wedding camera

aj1608

aj1608

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Hi all

Was just wondering if anyone (Nikon fans in particular) could give me some advice on a good solid Nikon camera for wedding photography and also what camera to use for a back up?

Thanks
 
Am I assuming that you want to start out in wedding photography?
 
I would also think that the full frame cameras from Nikon are sufficient. BUT make sure you know how to use them, that's the most important ;).

Like above, the D3s is a very good camera - not used one myself but I've heard so much about them.
 
Anything but the entry level models.

Much more important that you know how to use them and 2x £500 bodies are better than a £2000 body and a £200 one.

And a pair of good nick 2nd hand cameras and some fast glass is a better buy than new cameras and slow glass.

If you knew all of the above, just ignore me! :)
 
Phil V said:
Anything but the entry level models.

Much more important that you know how to use them and 2x £500 bodies are better than a £2000 body and a £200 one.

And a pair of good nick 2nd hand cameras and some fast glass is a better buy than new cameras and slow glass.

If you knew all of the above, just ignore me! :)
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Couldn't agree more. If you look at cameras, most entry levels don't have a dedicated screen at the top with buttons on to let you change ISO, wb etc quickly, so you have to go through the menu etc which is what made me dislike my Nikon D5100.

Don't get me wrong: most entry level cameras nowadays can produce some extremely good results - but it can take a lot longer to set up for a shot than with a camera like the 60D or 5D where you have dedicated buttons, screen etc for the settings. You want to be as fast as possible with things like wedding photography, so anything you can do to get the shot a lot faster I would imagine you do :).

Thanks.
 
Do you actually know how much is involved in wedding photography? Something I wouldn't do with the prep /during/after work. Let alone having the right camera equipment and backup photographer in case something unforseen happens.

Having read several posts on the subject all I can say is I admire those who do it.
 
Thanks all for your comments, yeah I am looking at starting a wedding photography business late next year, I am waiting to do my city and guilds in portrait and wedding photography first. I have done a wedding recently (free of charge) for my brother in law and was quite impressed with the results I got so was thinking it could be for me.
Ive heard many good things about the D3 series so I am very tempted by it as a main and maybe something like a D600 for a back up

thanks again for your comments
 
realspeed said:
Do you actually know how much is involved in wedding photography? Something I wouldn't do with the prep /during/after work. Let alone having the right camera equipment and backup photographer in case something unforseen happens.

Having read several posts on the subject all I can say is I admire those who do it.
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Though it is hard work, and I imagine it can get very intense when you have maybe a few weddings stacked up and trying to please everyone with end results on time and all that - I wouldn't say it's the hardest type of gig you can do - in fact, [music] gig photography can be more of a challenge, wildlife, sports, it really depends. Some weddings are very casual ... you don't always have to treat it as if the world will implode if you make a simple mistake! But some wedding photographers will indeed help you believe this.

It certainly pays better than most other areas. And everyone has to start some place.

I would advise you know your camera/s inside and out, before doing ANY paid jobs.
 
aj1608 said:
Thanks all for your comments, yeah I am looking at starting a wedding photography business late next year, I am waiting to do my city and guilds in portrait and wedding photography first. I have done a wedding recently (free of charge) for my brother in law and was quite impressed with the results I got so was thinking it could be for me.
Ive heard many good things about the D3 series so I am very tempted by it as a main and maybe something like a D600 for a back up

thanks again for your comments
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Actually, while it do make senses to have a better and suitable camera for weddings, there is nothing wrong with having to make do with whatever cameras you have at moment, so you can just carry on with the camera you got that you took wedding photos for your brother-in-law while you save up for more effect cameras. Also you do not have to wait until you do your City & Guilds first as there is nothing wrong with doing your C&G while in your spare time, you try out some wedding photos, as well as any non-wedding events that could easily be similar to a wedding, just to get the experience. It's not like you got to get your pilot's wings first before you're allowed to fly solo.

