Wedding Photag. Gear

[amanda0908]

I was hoping to get a little guidance on what gear to buy- bare minimum- to do a wedding. And am I playing with fire if I dont have a backup camera body? What lenses specifically do I need??

 

[cdino88]

Welcome to the forums!

I have seen many wedding photographers only carry around only one camera body, but it certainly does not hurt to have a backup camera/battery/memory card.

I am looking to get into the same sort of thing and you are going to have to drop some decent cash to get professional looking results. This does not apply every single time, but many times.

You are going to need a decent flash, depending on your company either a 430EX II or a sb-600 at the minimum.

You are going to need a faster lens due to low lit rooms. Anything from a f/2.8 and lower should work completely fine, especially with a flash. Many wedding photographers carry around the 70-200mm f/2.8 as a necessity. Many also carry around an 85mm f/1.8. The 50mm f/1.4 - f/1.8 are carried around many times as well.

This is a just the beginning though, so many more pieces of equipment could be bought to perform.

 

[reznap]

Well... three things factor in to this equation I think.

1) Level of experience of the photographer.

Also the most important. There are exceptions.. but someone who has not spent at least a year or two OBSESSING about their picture quality, and constantly trying to improve during that time, has no business even being a second shooter at a wedding. If there's one thing you don't want to F up, it's someone's wedding.

2) The equipment.

A full frame DSLR with a couple f/2.8 zooms and some faster primes, along with at least one powerful flash would be about what I'd consider the minimum if I were to shoot a wedding by myself. I'd be more comfortable with a backup body.. even a cheap one. Also, it's nice to have a lens with a different focal length already attached to a 2nd body.. this way you're ready if you need it.

3) Level of experience WITH the gear.

Right now I have a T2i... but it's taken me about a year to get comfortable with it. I would want to take at least a month or two to get comfortable with a new camera body before I decided to use it for something serious (like a paid shoot).

Anyway, tried to give a serious response in case you were actually being serious.

 

[flea77]

I was hoping to get a little guidance on what gear to buy- bare minimum- to do a wedding. And am I playing with fire if I dont have a backup camera body? What lenses specifically do I need??

Are you playing with fire if your camera quits in the middle of the wedding?

Next are questions like is the wedding indoors or out? Well lit or not? Day or night? Flash allowed or not? The answers to these questions tell us more about the lenses you will need as well as the camera you will need.

How about backup? Do you have a body that will shoot to two cards at once or will you be using a dedicated backup device on site? Or, will you just pray that nothing happens to your cards and if it does move to Siberia and hope the bride doesn't find you?

Bare minimum for me:

Two bodies both good to at least iso 3200 (note I said good to, not just that it will do that iso)
12-24 4 (for the bride getting ready, you need wide angles)
24-70 2.8 (mainly the reception and group shots)
80-200 2.8 (the actual wedding and candids so I am not disrupting them)
SB-600 x3 with stands, umbrellas, triggers, etc
Insurance and indemnification policy(PPA has one if you are in the US)
Sales tax cert
Contract
Backup drive for all my cards

Hope this helps.

Allan

 

[sobolik]

I use a high megapixel camera and a wide angle lens. It is too hard to get the textbook framing/composition at a wedding's pace. I will then crop out the perfect framing later. It especially allows to correct for lens distortion which makes the photo 100% better and bordering on flawless. I always shoot wider than what "looks good" through the viewfinder. And often I am surprised by an expression I did not notice when taking the shot. Also many don't realize that they are in the photo when the camera is pointed at someone else. I can get 2,3 or 4 crops out of one 12mm photo that are sufficient resolution for 4x6 prints thanks to a high megapixle camera

I use and consider the minimum (and all I need):
Nikon D90 (higher megapixel camera)
Tokina 12-24mm (wide, wide, wide, love it, love it, love it)
Nikon 18-105 VR kit lens (very nice match to the D90)
SB 400 flash = Must be a bounce flash.
Polarizer filter. I use 82mm and step rings

I have an audience friend relative camera identified and agreed to seize if I break mine. If I had none to grab I would take one, even a point and shoot.

 

[Novaman]

I will end the year with my first post on this site ..as this thread is exactly why I cornered Santa for my new Nikon D90 w 85/105 kit lens. Since I have bought the MBD-80 Battery Grip and have ordered a SB-800 Flash. Now the hard part... getting aquainted with the camera . I am more of a Kodak Instamatic Guy, but I am excited to get started. As our daughter is getting married New Years eve 2011.
First thing is getting enrolled in a class ...I don't want to leave it on Auto for ever..
Any words of wisdom will be appreciated..
Happy New Year to all ! :thumbup:

 

[KmH]

.....bare minimum- to do a wedding......

