Basics for doing my first wedding?

[Bitter Jeweler]

Sorry. I thought this was a post for beginners... The person I'm going to be doing this for can barely afford the wedding itself. I'm looking into get some "new" used equipment and was wondering what I should look into. The flash information was very helpful.

I'm not sure what the smiley faces w/ popcorn mean, but I'm thinking it's a joke to see what people are going to say to me. I didn't go to school for this, and I'm not an expert. I don't look to do this full time, just looking for some help. If this is going to be a joke and I'm wasting people's time, then I'll go back to google and stay out of forums.

Thanks for anyone that is willing to help me as I try to have fun and make a tiny bit of money doing something I enjoy doing...

Popcorn means we've got our snack and are prepared for an entertaining show. Wedding threads usually are.

That camera lens combo I suggested in your other thread would be a good start. You could also rent lenses and flash. A longer zoom, like 75 to 200mm is often suggested.

 

[Ryan L]

Take all this with a grain of salt. You may want to put on blinders as well.

Here is the low down and the basics of what people are going to say.
This is the most important day of someones life. As a friend, if this doesnt turn out right, and you deliver crap, will your friends be dissapointed? Do you want them dissapointed with you?

Indoor wedding? Do you have lenses capable of shooting low light? At least f2.8?

Do you have a decent body that will produce low noise at say ISO800 1600?

Will you have a contract so that your "friends" do not sue you for delivering lesser than expected images?

Weddings take a lot of planning and are time and labor intensive. Do you have the time?

Do your friends understand that you cannot promise any pictures will turn out?

Offer to shoot second with a professional.

This is just the beginning, but maybe I have saved a few comments.

 

[JustKeating]

My gear at the moment is out of order. I have used an Olympus E-500 with 2 basic Lens. 14-45 & 40-150. The camera has a bent rod in the card reader which needs to be replaced. Rather than pay for the replacement part, I thought I might upgrade for a little extra. Probably a used camera. I don't have any flash equipment or remotes. That would be the best information.

Like I said before, I'm not sure if I even want to get into the wedding business. I just want to help someone out and do a decent job.

 

[thingsIsee]

Sorry. I thought this was a post for beginners... The person I'm going to be doing this for can barely afford the wedding itself. I'm looking into get some "new" used equipment and was wondering what I should look into. The flash information was very helpful.

I'm not sure what the smiley faces w/ popcorn mean, but I'm thinking it's a joke to see what people are going to say to me. I didn't go to school for this, and I'm not an expert. I don't look to do this full time, just looking for some help. If this is going to be a joke and I'm wasting people's time, then I'll go back to google and stay out of forums.

Thanks for anyone that is willing to help me as I try to have fun and make a tiny bit of money doing something I enjoy doing...

you can get some used
Equipment (enough to take pictures) at your friend’s wedding. If you do not have anything bottom line to get anything worthwhile in digital you will be looking around $500-800 depending on (used) how soon you need it and how good of a used shopper you are. As for film you might find some good deals for a lot less.
You will need camera (decent 35mm or digital) and at least two different lenses. Hopefully at least on zoom type for a wider range of focal lengths. Something for lighting reflectors or flashes to remove shadows and dark spots.
These are the min you will need to take anything better than simple snap shots, but we’re only talking slightly better.
To make anything “you would put in a portfolio” would require good (don’t have to be the best) equipment, better than average understanding of photograph, and experience with shooting this type of event.
If you / they just want memories of the event in the way of photo’s a nice $200 $300 modern zoom digital camera and well placed pointer/subject should get nice shots for their wedding album.

 

[JustKeating]

To clear something up, I don't want to this as a job. I understand the pressure. I used edit videos in college and turned down weddings left and right. I told my contact to make sure his friend has no expectations. The wedding is in my area. I'm not charging up front. If they like any of my shots, I will charge them for the prints and make a dollar or two that way. They cannot afford a professional. That is why I received a message about it. I don't want to ruin someones day.

 

[DerekSalem]

Sorry. I thought this was a post for beginners... The person I'm going to be doing this for can barely afford the wedding itself. I'm looking into get some "new" used equipment and was wondering what I should look into. The flash information was very helpful.

I'm not sure what the smiley faces w/ popcorn mean, but I'm thinking it's a joke to see what people are going to say to me. I didn't go to school for this, and I'm not an expert. I don't look to do this full time, just looking for some help. If this is going to be a joke and I'm wasting people's time, then I'll go back to google and stay out of forums.

Thanks for anyone that is willing to help me as I try to have fun and make a tiny bit of money doing something I enjoy doing...

I don't mean this in an offensive way...but this question is asked *relentlessly* by people that are unqualified to do such a thing and without the capable gear. If you want to learn what you'll need, why not use the Search function to check out "first wedding" or even just "wedding". You will find dozens of threads about what you'll need and this way you'll avoid everyone ripping you apart for your answers that will inevitably leave us wanting more.

