf and leave the focus alone. Anything from 6-12ft will be sharp, so you can run around snapping away on the dance floor in low light without worrying about AF hunting. Just check exposure occasionally.
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Fantastic tip, thanks buddy
 
A flash?

I know you say you want to shoot natural light, but are you going to go as far as turning down customers that are getting married at venues where natural light may not be viable?
 
Speed lite 430 ex ii (already own)
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From the original post (with typo corrected).
 
How did I miss that? I even checked the list to make sure a flash wasn't there!

Not had my morning, coffee yet. :lol:
 
I've had 2!!!

My normal early morning trick is posting photos in the wrong thread!
 
markmullen said:
Another thing to consider is a Black Rapid, it really takes the weight off your neck when shooting a whole day. If you're carrying a second camera look at the DR1 dual harness, they fit under a suit jacket and keeps the second camera ready for use.
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I used to use one of the Q-Straps but found with big lenses and a flashgun and combined the crouching/standing etc I thought they were a nuisance!not to mention it knocking into people etc
 
My suggestion would be if possible keep your 40d as a backup. I am not a pro photographer myself but all the pro wedding photographers I speak to say that a 2nd is essential so should something go wrong with the 5d (unlikely I know) at least you can carry on with your other body.
 
TonyNI said:
I used to use one of the Q-Straps but found with big lenses and a flashgun and combined the crouching/standing etc I thought they were a nuisance!not to mention it knocking into people etc
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If I'm crouching down with mine I just make sure I tuck the spare body around my back as I get down. I usually have a 1Ds2 with 135 F2 and 430exii on one side and 5D3 with 24-105 and 550ex on the other, pretty weighty gear, and I'm not sure of another way you could carry all that, all day, without your neck taking a lot of strain.
 
I've just agreed to shoot a friends wedding, it'll be my first as a single shooter, but I'm fairly confident I can cope with it. I'll be taking a 5D3, 7d (both gripped), a 35 f2, 40 f2.8 STM, 50 f1.4, 85 f1.8, 70-200 f2.8 MkII (all Canon) and a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 USM and a couple of flashguns (a 580 EX II and Nissin Di866 Mk2). I'll also have a minimum of 4x 16Gb CF cards and 2x 16Gb SDHC cards, about 10 fully charged batteries, a tripod and a dual harness. I'll be shooting in both raw and jpeg for maximum safety.

I might even take a 24-105 f4 as well, just in case anything should go wrong with one of the other lenses. I also have a 100 f2.8L macro that I could take for ring shots and a few portraits but I'm not sure if I'll need it enough to take it and I've also got use of a 650D body should anything go wrong with one of the bodies.
 
markmullen said:
If I'm crouching down with mine I just make sure I tuck the spare body around my back as I get down. I usually have a 1Ds2 with 135 F2 and 430exii on one side and 5D3 with 24-105 and 550ex on the other, pretty weighty gear, and I'm not sure of another way you could carry all that, all day, without your neck taking a lot of strain.
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I use one of these.

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-spiderpro-camera-holster-dual-cam-system/p1525471

Had a dual harness which did the job, but the cameras swinging around when bending down got on my nerves.
 
I love the spider spider pro holster system. Right up there as one of my best purchases to be honest. Yes I know camera and lenses are important but to have freedom to move for 10 hours + is right up their on my priory list.
 
You could safely do a wedding with just this and produce fantastic results. Eventually you will find your own style and replace the equipment accordingly.

It may be worth considering selling up any unnecessary gear and going for a 5D Mark III instead for the advanced focusing abilities?


Workhorse
Canon eos 5d mkii + Grip
Canon 24-70mm f2.8
Canon Speedlite 430 EXII

Backup
Canon EOS 40D
Canon 50mm f1.4
Canon EF 24mm f2.8 (cheap wide backup)
Canon Speedlite 430 EXII (2nd one)


Lots of batteries and CF cards.
 
Personally I find the most commonly used combo for me is 50mm prime on my main body with 24-70 on the other. Where necessary I'll break out the 70-200 for extra reach.

I'd personally argue that those three lenses are pretty much the bare minimum for a wedding photographer. Anything else is a brucie bonus.
 
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