So this is going to sound stupid... Q's about wedding lenses

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

Thanks, I was thinking about the 85mm too... decisions decisions.

It's easier for me because I have a bunch of options to choose from.
17mm to 200mm in fast zooms, and a bunch of primes. Sometimes I like the zooms, sometimes I like the primes. It all depends on my range of movement and lighting conditions.

It's hard to really give you optimal advice without knowing the venue setup and lighting

The ceremony is in a big Catholic church with lots of windows (no flash allowed inside the church) so I'm not terribly worried about the lighting inside as much as I am about matching the WB with all that stained glass. The reception is at a large dance hall. No info on much natural light so I'm assuming it's windowless and has dim lights to set the mood.

 

[pixmedic]

I don't know what their particular situation is.....but we frequently hear bride and grooms say they have no budget for photography, but have hundreds to thousands of dollars in flowers, tablecloths, table decorations, cake(s) and other things that will be used that one day and either thrown away or packed up and never looked at again instead of using some of that budget on photographs that their grandchildren can look at and appreciate as a family heirloom.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

I don't know what their particular situation is.....but we frequently hear bride and grooms say they have no budget for photography, but have hundreds to thousands of dollars in flowers, tablecloths, table decorations, cake(s) and other things that will be used that one day and either thrown away or packed up and never looked at again instead of using some of that budget on photographs that their grandchildren can look at and appreciate as a family heirloom.

Yep... seems pretty pointless to me to have all that pretty stuff and no one to shoot it! But I am happy to be the one the photograph the wedding for them and hopefully I can deliver the work they are wanting and have some nice wedding images for my portfolio should I decide to do another wedding after this one. She knows my work and has viewed what I can do many times. So on the expectations end I'm not so worried since she knows what I can and can't do for her. Her fiance couldn't care less about photos..

 

[Designer]

..matching the WB with all that stained glass.

Oh, to be so fortunate that you might actually get colored light on the B&G's faces and white apparel! Embrace it!

That stained glass was put there for a reason, and to cuss it out now is like architectural heresy to me.

You can worry about WB in the reception hall.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Go find another photographer who wants to add a wedding to his/her portfolio.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

..matching the WB with all that stained glass.

Oh, to be so fortunate that you might actually get colored light on the B&G's faces and white apparel! Embrace it!

That stained glass was put there for a reason, and to cuss it out now is like architectural heresy to me.

You can worry about WB in the reception hall.

I never said it wasn't pretty lol but my luck the bride will end up with a nice long red/violet streak all over her face from it..

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

Go find another photographer who wants to add a wedding to his/her portfolio.

Are you saying as a second shooter or that I shouldn't even be doing this??

 

[Designer]

No extra money for our marriage either. My mother paid for the cake and some flowers, my bride's friend made her dress, and the only photographs we have are some snapshots that friends gave us.

 

[Designer]

I never said it wasn't pretty lol but my luck the bride will end up with a nice long red/violet streak all over her face from it..

Then pose up another shot later at the kneeler while doing the formals. The sunlight will be different then, or non-existent.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

I never said it wasn't pretty lol but my luck the bride will end up with a nice long red/violet streak all over her face from it..

Then pose up another shot later at the kneeler while doing the formals. The sunlight will be different then, or non-existent.

Can't tell if this is supposed to be sarcastic... hmmm

 

[lambertpix]

I shot a fundraiser / fashion show recently, and I was concerned about lighting, so I rented a Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC and Canon's 70-200 f/2.8 IS. I shot most of the night with the Tamron on my 7D and the Canon on my 40D. The Tamron lens was nice; the Canon 70-200 was magnificent, though I was surprised how limited the focal length range seemed in practice. This was definitely a case where I was glad I had two bodies, because switching back & forth would have killed me.

