wedding decisions - to take extra lenses or not?

Take a 35mm prime or rely on your second?

  • Take a 35mm and work with a bag as a burden.

    Votes: 8 100.0%

  • Trust my second to get the wider shots.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    8
Phil Young

Phil Young

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Following on from another thread in the equipment section, I think best to gather thoughts and see what the consensus is.

So here's the deal:

I am booked to shoot a wedding with my brother early next month and we will both be using my equipment.

I'm fairly sure he will be using one of my bodies combined with my tamron 17-50 f2.8 and I'll most likely be using the other body and 70-200mm.

If it were me doing it alone, I'd just use them exclusively but if it were you, would you trust your partner to work with the lens and get the shots or take the 35mm with you just in case you think you might need it?

The reason I ask is because although it may seem straight forward...just take the lens, as it turns out, a 70-200mm is a fair bit of heft to be attached to a belt, and I dont want to be lugging a backpack around all day and if I can avoid changing lenses I will...only problem is...my brother isn't really that skilled behind the camera so although this is his gig and I'm the second, for the benefit of the bride and groom please assume the opposite when advising!

Descisions...what would you do?
 
70-200 on second camera and i use a 24-105 on main ......
 
What would I do?

I'd use a camera with a std zoom and have my 2nd camera with the following selection of lenses:

Wide zoom
fast prime (or 2)
Macro lens (ring shots)
70-200

All those spare lenses and a flashgun fit in a very small discreet bag.

My 2nd shoots with a single camera and std lens and flashgun.

The spare kit is a camera, std zoom and flashgun (in the car)
Also in the car available (and often used) a couple more flashguns, triggers, reflectors stand and softbox.

But other people may use more gear than that :).
 
Tell him to ensure he has sufficent kit to do the job without having to borrow yours. I'm sorry, but this is a joke, right?
 
boyfalldown said:
Tell him to ensure he has sufficent kit to do the job without having to borrow yours. I'm sorry, but this is a joke, right?
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Ive just reread and i second this.... If its his gig then he uses his kit and you use yours?
 
boyfalldown said:
Tell him to ensure he has sufficent kit to do the job without having to borrow yours. I'm sorry, but this is a joke, right?
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Questions first Hugh - sometimes there is more to a story than the OP ;)

Well the long and short of it is this - my brother had a business for a few years but recently went bust and he had to sell everything, lost their house too...

A job recently came up on the back of his old business and he took it knowing full well I'd have his back, hence im getting a nice fee from it but its his customer.

The job isn't hard for me to do by myself by any means, but we're doing it together with my kit and I'm trying to fugure out the best way to go forward with it.

Phil - that's good advice. I just wanted to use my new 70-200 but it might be best if I use the normal zoom instead, leaving him to crack on with being the sharpshooter. I don't mind getting close to the action whereas he probably prefers standing back a bit.
 
Phil Young said:
Questions first Hugh - sometimes there is more to a story than the OP ;)

Well the long and short of it is this - my brother had a business for a few years but recently went bust and he had to sell everything, lost their house too...

A job recently came up on the back of his old business and he took it knowing full well I'd have his back, hence im getting a nice fee from it but its his customer.

The job isn't hard for me to do by myself by any means, but we're doing it together with my kit and I'm trying to fugure out the best way to go forward with it.

Phil - that's good advice. I just wanted to use my new 70-200 but it might be best if I use the normal zoom instead, leaving him to crack on with being the sharpshooter. I don't mind getting close to the action whereas he probably prefers standing back a bit.
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TBH Phil, I don't think this is anything like enough kit for two people. With circumstances as you describe, and I feel for anyone in that situation why not sub contract the job from him? Both of you make money, and you're both happy with the day
 
boyfalldown said:
TBH Phil, I don't think this is anything like enough kit for two people. With circumstances as you describe, and I feel for anyone in that situation why not sub contract the job from him? Both of you make money, and you're both happy with the day
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Of course it is Hugh, I am more than confident in just using those two lenses for myself, heck I've done a wedding using a 50mm for 95% of the shots. If you would use more then firstly, that's your choice but secondly, not an answer that relates to the question asked.
 
