Wedding Advice

[AndyB1976]

What confuses me if why folk care?

If the 'couple' agree to have 'x' shoot their wedding and it doesn't turn out.....its between them :shrug:

The only filters I might consider taking would be a polariser and an ND Grad for the outdoor shots...and even then, they would be the last things I worry about. I'd rather add some decent primes and flashguns before that.

 

[Carol]

Hi Kirsty

I started off photographing weddings for friends, we all have to start somewhere. I hope it goes really well and that you enjoy the day and learn lots.

I have never used a filter when photographing a wedding, I think generally I'm too busy with making sure I get all the requested images. You can apply some filter effects afterwards in Photoshop or Lightroom, but if you are processing a lot of images then its usually best to stick to one style. I would stick to getting your posing and lighting right before moving onto filters.

I hope that helps!

 

[Richard King]

What lens would you use for a wedding and is there any filters you would recommend. I have a 550d eos

This isnt what you want to hear, but I am been realistic... If you have to ask this question, you are not yet ready to be shooting weddings on your own

Weddings are about people management, excellent camera skills, anticipation, and photographic artistry (notice no mention of gear)

Give any half decent wedding photographer, any SLR/DSLR a couple of lenses and a flashgun and a reflector, and they will go and shoot a superb set of photographs, working within the limits of the gear, and a bit beyond sometimes

The Nikon advert is wrong.. it is not the camera that is at the heart of the photograph, it is the photographer

 

[incapete]

About the filters... forget about them! There's really nothing you'll need a filter for at a wedding, and a cheap filter (of any sort) will do more harm than good.

 

[haggis]

If you honestly think you'll have time to fart around changing filters at a wedding you're deluded!

Good luck but you might be surprised how expectations change when you screw something up (especially a wedding)!

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums

 

[lensflair]

Sorry but you asked if you had the right stuff and what lenses and filters you should use.

Well maybe you do have the right stuff, you seem pretty thick skinned so maybe you will handle the pressure well. I already told you that I thought you might want to stick with the 50mm and get something wider for that crop body. I also suggested you might want a flash.

As for filters forget it, you really wont have time or the need for them.

 

[Harvey_nikon]

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.

Just because your marriage was a non event it certainly doesn't mean that all weddings are. Mine was a big event, as have been the weddings of all of my friends that have got married in the last 4 years.

I also know you weren't referring to the people getting married, however, at the end of the day, if its a big deal for my clients then its a hell of a big deal to me.

buying a house was no big deal for us either.

Well it is for most! Have you ever had a big deal in your life?

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.

I can't think of any other one off event that has so much emotion involved and that deserves 110% from everyone involved! Also, pretty much every pro I've spoken to in any area of photography says their area is hard

 

[POAH]

Just because your marriage was a non event it certainly doesn't mean that all weddings are. Mine was a big event, as have been the weddings of all of my friends that have got married in the last 4 years.

I also know you weren't referring to the people getting married, however, at the end of the day, if its a big deal for my clients then its a hell of a big deal to me.

just another day in the office no matter what I shot - I either did it properly or there would be hell to pay.

Well it is for most! Have you ever had a big deal in your life?

children being born - managed the first one with a 300D that I bought for the birth and got great shots.

I can't think of any other one off event that has so much emotion involved and that deserves 110% from everyone involved! Also, pretty much every pro I've spoken to in any area of photography says their area is hard

plenty of events only give you one chance to get the shots - at least with weddings you get to arrange people and can take several shots of the same scene. You only get one chance when your child is being born - no second chances there.

 

[jkerry2782]

Hi go and see if you can watch a pro do a wedding have a look some wedding fairs to see what others offer and the type of images they use and fast lens are great.

 

[big soft moose]

Canon 550D + Simga 18-200. Spare batteries and cards. Are you joking?

I did my first wedding with a 300D and a fuji F10 for back up and candids at the reception - if the happy couple are happy who cares what gear you've got so long as it works and more importantly you can take good photos

Usually if a couple are hiring someone with that level of kit they arent paying top whack anyway so they arent expecting you to be david bailey

With regard to the OPs original question I'd say take both cameras - you absolutely must have a back up in case your main camera dies. - definitely take a flashgun and a reflector

lens wise fast glass is desirable - but if you havent got it just take something long and something short - I used (until it got nicked) to have a 28-135 IS which was excellent for weddings but the first one I did I used my 90mm Macro lens for portraits and a 70-300 for most everything else

shoot raw

make a list of all the shots you are supposed to get to make sure you dont miss anyone out.

Be freindly , confident and inconspicuous - its their big day not yours so try to stay out of the way as much as possible.

Take a step ladder (for those high shots)

If possible recce the venue first to find good photo locations - and dont forget to include alternatives for bad weather.

and lastly for god's sake get the insurance sorted before the wedding - if it does go ostrich shaped you dont want to be left looking like a toucan (ie with an enourmous bill in front of you).