Wedding Advice

scottishgirlsrok

scottishgirlsrok

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Kirsty
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Hi

i am looking for advice i am photographing a wedding on the 30th and i am going through my equipment to make sure i have the right stuff :) What lens would you use for a wedding and is there any filters you would recommend. I have a 550d eos

Thanks ♥
 
welcome to the forum.....

popcorn time...
 
My only advice would be to use fast lenses. What lenses do you have at the moment?
 
As suggested above, fast lenses. Quite a few wedding photographers use a 24-70 F2.8 and a 70-200 F2.8.

There are many threads on the forum asking the same question as you have and it may be worth doing a search for some of them.
 
Hi Guys and Girls thank you for your reply :D I mainly work with a sigma 18-200 and a 50, i have telephoto lens and its been suggested i use one of these to stay out of the way. Im looking at a 35mm lens but i am not sure :/

I did try and check out the forum posts but i couldn't see a similar post ill re look though because all advice is gratefully appreciated :)

<3
 
Hi

Are you the main shooter?

If not I would just go with what you've got unless you have some cash to add some more equipment. I'm assuming at least you have extra batteries and memory cards?


Andy
 
To late for that im affraid lol i get married in 364 days myself :D

I have spare mem cards, a tripod, a triggger, battery :)

I want a cheap but fast lens ive been looking at a sigma 28-105 f3.5/5.6 i can get one for about £70 but i am not great with Len's i have admit :O:help:
 
I would probably buy a flashgun as that Sigma isn't a particularly fast lens either.
 
scottishgirlsrok said:
To late for that im affraid lol i get married in 364 days myself :D

I have spare mem cards, a tripod, a triggger, battery :)

I want a cheap but fast lens ive been looking at a sigma 28-105 f3.5/5.6 i can get one for about £70 but i am not great with Len's i have admit :O:help:
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That's not a fast lens, fast is constant aperture f2.8 or better I'm afraid.

You didn't mention second camera body and back up glass. At least a second lens that could do the whole wedding if needed. Tripod isn't usually needed if you have the fast glass.
 
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AndyB1976 said:
I would probably buy a flashgun as that Sigma isn't a particularly fast lens either.
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This is actually probably your best move if you don't want to spend a lot of money. But you need to know how to use it properly, not sure if you have much experience with flash or not. Get a flash with a swivel head or a bracket so you can bouce it off walls and behind you indoors. Outdoors just use it for fill.
 
hey DSLR great link thanks! :-)

I have a spare 450d canon which also has spare batteries, I have a 50mm f2 lens maybe im best using that and purchasing a speed lite any recommendations?
 
Whats your budget?

Are you the main shooter i.e. do you need backups and reliability over cost?:)
 
AndyB1976 said:
Whats your budget?

Are you the main shooter i.e. do you need backups and reliability over cost?:)
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I have no yet got insurance i need to look into that :) but i am the main shooter with a friend from college as a back up
 
scottishgirlsrok said:
I have no yet got insurance i need to look into that :) but i am the main shooter with a friend from college as a back up
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Ahh...wedding threads can get a bit heated with regards to equipment, experience, insurances, client expectations and charges.

Ive no interest in doing them so can't advise on public liablity insurances or others.

Equipment requirements...I wouldn't go with less than 2 cameras, two fast zooms and two primes, two flashguns, multiple batteries for cameras and flashguns, memory cards, tripod, reflectors and most importantly knowing your kit inside out.

That might sound a bit overkill...but I think others may suggest my list is the minimum. It depends on everyones expectations of course but thats another thread locker :lol:
 
AndyB1976 said:
Ahh...wedding threads can get a bit heated with regards to equipment, experience, insurances, client expectations and charges.

Ive no interest in doing them so can't advise on public liablity insurances or others.

Equipment requirements...I wouldn't go with less than 2 cameras, two fast zooms and two primes, two flashguns, multiple batteries for cameras and flashguns, memory cards, tripod, reflectors and most importantly knowing your kit inside out.

That might sound a bit overkill...but I think others may suggest my list is the minimum. It depends on everyones expectations of course but thats another thread locker :lol:
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Thanks Andy <3
 
I'm assuming this is your first wedding?

If it is then as well as equipment you'll want to make sure you're prepared to get all the shots the couple want and need.

Discuss with them all the possible group shot combinations. Visit the location beforehand and practise shooting so you know what to expect and where the good areas are.