I know I'm probably going to have all sorts of people jump on me for this, but I'd consider renting a 5D-III and using that with your 24-105. The FF body has so much more low-light capability than your 60D, and it'll make the wide end of your 24-105 wider. If you've still got enough money to rent a lens, I'd get the 70-200 and put it on your 60D -- just make sure you get the one with IS. It's reasonable to be concerned about picking up a new camera body for the first time for an event like this, but you'd at least still be "in the family". If you've got any time at all to prepare, you can set up some setting scenarios and save them in C1, C2, and C3 -- these work sort of like the "C" mode on the 60D, except there's three of them. I was honestly floored Canon dropped those on the 60D, because they're one of the features I really came to love on my 40D.

I'd also pass on the 50. It's a sweet lens under the right circumstances; however, for something like this, you'd be asking a bit much from a $100 lens.

 

[Designer]

I never said it wasn't pretty lol but my luck the bride will end up with a nice long red/violet streak all over her face from it..

Then pose up another shot later at the kneeler while doing the formals. The sunlight will be different then, or non-existent.

Can't tell if this is supposed to be sarcastic... hmmm

I seldom attempt sarcasm on the internet. What makes you think it could be sarcasm?

Perhaps you cannot envision a reenactment of the ceremony (sans Priest) for a picture without colored light falling on the bridal couple? Am I the only one who has ever thought of doing that? Is a reenactment so distasteful that nobody in their right mind would ever consider such a thing?

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

I shot a fundraiser / fashion show recently, and I was concerned about lighting, so I rented a Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC and Canon's 70-200 f/2.8 IS. I shot most of the night with the Tamron on my 7D and the Canon on my 40D. The Tamron lens was nice; the Canon 70-200 was magnificent, though I was surprised how limited the focal length range seemed in practice. This was definitely a case where I was glad I had two bodies, because switching back & forth would have killed me.

I know I'm probably going to have all sorts of people jump on me for this, but I'd consider renting a 5D-III and using that with your 24-105. The FF body has so much more low-light capability than your 60D, and it'll make the wide end of your 24-105 wider. If you've still got enough money to rent a lens, I'd get the 70-200 and put it on your 60D -- just make sure you get the one with IS. It's reasonable to be concerned about picking up a new camera body for the first time for an event like this, but you'd at least still be "in the family". If you've got any time at all to prepare, you can set up some setting scenarios and save them in C1, C2, and C3 -- these work sort of like the "C" mode on the 60D, except there's three of them. I was honestly floored Canon dropped those on the 60D, because they're one of the features I really came to love on my 40D.

I'd also pass on the 50. It's a sweet lens under the right circumstances; however, for something like this, you'd be asking a bit much from a $100 lens.

Thanks for all of the advice, I shoot 99% of the time in manual sometimes in shutter priority mode since I photograph a lot of children and they like to move THE WHOLE TIME.
That was another qualm for me with the 50, how much work can a $100 lens put out for me?? I received it in my kit when I got my camera last year (I was a fool and bought into the whole "savings bundle" that gave me 3 crap lenses and about 50 misc. pieces from china I did not need) what is your opinion on hawking my kit 18-55mm & 50mm to put towards a better 50mm? (like the EF 50mm f/1.4) I eventually want to own the 70-200 2.8 IS but I doubt I'll find $2000 in my couch cushions.

 

[AmberAtLoveAndInk]

Then pose up another shot later at the kneeler while doing the formals. The sunlight will be different then, or non-existent.

Can't tell if this is supposed to be sarcastic... hmmm

I seldom attempt sarcasm on the internet. What makes you think it could be sarcasm?

Perhaps you cannot envision a reenactment of the ceremony (sans Priest) for a picture without colored light falling on the bridal couple? Am I the only one who has ever thought of doing that? Is a reenactment so distasteful that nobody in their right mind would ever consider such a thing?

Oh no I think a re-enactment is great, no offense to anything you said at all, I was just confused since sarcasm is 2nd language around here.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Go find another photographer who wants to add a wedding to his/her portfolio.

Are you saying as a second shooter or that I shouldn't even be doing this??

As a second shooter.