5 packs - Walmart.com: Kodak Blue Floral 'One Time Use' Disposable Film Camera w/ Flash (10 Pack) for Wedding, Bridal Shower, Engagement Party: Digital Cameras

Hand them out to the guests. Collect them at the end of the reception :thumbup:

 

[MissCream]

Well... three things factor in to this equation I think.

1) Level of experience of the photographer.

Also the most important. There are exceptions.. but someone who has not spent at least a year or two OBSESSING about their picture quality, and constantly trying to improve during that time, has no business even being a second shooter at a wedding. If there's one thing you don't want to F up, it's someone's wedding.

2) The equipment.

A full frame DSLR with a couple f/2.8 zooms and some faster primes, along with at least one powerful flash would be about what I'd consider the minimum if I were to shoot a wedding by myself. I'd be more comfortable with a backup body.. even a cheap one. Also, it's nice to have a lens with a different focal length already attached to a 2nd body.. this way you're ready if you need it.

3) Level of experience WITH the gear.

Right now I have a T2i... but it's taken me about a year to get comfortable with it. I would want to take at least a month or two to get comfortable with a new camera body before I decided to use it for something serious (like a paid shoot).

Anyway, tried to give a serious response in case you were actually being serious.

Why would you need a full frame?

 

[amanda0908]

Well... three things factor in to this equation I think.

1) Level of experience of the photographer.

Also the most important. There are exceptions.. but someone who has not spent at least a year or two OBSESSING about their picture quality, and constantly trying to improve during that time, has no business even being a second shooter at a wedding. If there's one thing you don't want to F up, it's someone's wedding.

2) The equipment.

A full frame DSLR with a couple f/2.8 zooms and some faster primes, along with at least one powerful flash would be about what I'd consider the minimum if I were to shoot a wedding by myself. I'd be more comfortable with a backup body.. even a cheap one. Also, it's nice to have a lens with a different focal length already attached to a 2nd body.. this way you're ready if you need it.

3) Level of experience WITH the gear.

Right now I have a T2i... but it's taken me about a year to get comfortable with it. I would want to take at least a month or two to get comfortable with a new camera body before I decided to use it for something serious (like a paid shoot).

Anyway, tried to give a serious response in case you were actually being serious.

In case I was being serious? Wow, that comes across as quite rude. I've done weddings before, however I don't spend my time following around wedding photographers like a puppy dog, so I like find out what gear others prefer to see if it might be something I want to add to my bag.

 

[reznap]

A full frame DSLR with a couple f/2.8 zooms and some faster primes, along with at least one powerful flash would be about what I'd consider the minimum if I were to shoot a wedding by myself.

Why would you need a full frame?

For one, they handle noise better. Also, they are better for shallow depth of field shots since you have more frame to fill without taking a step back, say with a prime lens.

I'd also want to be able to do high speed sync with a flash... and my Rebel's not having that. Maybe I wouldn't need a full frame camera for that but a higher-end body at least.

In case I was being serious? Wow, that comes across as quite rude. I've done weddings before, however I don't spend my time following around wedding photographers like a puppy dog, so I like find out what gear others prefer to see if it might be something I want to add to my bag.

If you've done weddings before why are you asking 'umm what's the bare minimum gear to use for a wedding' ??

 

[amanda0908]

A full frame DSLR with a couple f/2.8 zooms and some faster primes, along with at least one powerful flash would be about what I'd consider the minimum if I were to shoot a wedding by myself.

Why would you need a full frame?

For one, they handle noise better. Also, they are better for shallow depth of field shots since you have more frame to fill without taking a step back, say with a prime lens.

I'd also want to be able to do high speed sync with a flash... and my Rebel's not having that. Maybe I wouldn't need a full frame camera for that but a higher-end body at least.

In case I was being serious? Wow, that comes across as quite rude. I've done weddings before, however I don't spend my time following around wedding photographers like a puppy dog, so I like find out what gear others prefer to see if it might be something I want to add to my bag.

If you've done weddings before why are you asking 'umm what's the bare minimum gear to use for a wedding' ??

Because I don't believe in spending a ton of money on gear for two reasons- 1: if you're GOOD, you can make beautiful photos with whatever gear you happen to have and 2: if you spend you're time fussing with your gear you risk missing those "money" shots.

 

[white]

 

[reznap]

Because I don't believe in spending a ton of money on gear for two reasons- 1: if you're GOOD, you can make beautiful photos with whatever gear you happen to have and 2: if you spend you're time fussing with your gear you risk missing those "money" shots.

Ah, then you should go with KMH's suggestion. This way you have many people waiting for the money shot.

 

[tirediron]

Share?

 

[amanda0908]

Because I don't believe in spending a ton of money on gear for two reasons- 1: if you're GOOD, you can make beautiful photos with whatever gear you happen to have and 2: if you spend you're time fussing with your gear you risk missing those "money" shots.

Ah, then you should go with KMH's suggestion. This way you have many people waiting for the money shot.

I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Stay classy...