Phil Young said:
Of course it is Hugh, I am more than confident in just using those two lenses for myself, heck I've done a wedding using a 50mm for 95% of the shots. If you would use more then firstly, that's your choice but secondly, not an answer that relates to the question asked.
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Not the answer you're looking for you mean? :), that was my answer to the question you asked. It's evidently not enough kit as you're asking questions as how to compromise.
 
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Phil Young said:
Hugh, Its not the answer to the question. There's no need to start any wars because you would use more kit than I would.
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Phil,

I don't wish to start a war. I gave my answer to the question you asked :), I assume that's ok. FYI personally I use less kit then that, but we ain't talking about me.
 
Yep, no wars please ;)

Phil, it sounds to me like what you're actually asking is whether you can trust your brother to get the shots that you/he needs.
It's an interesting discussion point in terms of gathering opinions, but I don't think that anyone can really answer that but you without actually knowing your brother.
 
SarahLee said:
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php Yep, no wars please ;)

Phil, it sounds to me like what you're actually asking is whether you can trust your brother to get the shots that you/he needs.
It's an interesting discussion point in terms of gathering opinions, but I don't think that anyone can really answer that but you without actually knowing your brother.
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Lol well...essentially... yes, this is the case.

So now what? How to cover the shots without making it cumbersome for me...

Probably Phil's idea is the option to take...
 
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SORTED.

We agreed that I will have both my bodies and he will just assist.

My dad has a D5000 which he will borrow for the weekend and any shots from it that pass is a bonus - but I will cover it all from a technical aspect and he will mainly direct and assist where needed :)

It is a bit of a sore subject to bring up with him but thanks for everyone's input - it's helped me come to a decision which I feel is the best for the couple (most important thing) :)
 
when we shoot weddings we have a similar kind of setup to phil

We both have two bodies and both have 2 lens attached.

Mine is a 17-50 2.8 and a 70-200

His is a 24-70 2.8 and a 70-200

we have a speedlight attached at all times too.

We also have 2 more flashes, 2 wireless triggers, 4 stands, flash benders etc in the car along with a fisheye 2.8 and a 50mm 1.4 and 1.8.... but we barely use these few.
 
Phil Young said:
It is a bit of a sore subject to bring up with him but thanks for everyone's input - it's helped me come to a decision which I feel is the best for the couple (most important thing) :)
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Never easy broaching that sort of subject when it comes to family (well anyone really, family just makes it that much harder) but at least you know that you're going to get the best that you can for the couple now.
 
Just an update - ended up using my 17-50 & 70-200mm exclusively. Turns out I actually couldn't trust my partner to get shots since, whilst I was grabbing a sunset over the location shot...he was asleep and missed the first speech (best man!).

VERY, very bad.
 
Phil Young said:
Just an update - ended up using my 17-50 & 70-200mm exclusively. Turns out I actually couldn't trust my partner to get shots since, whilst I was grabbing a sunset over the location shot...he was asleep and missed the first speech (best man!).

VERY, very bad.
Click to expand...

Very bad :thumbsdown:,did you get enough shots to keep the couple happy ?
 
simonblue said:
Very bad :thumbsdown:,did you get enough shots to keep the couple happy ?
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Yeah, Just going through LR now - 1 in 3 are turning out to be keepers and I have 1400 shots loaded in.

They have it on video so shouldn't be too disappointed. I had no idea - they brought the speeches forward 15mins otherwise I'd have been there...
 
Phil Young said:
Yeah, Just going through LR now - 1 in 3 are turning out to be keepers and I have 1400 shots loaded in.

They have it on video so shouldn't be too disappointed. I had no idea - they brought the speeches forward 15mins otherwise I'd have been there...
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Nice one,they should be happy :)
 
Phil Young said:
Just an update - ended up using my 17-50 & 70-200mm exclusively. Turns out I actually couldn't trust my partner to get shots since, whilst I was grabbing a sunset over the location shot...he was asleep and missed the first speech (best man!).

VERY, very bad.
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that aint good - but if you were the main tog and he was just assisting what the heck were you doing shooting sunsets during the speeches ?
 