So while you are saving up for a better camera, while you are doing research and asking around for which Nikons would be better, and while you are doing your C&G, you can still keep going taking photos with whatever cameras you have.
 
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Also learning how to effectively use a flash is a must. Even with slower lenses, you can still get some fantastic indoor shots using bounce flash together with shutter drag.
 
aj1608 said:
Thanks all for your comments, yeah I am looking at starting a wedding photography business late next year, I am waiting to do my city and guilds in portrait and wedding photography first. I have done a wedding recently (free of charge) for my brother in law and was quite impressed with the results I got so was thinking it could be for me.
Ive heard many good things about the D3 series so I am very tempted by it as a main and maybe something like a D600 for a back up

thanks again for your comments
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I'm no Nikon shooter, but I do know a little bit about shooting weddings. How different are the controls (and the files output) on those cameras? You really don't want to find yourself fumbling over the controls because you've not got the camera in your hand you thought you had. As I said before - 2 cheaper identical cameras are easier to live with - and your processing is smoother if your cameras are outputting similar files.

It's a mistake to spend money on 'pro' gear to feel good about yourself and then add 'backup'. Treating what you use as 'tools' is what makes your gear 'professional'. I could happily shoot a wedding with a pair of 10 year old semi pro bodies with good glass and flashes. But I really wouldn't want 2 very different bodies.

I've no idea what your budget is, but you can buy an awful lot of quality glass for the price difference between those 2 bodies. If the d600 is good enough to use as a backup - it's good enough to use as a main camera.
 
To be fair, with a bit of experience, Nikon shooters can pretty much pick up any Nikon (including a film camera) and find the settings needed in moments. There are a few "consumer models" that are a pain, other than that, they are all pretty much laid out the same plus or minus a bit

There is a school of thought to shoot a good crop and a good full frame side by side

I regularly jump between a D3s, D90, D7000, D70, D200, D800, a F100 and a Kodak SLR14n, and I dont give the layout a moments thought. Maybe other photographers are different, but for me once i have learnt a camera, car, bike, etc.. It is "in there" for good

My spec for a wedding camera is simple: Reliable with good performance. As I tend to work late, and do stupid stuff like shoot fireworks in the rain and light-paint venues in the dark - a camera that is weather sealed and is bullet proof is pretty important. I don't do fragile.


All of this is relative... If you had asked this question a few years ago, the reply would have been D200 or Fuji S5pro - and before that Fuji S3 pro. All cameras people sneer at now...

In terms of flash, For me the older SB800's perform better then the 900's

In terms of lenses, you need to look at your shooting style

The best investment I ever made was a double camera strap. This + 1 small camera bag means I can work quickly, autonomously, and carry 2 bodies for instant use. Have a spare in the bag. I stick a different triad of lenses on them depending on the scenario. In the bag - a couple of flashes and a set of lenses
 
If the D700 was 24mp even 16mp then I would be highly tempted but due to the 12mp it is, it puts me off a little bit
 
why ?

12MP is more than adequate for the uses to which most wedding photos will be put

don't get hung up on the MP thing

that aside before we can give any more specific advice than that already given we need to know what kit you already have, and what your budget for new kit is.
 
AJ1608, run a search to get a feel for wedding photography on here. Most answers are available & it will help you with your discussions

John
 
aj1608 said:
Ive heard many good things about the D3 series so I am very tempted by it as a main and maybe something like a D600 for a back up

thanks again for your comments
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aj1608 said:
If the D700 was 24mp even 16mp then I would be highly tempted but due to the 12mp it is, it puts me off a little bit
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....... confused . com!

The D3/D3S are both 12mp the same as the D700 so based on that I assumed the D700 would be something you would consider.

If you already have prerequisites then it is probably worth listing (along with budget) otherwise a lot of what people are taking time to suggest is going to be no good for you...........
 
aj1608 said:
If the D700 was 24mp even 16mp then I would be highly tempted but due to the 12mp it is, it puts me off a little bit
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Unless you're printing on the side of Big Ben, 12mp is more than enough!

