Valid setup for shooting weddings and events?

[cnutco]

This is the setup im saving for to shoot weddings and events, does this sound good to you guys?

Body: Nikon D3s w/lcd protector and hotshoe protector
2ndBody: Nikon D3100 w/ Battery grip and lcd/hotshoe protectors
MemoryCards: 4x 64gig extreme pro CF cards, 4x 32gig extreme SDHC cards with cases
Batteries: 4 rechargables for each
Accessories: Full set of Bodycaps, lens/rear lens caps, Filters, and hoods, as well as all cords and manuals, etc. for each camera
Flash: Nikon SB900 w/ external power source and accessories for power source, Nikon Hotshoe cable for a flash bracket, tilt flash bracket, full set of filters for the flash, two sets of rechargable back up batteries, one back up external power source
Lenses: Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens, Nikkor 18-200mm lens
Case: Please recommend a watertight hardcase that will house all of this

I understand the investment I am making here and wanted to know if this would cover all of my needs as a freelance wedding and event photographer, based on my research, everything should be perfect, except possibly a 16-30ish mm wide angle lens, a fish eye, a 200-400mm telephoto, and a macro lens for like 135 and 200mm's for my other various purposes. I just wanted to make sure im not forgetting anything important, atm I have photoshop cs5 and gimp 2.0 for editing.

From what you have here, I do not think you have grasped to concept of what it takes. I have the lenes needed but I would not shoot a wedding as the main shooter with the bodies or knowlege that I have.

I will be shooting as the 3rd shooter for several wedding this season just to see what it is like. I think you should do the same.

What gear do you have now?

 

[Sw1tchFX]

Dude, you're being such a buzz-kill, with all your reality-based observations and cold water, slap-in-the-face pragmatism. You're killin' the dream man, you're killin' the dream!

My best friends wedding was not long ago and they spent close to 5k on a wedding photographer with his backup man... The couple were OK with the result pictures as they gave them a DVD with some 5000 pics and a album with a few hundred pictures, but from my perspective (and I'm not the best to judge photos) they did a god awful job. Who gets the family photos with power lines in the background?

The main photographer was using a D300 and the backup guy had a D200 and both cameras with average lens (nothing professional). My friend didnt know any better which was good, but honestly, his uncle with a point and shoot camera got better pictures and made the whole family smile in a natural way. Now, friends wife saved her money for this wedding since she was 16 because her dream was to have a big and expensive wedding.

My point is, if she knew better, her most important weekend of her life would have been ruined by the two amateur photographers with some dslr's... however in this case I just kept my mouth shut.

5000 pictures? Did they not edit anything down or what? That's just being lazy. Last weeding I shot, I had about 3000 total from the day and edited it down to about 500.

 

[Ginu]

Dude, you're being such a buzz-kill, with all your reality-based observations and cold water, slap-in-the-face pragmatism. You're killin' the dream man, you're killin' the dream!

My best friends wedding was not long ago and they spent close to 5k on a wedding photographer with his backup man... The couple were OK with the result pictures as they gave them a DVD with some 5000 pics and a album with a few hundred pictures, but from my perspective (and I'm not the best to judge photos) they did a god awful job. Who gets the family photos with power lines in the background?

The main photographer was using a D300 and the backup guy had a D200 and both cameras with average lens (nothing professional). My friend didnt know any better which was good, but honestly, his uncle with a point and shoot camera got better pictures and made the whole family smile in a natural way. Now, friends wife saved her money for this wedding since she was 16 because her dream was to have a big and expensive wedding.

My point is, if she knew better, her most important weekend of her life would have been ruined by the two amateur photographers with some dslr's... however in this case I just kept my mouth shut.

5000 pictures? Did they not edit anything down or what? That's just being lazy. Last weeding I shot, I had about 3000 total from the day and edited it down to about 500.

Was a whole day and two people shooting non stop. From the looks of things, I don't believe there was much editing done.

 

[jaymitch]

Not to keep pressing the issue but working a a second or just assisting for awhile is a must do. You really need to make sure you know what your doing, this is one case where if you screw up there isn't going to be a simple re-shoot. And crazy expensive professional gear isn't going to make good photos.
I worked for free for a year just for the opportunity to go and shoot and learn for some talented photographers. After that i still worked as a second camera for almost a second full year.
If this is something you really has a strong desire to do, just put the time in and do it right.

Most of my wedding gear is in my sig minus power and other lighting gear. Its not the most expensive stuff out there but it does a great job.

 

[gsgary]

The gear does not matter, if you haven't got the flair or skill to match, I know a wedding photographer that uses 2 Fuji Xpro1's and his work is far superior to people that have Nikon d800 and d3

 

[CameraClicker]

Weddings are a lot of work. Unlike most other photography, you only get one pass at most photos, the exceptions being the posed photos and photos of things like the dress, shoes and rings.

If you are asking about gear, you are not ready to shoot a unique event in a couple's life.

 

[tirediron]

Three-year zombie thread revived by [now banned] spammer. Carry with your regularily scheduled posting.