As others have already said, you'll need faster glass. Zooms are usually best as you can quickly catch a moment before it's gone, but if you're on a budget then the fast zooms might be out of your reach in which case a nice fast prime might have to do.

Preperation really is the big thing. Make sure you have your back up camera and a few lenses to cover the range. Know what shots you need to get and be ready for the random ones that make the day.
 
I've done some wedding photos at my old place of work...

One of us would be using a 24 - 70 f2.8 and doing group shots, close ups.. while the other photographer would be further away with the 70 - 200 f2.8.

Each of us would have a back up body just incase. I'd have a laptop with me with an external hard drive, and back up onto the laptop and then the hdd.

I'd do this when people were maybe getting drinks or having their meal. This way I feel safer that I won't lose anything.

Your lenses are really slow and I just wouldn't feel comfortable with them.

Have you been to the venue in question? if not, go and take a look around, look for possible area where you could take photos... what if it rains? what are you going to do?

Hope that helps and gives you something to think about...
 
Canon 550D + Simga 18-200. Spare batteries and cards. Are you joking?
 
I would feel really uncomfortable if I was in the OP's shoes for one main reason.
Unless you are a very good photographer you stand the chance of making a balls up of someone's very special day.
I mean no offence but your original post does not fill me with confidence.

Andy

Sent from my iPhone using TP Forums
 
:) No this is not my first wedding and ill look into lenses ty for all your constructive advice :D Not so much for the narky comments :cuckoo: im sure it will all work out on the day! :D Really appreciate the advice guys thank you! xx
 
I recently did a wedding shoot that was all in doors with some very moddest equipment, be it a K100D, Tamron 18-250 plus a flashgun which, while admitting there were some issues with slowness with the lens at the long ranges during the ceramony (since flash was banned) the combination generally worked well.

Would I have had anything different? well i'd have liked my 35mm f/2.4 and possibly the 100mm f/2.8 primes to go with this plus a more flexable body, but thats how things played out at the time.

In the end having the 250 worked out well as the ceramony limitations meant I was stuck in a single spot and either of those primes would not have allowed for a close enough shot that I required.
 
To the OP:
What lenses did you use at the previous wedding(s) you covered, what were the settings and how did these go?

Can you please link any photos you took at these so that we can see if you do need a faster lens or if the ones you have are adequate?
 
micloi said:
To the OP:
What lenses did you use at the previous wedding(s) you covered, what were the settings and how did these go?

Can you please link any photos you took at these so that we can see if you do need a faster lens or if the ones you have are adequate?
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I could but i dont really want to have my worked critiqued :D and i dont mean that to be rude but im not sure i am ready for that :D

My main question was what filters / len's would you use to cover a wedding? I should explain a little better this is not a professional shoot and i am not a professional and my couple know this :) So there isnt alot of pressure here they have left all creative input to me and its not a wedding under normal circumstance's. I want to do the best job i can :D I wish i had the canon 5d with the lovley lens or the money to buy better lenses but i have to work with what i have and thats cool <3
 
Scorg said:
I recently did a wedding shoot that was all in doors with some very moddest equipment, be it a K100D, Tamron 18-250 plus a flashgun which, while admitting there were some issues with slowness with the lens at the long ranges during the ceramony (since flash was banned) the combination generally worked well.

Would I have had anything different? well i'd have liked my 35mm f/2.4 and possibly the 100mm f/2.8 primes to go with this plus a more flexable body, but thats how things played out at the time.

In the end having the 250 worked out well as the ceramony limitations meant I was stuck in a single spot and either of those primes would not have allowed for a close enough shot that I required.
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:love:
 
The harshest critique is to be expected from the couple and not the forum members and, in my humble opinion, nobody improves without constructive criticism.

In your case it is the equipment quality and suitability that I wanted to see from the photos and not critique your talent (especially as I am the least qualified to do this!!!) but it is your prerogative to post, or not, your photos.
 
scottishgirlsrok said:
I could but i dont really want to have my worked critiqued :D and i dont mean that to be rude but im not sure i am ready for that :D
<3
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Not ready to have your work critiqued, but ready to shoot weddings? Look, you could be the greatest photographer in the world for all I know, but I know I wouldn't be comfortable using the kit you are describing for a wedding. Could I do a reasonable job, yes if I threw in a speedlight, would I want to try and shoot a wedding with it? no way.

If I were going to do it I would stick to the 50mm nearly all day long. A 35mm would be a good companion to that lens in this situation IMO.
 
