First Wedding please Help!

[beccatoo9]

I am shooting my first big wedding in 4 months. It is outside and I am so afraid of harsh shadows. I have the Canon Rebel XTI. Does anyone have any tips or tricks for Great Pictures? Do I need to buy any additional lenses or an additional flash

 

[JIP]

Well it would help to know what you have currently as far as gear goes. Also are you doing this professionally or just a favor to a friend.

 

[Big Mike]

Welcome to the forum.

You are likely to hear a lot of comments to the effect that: If you have to ask the question, you shouldn't be shooting a wedding.
My first concern is whether or not you have enough equipment...as in, do you have backup cameras, lenses, flashes etc?

There are many, many factors that can play a role in how you shoot a wedding...and with an outdoor wedding, you may not know what to expect until you show up that day. A good wedding photographer is prepared for most situations and does what is needed for the job at hand.

A quick answer to your question about harsh shadows...I would use flash, and a powerful one at that. The Canon 580EX would probably get the job done.

 

[beccatoo9]

I have my degree in Graphic Design and I took additional classes in photography. I don't care if people criticize me. This is why I am in the beginners forum. I have shot 5 weddings so far. My very first was outside and it turned out very well. I just needed to know what add. equip I need to buy before then. I am willing to make a small investment. I have the canon, and 2 smaller backup cameras and 3 extra batteries for my large camera.

 

[HoosierJoe]

You've done 5 weddings without an external flash unit? Wow, you must be good.

You should have a back up camera and lens.

We are really kind of in the dark not knowing, other that a Rebel Xti, what specifically you have.

I would suggest a flash unit. The Canon 430 Ex can be had for $200. Certain lenses are better for certain uses but not knowing what you have it is a little difficult to suggest anything.

 

[beccatoo9]

I only have the Telephoto zoom lens - 300 mm
Which doesn't really help at all. I have never used it for a wedding.

Should I buy a wide angle lens?

 

[Breanna]

Is it a paid gig or a favor for a friend?

Why do I ask? It makes a difference. If its a friend and you're doing them a favor (aka they just can't afford a pro) then just do your best to get a photo of EVERYTHING. Capture special moments. If the person doesn't want to fork out a lot of dough for a pro, the probably don't care quite as much about the overall quality. Just a fact. Nothing wrong with that.

A wide angle lens would be nice, as would a portrait lens (50mm f/1.8 is great and you can buy it for under $100 on Amazon). The 50mm will also allow you to use a lot less flash for any indoor moments. I would suggest investing in a flash unit like the Speedlite 430ex or 580ex. What is the difference between these and your on camera flash you ask? The Speedlite will allow you to direct your light instead of pointing it right in the face of your subject. You avoid horrid shadows, red-eye, and that ugly washed out effect.

Do you shoot outside of the Automatic realm?

 

[HoosierJoe]

This forum has a lot of good posters for sure, but you might get more help from the Photography on the net canon forum. You should be able to find it easily via search engine.

Look around there and ask the wedding photogs what they are using. Weddings are not my thing, I'm not brave enough.

 

[uberben]

If you are getting paid. . . I would say 2 DSLR, 2 Flash units and as much 2.8 lens (or less) as you can afford to buy. Bring a ton of CF and lots of battery power too.

If you can find a cheap 20d/30d, it would be a great camera to use and you could reduce your xti to backup. I've seen these go for 300 lately and they are built better for shooting weddings.

Canon 430ex: Get at least 1 if not 2. I have had flash unit fail at the most wacky times. Failure isn't an option. If you can't afford to buy a flash, rent one. They are cheap to rent.

Lenses:Figure out what your favorite range is and buy the nicest lens you can afford. f/2.8 or less is your friend. the 70-200 2.8 IS is a workhorse for weddings. if you can't afford to buy it, rent it. I also shoot with the 16-35, 17-55 and 24-70 focul lengths a fair amount.

 

[ANDS!]

Can we see some photos from your previous weddings?

 

[cosmoepic]

yeah id like to as well

 

[ksmattfish]

I'd suggest a Canon flash with the high speed sync feature. The 430 and 580 have it. Common advice would be to set flash comp at -1 for fill flash, but take a couple of test shots. I find that outdoors on bright days the flash is often fooled into underexposing a bit anyway.

Dial in +1 flash comp when the bride in white fills much of the frame. Dial in -1 flash comp when the groom, or anyone in black fills most of the frame.

 

[Royal Photos]

Telephoto lens can be great for a wedding if you know when to use it, I'm surprised you haven't yet. I LOVE the photos that came off my 200mm lens

 

[37fleetwood]

Ok, did you get all that?:lmao:
here's the deal I've shot weddings before and hate doing it. it's a one time shot at one of the most important days in someone's life that if you blow it, can't be redone. that said, here's my list of necessities which most here have already said.

1. at least two camera bodies. this gives you something in case one fails, and the other reason is mentioned in #2. they have to be interchangeable with each other, one Canon and one Nikon will not do.

2. at least two lenses, one wide angle one telephoto. one on each body so you can switch back and forth without fumbling around changing lenses.

3. minimum one decent flash unit. two is better.

4. an assistant if you can afford one. the assistant helps with switching out cameras, memory, batteries, and attaching flash posing your people, straightening veils, dresses, etc. and can even take photos if you trust them, and anything else you are too busy to deal with, things happen fast at weddings and missed stuff is less money at the end. find a high school kid or a college kid into photography.

5. lots of memory and batteries! batteries for the flashes batteries for the cameras. it helps if your camera bodies take the same batteries and memory.

6. take way too many photos. the more the merrier. it is easier to weed out bad shots than wish for more good shots.

7. be very assertive with your clients, they may hate you that day but will love you later when they see the photos. make sure you get everything you need. don't take no for an answer.

8. start early. you shoot the bride, the assistant shoots the groom getting ready. the bride is the most important one. always remember that, it is her day, and she is the one who will make the decision later when the ordering takes place. make her happy and he will follow along peacefully.

9. if you can, shoot them some time after the wedding in a nice location or studio. the photos will look less stressed out and will likely be better. have them dress as in the wedding if you can. make it part of the package and even if you increase your fee they will not really know it was added if you present it right. both you and they will be happy in the end.

10. pre-screen the photos and do some weeding before you invite them to view them. get it down to a maximum of around 30 shots that are great rather than having them try to decide between 100. it will take all day and in the end they will get tired of looking and just want to get it over with. this step also makes you look like a better photographer. they won't remember you shooting hundreds of photos, and when you show them 30 or so great shots they'll be wowed.

I may think of more but this should keep you busy and out of trouble.
good luck!

 

[beccatoo9]

This has really helped me. Thank You All ~

I will try to post some of my wedding pics on here soon.