Forget about megapixels.
 
mark1616 said:
...

If you already have prerequisites then it is probably worth listing (along with budget) otherwise a lot of what people are taking time to suggest is going to be no good for you...........
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What Mark said - because frankly it's a waste of time for lots of nice people who have other things to do if we're all trying to 2nd guess you :D.
 
Sorry all for trying to confuse you
Im just trying to find out what the best camera/cameras are for wedding photography, im fairly new to the scene so was just trying to get a general idea.
I thought mP's would count for a lot more that's all
apologies once again
 
What and where is the course? My daughter wants to do a portrailt and wedding photography course. Don't they have anyone there to give you any advice? How much and how long is the course?

Cheers!
 
aj1608 said:
Sorry all for trying to confuse you
Im just trying to find out what the best camera/cameras are for wedding photography, im fairly new to the scene so was just trying to get a general idea.
I thought mP's would count for a lot more that's all
apologies once again
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Megapixels only really matter if you want to make huge prints or if you want to crop your images massively.
Forget megapixels. The megapixel race was won for most purposes at 10MP. And even that is generous.

Do a simple exercise. Take a 16MP image and view it at 100% on your computer. Then ask yourself how much practical use you're getting from all of those pixels.
 
aj1608 said:
Sorry all for trying to confuse you
Im just trying to find out what the best camera/cameras are for wedding photography, im fairly new to the scene so was just trying to get a general idea.
I thought mP's would count for a lot more that's all
apologies once again
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There's no need for apologies, but you should slow down a bit. There is no such thing as a 'best camera for weddings', and by the time you know enough about photography to be shooting weddings for money, you'll understand that and you'll know more about what gear you actually need.

The old adage that newbies think its about cameras, enthusiasts think its about lenses and photographers know its all about light is worth taking note of;).

You've really had all the advice you need on this thread about cameras, the issue is; how long will it take before the penny drops:thinking:.

I'd suggest cameras should make up about 20-30% of your gear budget. That doesn't include software / IT gear, just cameras lenses and lighting.

Given the above, do you really want to spend £7000 on 2 camera bodies when 2x £1000 camera bodies will do the job (or even cheaper), leaving you more money to spend on quality glass, which will make much more difference to the quality of your images (though not as much as your talent:thumbs:). We don't know what gear you have already, which obviously makes a difference to what you need to spend.

You might have 'enjoyed' photographing the wedding, but (and I know you'll not hear this clearly) that's about 10% of running a wedding photography business. Do you enjoy marketing, book-keeping, website maintenance, selling, processing, backing up, market research, networking?

And you'll need a budget for website, samples, business cards etc. too.

And welcome to TP, it's a really friendly place and you'll get lots of great advice here.
 
What Phil says is right.

I am a photographer. On Monday I shoot art, On Tuesday, products, on Saturday a wedding etc.

The camera, photography bit is the easy bit for the weddings, it is the rest of it that counts. Second shoot with someone for a while before deciding if this is for you
 
Cagey75 said:
Though it is hard work, and I imagine it can get very intense when you have maybe a few weddings stacked up and trying to please everyone with end results on time and all that - I wouldn't say it's the hardest type of gig you can do - in fact, [music] gig photography can be more of a challenge, wildlife, sports, it really depends. Some weddings are very casual ... you don't always have to treat it as if the world will implode if you make a simple mistake! But some wedding photographers will indeed help you believe this.

It certainly pays better than most other areas. And everyone has to start some place.

I would advise you know your camera/s inside and out, before doing ANY paid jobs.
Click to expand...

I already have my own business and its not photography, so not really interested in starting something else when I am already well past retiring age.
 
On the Huh said:
What and where is the course? My daughter wants to do a portrailt and wedding photography course. Don't they have anyone there to give you any advice? How much and how long is the course?