TBF I don want my work C&Cd either lol

it's a wedding no big deal Really. organise what pics the B&G want, use a family member to get people for shots and snap away. never understand this big whoha over weddings it's not some mystical genre.
 
POAH said:
it's a wedding no big deal Really.
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I think you will find that a wedding is one of the 3 most important deals in anyone's lives, along with buying a house and having kids.

My wedding certainly was a big deal, and I always treat others weddings as though it was as important as mine own, especially when people spend £10-20k on a wedding.

never understand this big whoha over weddings it's not some mystical genre.
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No its not, but its an event that can never be repeated, if you miss anything or fluff anything then you are screwed and you've let the couple down.
 
POAH said:
TBF I don want my work C&Cd either lol

it's a wedding no big deal Really. organise what pics the B&G want, use a family member to get people for shots and snap away. never understand this big whoha over weddings it's not some mystical genre.
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Yep I agree in the scheme of things it not life or death, but people can have high expectations at the time. If the couple are really not that fussed then sure snap away, as long as their expectations are within reason of what you can deliver no big deal. If on the other hand they are under the mistaken belief that anyone with a decent camera can match what they are looking at in bridal magazines etc. its not quite that simple.
 
Harvey_nikon said:
I think you will find that a wedding is one of the 3 most important deals in anyone's lives, along with buying a house and having kids.

My wedding certainly was a big deal, and I always treat others weddings as though it was as important as mine own, especially when people spend £10-20k on a wedding.

No its not, but its an event that can never be repeated, if you miss anything or fluff anything then you are screwed and you've let the couple down.
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My point exactly.

Unfortunately I was on the receiving end of a set of crap wedding pics. In hindsight it was my own stupid fault but that doesn't change the fact that once the moment is gone it can never be replaced.

Sent from my iPhone using TP Forums
 
I think that as long as you have explained to the B&G that your not a seasoned pro, that this is only your second wedding and you are using basic amature kit and you have adjusted your price to suit your ability then there's no problem as they no what they are getting. On the other hand if your prentending to be a fully experianced pro wedding tog with several grands worth of investment in kit then that's a very different ball game...
 
:bonk:
lensflair said:
Not ready to have your work critiqued, but ready to shoot weddings? Look, you could be the greatest photographer in the world for all I know, but I know I wouldn't be comfortable using the kit you are describing for a wedding. Could I do a reasonable job, yes if I threw in a speedlight, would I want to try and shoot a wedding with it? no way.

If I were going to do it I would stick to the 50mm nearly all day long. A 35mm would be a good companion to that lens in this situation IMO.
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:bonk: Im not ready to be critiqued by this forum! ;-) and im fine with constructive crisitsm but lets face it some people are not really making me have confidence in this forum :/ I asked one question which is now being moved into something else!

and for the comments below i am VERY aware of how important a wedding is thats why im here ....

:bang::bang::bang:
 
suggs said:
I think that as long as you have explained to the B&G that your not a seasoned pro, that this is only your second wedding and you are using basic amature kit and you have adjusted your price to suit your ability then there's no problem as they no what they are getting. .
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This.
 
Just use the kit you have .... It will be excellent .

I feel sure the shots will all come out perfect and the B&G will love them.













Is that what you want to hear?
 
hypnotic said:
Just use the kit you have .... It will be excellent .

I feel sure the shots will all come out perfect and the B&G will love them.

Is that what you want to hear?
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Cute..

Firstly i did not come here to get flamed!

I asked what filters people use? kinda regretting even bothering now. Thank you to the people who actually helped without being mean! :) I did learn about lenses and that helped :-)!

Im ending this thread now :) Thanks all for your advice, take care and all the best <3
 
Can I just suggest that as your using a crop sensor camera your probably better off with a 17-55 2.8 than a 24-70, for group shots the 24-70 might not be wide enough if your tight on space.
As others have said a wedding isn't just the photography, theres a lot more to it, handling the people, working with tricky lighting, dealing with the unexpected. Over the years you'd be supprised at some of the things I have ended up having to deal with. I wouldn't be too blase about it, it could come back and bite you if you get it wrong.
 
Harvey_nikon said:
I think you will find that a wedding is one of the 3 most important deals in anyone's lives, along with buying a house and having kids.
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I think you'll find I was not referring to the people getting married although getting married these days is a non event. it is pretty much meaningless. only reason we got married was we felt it would be nicer for the kids we wanted.

buying a house was no big deal for us either.


shooting a wedding is big big deal or it shouldn't be.


weddings are not the only events that are not repeated but people don't seem to go about them being hard.
 
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