Lol I kn
big soft moose said:
that aint good - but if you were the main tog and he was just assisting what the heck were you doing shooting sunsets during the speeches ?
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I knew a wise guy would come along to say exactly that :suspect:

The harder shot was the landscape and they were happening at approximately the same time. I was outside for about 10mins and the speeches hadn't even started. I didn't think it would be very difficult for someone to understand "make sure you're in there for the speeches".

Remember, it's he's job and he's clients - I'm just better technically. That shouldn't be an excuse to lay back and do nothing whilst looking unprofessional in the process.
 
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Yeah but you told him he was just assisting - the landscape might be a harder shot but its also significantly less important , principal shooter should be covering the speeches , end of. Sunset landscapes are a nice extra for a second shooter to get as and when
 
big soft moose said:
Yeah but you told him he was just assisting - the landscape might be a harder shot but its also significantly less important , principal shooter should be covering the speeches , end of. Sunset landscapes are a nice extra for a second shooter to get as and when
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Pete, he's by no means incapable of covering speeches. He isn't a beginner shooter, he's just technically not as good and when it comes to landscapes, it's a shot I knew if I got, it would be a really nice picture.

As far as I'm concerned, we were both there to capture the day - we can both cover speeches quite easily but the sunset shot required a bit more skill - one I wasn't confident he would do properly.

You can blame me for not getting it but the point is...we were both there to cover the day and he was supposed to be following my direction. I directed, he didn't follow.

Any shot of the speech would have been great, it's not a front page of an album whereas the sunset on the location potentially is.
 
But then you would have thought that the other photographer, a pro, who lets not whose job this actually is, could be trusted to not fall asleep! And didn't I read that they bought the speeches forwards by 15 mins without notification.
 
[quote="ChrisHeathcote, post: 5927210, member: 57968And didn't I read that they bought the speeches forwards by 15 mins without notification.[/quote]

you did, but its no unreasonable to think the photographer should of been on the ball enough to deal with that
 
I really don't see why people are getting their high horse out...

We were hanging around waiting for speeches to start, we had 15mins to go so I said I eould grab a sunset shot and be ready for the speeches.

They brought it forward, I was in the middle of a shot they would like (I don't care about traditional, I used my head and judgement to determine a shot they would really like) and the direction was not followed hence a shot was missed.

I trusted my partner to be professional, that was my mistake, not for getting a sunset shot.

Whenever the W word is mentioned there are always those type of people...
 
What type of people are they then Phil?

Being serious for a mo though, you've bought it up and I realise its a bit of a tricky one for you, but it does seem this thread is about confidence in your partner rather then anything else
 
boyfalldown said:
What type of people are they then Phil?

Being serious for a mo though, you've bought it up and I realise its a bit of a tricky one for you, but it does seem this thread is about confidence in your partner rather then anything else
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It is very much so Hugh.

I don't prefer to talk badly about anyone but to give a clearer pictire of the day; I delivered what I would call a very good service but my partner (remembering it's his clients);

-was 20mins late to catch the train meaning we had no time to chck out the place before hand as the next train wasn't for another 30mins.
-bummed cigarettes off guests.
-slept at various points of the day.
-tried to argue with me in front of the b&g about how I was shooting.

Honestly, I know we missed the best man's speech but they were lucky I agreed to do the job with him in the first place as they do have a nice collection.

I've since vowed not to work with him again.

Last night I finished editing the day and we came away with 317 shots. I won't lie - the hardest part of the day was dealing with the most unprofessional behaviour I've worked with in a long, long time. Of the 317, 73 shots were his and the ones that went through were good shots that I wouldn't have got...so he did provide some use :)

The day wasn't all bad, we got some really good group shots and worked together to get this done in what seemed to be record time. We didn't make any personal disputes made public and we looked smart and professional when around guests and the b&g.

...I just prefer to be on time, organised, not troubling guests & not sleep on the job that's all ;)
 
Phil, defo take a 35mm. There will be ideas and shots you'll see that the second won't even think of and vica versa. The last wedding I did both of my main lenses broke down and I had to shoot with a 50mm all day. If I'd left that to my second I'd have been stuffed as he shot a different system.

Always be prepared!
 
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