So how screwed am I

[Rancor]

MY girlfriend's best friend is getting married. She is young and her and her fiance don't have a lot of money, and since the wedding is in Puerto Rico and they live in MA, they're already running a bit tight on cash.

So, my girlfriend comes up to me the other day and says "Her sister wont be able to make it to the wedding so she's making me a brides maid", and jokingly, I responded "Well why not just make me the photographer then".
At the time I thought it was harmless, but then yesterday I get a text from my girlfriend: "She said she does need a photographer and she wants you to do it.." :gah:

So my response was this "She should really hire a pro. Wedding photos are really important. If she can't afford a pro, and doesn't know anyone better than me, then I'll do it."

I'll give you 1 guess as to whether or not she can afford it, and how many other amateur photographers she knows.

I'm dead. The weddings not till Halloween, but I'm dead. HELP!!!!!!!!

 

[o hey tyler]

Well, at least you have some time to practice.

 

[Rancor]

I own a Rebel XS and 2 8GB cards, that's it. I don't have a fill flash, a tripod, a bag, different lenses. I need to read up on wedding composition, popular shots, indoor/outdoor lighting. She's going to want engagement shots, I have to read up on that. I need to buy gear, granted I would have eventually anyways but now its a timed thing.

Balls... just...Balls.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Why do people always say they are forced to shoot their first wedding, yada yada yada, not enough money, yada yada yada. Just admit it you want to shoot a wedding. Do your homework and get appropiate equipment. If you cant, ask for help. Always a good idea to have 2 amateurs shooting since you probably only have 1 camera.

 

[o hey tyler]

Get a Canon E-TTL flash next. That's probably the next important part of your setup.

 

[Jarrod268]

Halloween wedding? Maybe you can dress up some folks as zombies and shoot them doing the thriller dance.

(joking!)

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[Trever1t]

Don't sweat it. You'll do better than NO photographer at all eh? Practice and practice in different lighting. Get comfortable with flash and fill flash. Make sure the Bride understands you are an amateur and cannot guarantee quality. Just go, have fun and take HUNDREDS of pics. Puerto Rico is a blast and I'm sure you'll get plenty of other photo ops while there.

 

[Derrel]

Get a Canon E-TTL flash next. That's probably the next important part of your setup.

I would agree; a good quality Canon 580 EX-II would be my clear choice. I know, it is expensive, but it is also a lifetime flash. Good luck with the wedding.

 

[Rancor]

I'm not complaining as much as I am dreading that I'm going to drop the ball. I've wanted to start doing more pro-type work, and its for free, so no harm there, and without me she'd have nothing anyways, so she has nothing to lose, but its a huge deal.

Like, if I pull this off I can start a solid portfolio.

Which flash? They almost all say TTL.

580 EX II, got it, I can swing that price.

 

[FattyMcJ]

Why do people always say they are forced to shoot their first wedding, yada yada yada, not enough money, yada yada yada. Just admit it you want to shoot a wedding. Do your homework and get appropiate equipment. If you cant, ask for help. Always a good idea to have 2 amateurs shooting since you probably only have 1 camera.

Sound advice and I'll add...rent the equipment you don't own. Say a 24-70 f/2.8 L and a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II...and combined with the 50 you have, you'll be sitting pretty.

Also consider investing in a flash, like the 580 EX II. You won't regret it.

 

[g-fi]

Wow, I totally expected you to get ripped to shreds lol. Rent a lens! Get a good zoom, a 70-200 is great. Keep an eye on thrift/second hand stores for bags, and pawn shops for lenses. Once you have a flash, you can DIY many light modifiers yourself, and there are several threads on here with some DIY masters who have done just that. Is the wedding outside? It's freakin' Puerto Rico!! It's hard NOT to have great photo ops in such a beautiful place. Get out on the beach with them at sunset and just start shooting! Good luck and have fun!

Edited to remove suggestion to buy a 50mm. Guess I better start reading ppls equipment lists before making purchase suggestions!

 

[Rancor]

I have a EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 IS kit lens that came with my Rebel XS

How much is it to rent a lens for a day, on average?

 

[Lee_Maryland]

Here check the following link, and it should give you some idea on the cost.

Rental

 

[Rancor]

A $1000 deposit! I can do the $25 a day, but as it is I still have to pay to fly me and my GF to Puerto Rico, Stay in a hotel for 3 nights, and have some spare money to have fun (for her to have fun) while we are there. I can't drop $1000 on a lens rental even if I do get it back.

What about buying:

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_s_55_250mm_f_4_5_6_is
OR
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_75_300mm_f_4_5_6_iii_usm

&

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_50mm_f_1_8_ii

 

[Robin Usagani]

even if the rental is cheap you need to understand that if you break it, lose it, you have to pay for it. I would at least ask the b&g to pay for the rental.