 

[chrisgomi]

You need a reflex, 2 lenses: wide angle (like 17-85mm), a zoom, a flash
But the thing you'll need overall: the "how to"

 

[Ryan L]

I don't mean this in an offensive way...but this question is asked *relentlessly* by people that are unqualified to do such a thing and without the capable gear. If you want to learn what you'll need, why not use the Search function to check out "first wedding" or even just "wedding". You will find dozens of threads about what you'll need and this way you'll avoid everyone ripping you apart for your answers that will inevitably leave us wanting more.

^^^Exactly

 

[JustKeating]

I will do that from now on... I figured I could get different opinions on here... Sorry to waste your time. I thought this said beginners... I guess I'm just a noob like my profile says and I'll leave the real picture taking to you pros...

Everyone seems to enjoy watch the posts and you have all been more than willing to post back. If you hate when people post about weddings, don't click on the thread... You are wasting your time and mine...

Thanks again to everyone that has been helpful.. I would click the thumbs up, but I don't see the icon..

 

[o hey tyler]

I will do that from now on... I figured I could get different opinions on here... Sorry to waste your time. I thought this said beginners... I guess I'm just a noob like my profile says and I'll leave the real picture taking to you pros...

Everyone seems to enjoy watch the posts and you have all been more than willing to post back. If you hate when people post about weddings, don't click on the thread... You are wasting your time and mine...

Thanks again to everyone that has been helpful.. I would click the thumbs up, but I don't see the icon..

It's hard for people that have been into photography for a while to advocate that an novice DSLR user do a wedding. Shooting a wedding is no short order, and is not something that you can just throw together. You're not going to find much help, because it's simply not something that ANYONE is going to suggest that you do (unless you plan on doing it for free). And if you don't plan on doing it for free, I'd rethink that.

Tell your friend to get a bunch of disposable film cameras if he doesn't want to hire a pro. It's a less expensive route and you could actually sit back and enjoy the ceremony.

 

[cliffy13]

As an absolute novice you will do nothing more than take snaps as many other guests will do,might I suggest the couple ask all the guests to supply their "Best" shots of the day so that they can put together an album

 

[KmH]

I'm not sure if I want to get into weddings for regular income, but a friend of a friend needs a favor and is low on cash. What would be the basic equipment needed to do something I would be willing to use in a portfolio??

I think it's going to be an cheaper beach wedding... So natural light. West Coast of Florida. Not sure what time yet..

Can anyone help or direct me to a site that would be helpful?

Just Keating Photography | Facebook

To clear something up, I don't want to this as a job. I understand the pressure. I used edit videos in college and turned down weddings left and right. I told my contact to make sure his friend has no expectations. The wedding is in my area. I'm not charging up front. If they like any of my shots, I will charge them for the prints and make a dollar or two that way. They cannot afford a professional. That is why I received a message about it. I don't want to ruin someones day.

I think what most are reacting to is you say you want photos you can use in a portfolio, and you provide a link to a Facebook photography business page.

If you're charging for your photos, need portfolio photos, and have experience editing videography, one could understandably think you have enough technical photographic knowledge to select what gear would work for you to take some wedding photos.

The suggestion you put a diffuser on a flash unit is not good advice, IMO.

A wedding at the beach will be is direct sunlight unless it's an overcast day. Consequently, to have enough flash power to balanace against ambient light you will need every bit of power the flash unit can produce. A diffuser will steal some of that light output by scattering (diffuse) it to places you don't need it.

Additionally, using flash requires a skill set separate from regular photography. Using strobed (flash) lighting in a TTL mode is yet another sub-set of specialized technical photography skill you might need to acquire before the wedding and is notorious for producing less than consistant results. Actually using both the camera and strobe in manual mode has a much flatter learning curve and produces more consistant results.

Unless you completely discount your time, investment in gear, and post process time involvement, it's doubtful you will be able to make any money by shooting on speculation (no up front charge, hoping they buy some prints after).

I would recommend you find a good, used Nikon D200 and a good, used AF 24-85mm f/2.8-4 lens, 2 - 4 GB CF cards, set the D200 to shoot JPEG, bump the Contrast +2, the sharpening + all the way, be sure and shoot 'fat' to allow cropping to 5:4 and 7:5 aspect ratios.

Use auto white balance, manual shooting mode, AF-S focus mode, and center-weighted metering

Get a new Vivitar 383 hot shoe mounted strobe (flash) Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount DF-383-NIK B&H set the zoom to 35mm, and set the power level to 1/4. Have at least 3 sets of batteries for the strobe light.

Visit the venue at least a couple of days before the wedding and use a couple of friends as subjects so you can practice and look at the results before the day of the wedding.

Adjust as necessary.

 

[qsfarmer]

Soo... Im interested here to know if youve never done a shoot like this where and how do you begin? I disgree you "have to be born with it". There is always a starting point... I have the same kind of offer a friend needs help and Im not a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination.. in any case if you don't try it you'll never know if it's your thing or not.... They asked for help theyre special day make sure they know youve never shot a wedding before....