Cheers!
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it is in Bournemouth it runs throughout the year with various length courses, the company is called first point photography
hope this helps
 
thanks for all the sound advice on this topic, but one last question im afraid lol,
Is there a massive difference between APS-C and Full frame sensors, i.e if I went ahead with the wedding photography would it have to be full frame.
Thanks
 
aj1608 said:
thanks for all the sound advice on this topic, but one last question im afraid lol,
Is there a massive difference between APS-C and Full frame sensors, i.e if I went ahead with the wedding photography would it have to be full frame.
Thanks
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In the hands of a pro photographer, both are fine
 
For me, I added a D800 to my D7100 and use these bodies. I mainly assist others and second shoot where I can. I don't have any work flow issues with the file sizes the D800 knocks out as Im not doing it for a living. I use both bodies for very different photography, the crop comes out for equestrian events and the d800 for everything else. I could and can shoot a wedding with both, but if I was doing it every weekend, I'd pickup two d700's 2nd hand, get them serviced and put them to work. Actually, no, scrap that, i'd probably buy a D600 and chuck my 24-70 on it and use the 70-200 on the D800. Sames batteries on all cameras, dual memory cards on all. That said, if i didn't already have the cameras i have, D700's could well be a better option. D3s is great, just a bit big for me, personally i prefer no battery grip and you don't get a choice with this body.
 
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aj1608 said:
thanks for all the sound advice on this topic, but one last question im afraid lol,
Is there a massive difference between APS-C and Full frame sensors, i.e if I went ahead with the wedding photography would it have to be full frame.
Thanks
Click to expand...

I've seen wedding photographers use crop (APS-C) sensors and still get very good results.

I just moved up to a Canon 5D Mark II (full frame) from an APS-C camera. There is quite a difference, mainly when it comes to noise and image quality.

Essentially, the bigger the sensor, the better the image quality.
 
a couple of years ago, there wasn't the choice as such
 
Without trying to be rude it appears you need to learn a bit more about cameras and photography generally before even attempting any sort of professional work.

The last thing you want is someone or a company taking you to court for substandard work or breach of contract. This day and age you need to have a good working knowledge ,not just what your taught in college/university. Those institutions only can tell you how, not actually how it works in real life.

For example you have to learn inter personnel skills- deal with sudden changes in what is wanted ,also basic knowledge of how you stand legally if contracts are broken. On top of that you will have to learn about income tax -book keeping and a thousand other things that can occur with work problems

Believe me in my line of work looking back I can see how much we didn't know and it was a steep learning curve, and so it will be doing professional photography.

Bit like learning to drive, you can be taught how to good enough to pass the driving test, but that is just the start of learning road skills and being prepared for the unexpected.
 
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realspeed said:
Without trying to be rude it appears you need to learn a bit more about cameras and photography generally before even attempting any sort of professional work.

The last thing you want is someone or a company taking you to court for substandard work or breach of contract. This day and age you need to have a good working knowledge ,not just what your taught in college/university. Those institutions only can tell you how, not actually how it works in real life.

For example you have to learn inter personnel skills- deal with sudden changes in what is wanted ,also basic knowledge of how you stand legally if contracts are broken. On top of that you will have to learn about income tax -book keeping and a thousand other things that can occur with work problems

Believe me in my line of work looking back I can see how much we didn't know and it was a steep learning curve, and so it will be doing professional photography.

Bit like learning to drive, you can be taught how to good enough to pass the driving test, but that is just the start of learning road skills and being prepared for the unexpected.
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Best advice so far.

The camera is just the beginning. Work as an assistant first and then 2nd shooter. People skills are so important.
 
hi thanks for the advice again
yeah im looking at being a second shooter with a pro to gain the valuable experience required
 
Wish you well in your endevours. One tip I will pass one and possible the most important. If a prospective client rings asking about your services , its the very first 5 or 10 seconds of the telephone conversation can win or loose the business
 
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Frankly autocorrect, I'm tired of your shirt.
 
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