Wedding Photag. Gear

[amanda0908]

Understood... but there is one fatal flaw in your assessment.

You don't go to school for wedding photography. You go to school for JUST photography.

Police officers don't enroll into school equipped for the beat. That happens during and after their training. Enrollees that have an in depth knowledge of side arms do so because of an interest that has spawned in firearms regardless of their decision to enroll.

I am have taken several courses of what would have gone towards a 2 year photo technology degree (done while i was unemployed). Not a single course was specific to wedding photography... you need to build a foundation first then specialize. By then you'll have all the answers you seek.

LOL, that is so untrue- the first time I ever picked up a gun was after I was accepted and was given a "school supply" list. And I HAVE a foundation in photography, what I want to build on is what little experience I DO have in wedding photography. I've been asked to do another wedding in April, and another in October. Obviously the weddings I have done have been good enough to get a couple more jobs from it. But, people get a little stingy with information when it comes to wedding photography and like I said, we move a lot because of the military so I haven't had an opportunity to find a willing wedding photographer to let me so much as shadow them (or anything else for that matter) so you tell me: how is one supposed to learn a specialization without someone willing to teach them?? That is an honest question (even though I'm sure many will find it dumb).

 

[PatrickCheung]

I've learned a few things through reading these wedding photography threads.

1. Beginners like to believe that it's not about the equipment, but the photogapher's skill.

While this is true, there's some things skill can't do. Can a kit lens give you the same bokeh (not DoF, Sobolik, no need for that DoF calculator) as a High power, fast zoom or a fast prime? If you can't use a strobe, can your crop sensor body give as clean photos as a full frame body at ISO12800? If you CAN use a strobe, is a $350 strobe gonna be strong to bounce off high chapel cielings, or will you need that $500 strobe? I'm sure amateur wedding photographers get decent results with cheap equipment, but you cannot get the results that a pro shooting a D3s and a 70-200/2.8 VR2 can. There's a reason why people buy equipment like that, and it's not to show off.

2. The professionally paid, fully licensed pros on the forum give sound advice, but the amateur/beginners like to argue point number 1.

I was asked to shoot a wedding over the summer. I wanted to deny the job, I knew my equipment would not do. All I had was an 85/1.8, 35/2, and a D200. No flash allowed. I took the job, but did it for free... and requested that I had a better equiped friend to shoot with me. The chapel ceilings were way high, light was dim and red... the D200 could not handle the low light. Yes I boosted up the ISO, yes I shot wide open. The Composition was great, the bokeh, the DoF, everything was great except for the noise and colours. Skill is one thing, but people will still complain about how your photo LOOKS if it's too grainy and has weird colours...

3. Beginners think Pros claim that you need top equipment to be good.

That's not true. The pros are saying that you need good equipment to get the shot you want WITHOUT flaws. If you're shooting a wedding with a kit lens, your Bokeh is NOT going to be as good as if you shot with a 70-200. Your DoF might be the same, but your bokeh is not. The noise you get on your crop body is going to be worse than on your full frame body. Crop sensors are mighty good at handling noise nowadays, but they will NOT match up with full frame bodies. I could go on, but I know people will gonna bash, say how they can get the same shot with a kit lens and a flash.

I know everyone can get a well composed shot with their kit lenses, but to have it nearly technically flawless... that's a different story. But you all have your own opinion of "flawless". Argue away :]

 

[Ajlista]

Wow...this entire forum is full of a bunch of egotistical jackasses that think they are God's gift to photography. Not sure why everyone jumps everyone's case around here, this is, afterall, a BEGINNER'S forum, so if you are so magnificent, why don't you wander your way out of the beginner forum. A lot of people get on these forums to learn, not to read what some jackass that takes mediocre pictures and works at the Wal-Mart photo studio thinks. Clearly not many people on here shoot weddings because of their lack of ability and people skills. My opinion is that everyone on this forum (with a few exceptions) is so rude because they are completely worried that they aren't very good and someone with actual talent might someday swoop in and snag what few clients they may have.

"Gods gift"
I dont get it? Lol did god create the first camera?... Lol dont get too carried away there.
With the whole thing on trying to insult people btw, by telling them about their jobs, and mediocre photography.. you suck at it
And if you hate the forum so much.. leave? Lol kthx
Bye

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

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.

Wow, this is the post that got you all upset?
Really?

 

[reznap]

:smileys:

 

[amanda0908]

Wow...this entire forum is full of a bunch of egotistical jackasses that think they are God's gift to photography. Not sure why everyone jumps everyone's case around here, this is, afterall, a BEGINNER'S forum, so if you are so magnificent, why don't you wander your way out of the beginner forum. A lot of people get on these forums to learn, not to read what some jackass that takes mediocre pictures and works at the Wal-Mart photo studio thinks. Clearly not many people on here shoot weddings because of their lack of ability and people skills. My opinion is that everyone on this forum (with a few exceptions) is so rude because they are completely worried that they aren't very good and someone with actual talent might someday swoop in and snag what few clients they may have.

"Gods gift"
I dont get it? Lol did god create the first camera?... Lol dont get too carried away there.
With the whole thing on trying to insult people btw, by telling them about their jobs, and mediocre photography.. you suck at it
And if you hate the forum so much.. leave? Lol kthx
Bye

I may suck, but so do most of the people on here, and I'm sure you're among them. You're a dumbass.

 

[nonamexx]

I want to write the next best-selling novel. What pen should I buy?

I think the quality of ink will make a difference to the final output.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Wow...this entire forum is full of a bunch of egotistical jackasses that think they are God's gift to photography. Not sure why everyone jumps everyone's case around here, this is, afterall, a BEGINNER'S forum, so if you are so magnificent, why don't you wander your way out of the beginner forum. A lot of people get on these forums to learn, not to read what some jackass that takes mediocre pictures and works at the Wal-Mart photo studio thinks. Clearly not many people on here shoot weddings because of their lack of ability and people skills. My opinion is that everyone on this forum (with a few exceptions) is so rude because they are completely worried that they aren't very good and someone with actual talent might someday swoop in and snag what few clients they may have.

"Gods gift"
I dont get it? Lol did god create the first camera?... Lol dont get too carried away there.
With the whole thing on trying to insult people btw, by telling them about their jobs, and mediocre photography.. you suck at it
And if you hate the forum so much.. leave? Lol kthx
Bye

I may suck, but so do most of the people on here, and I'm sure you're among them. You're a dumbass.

You haven't been here long enough to judge "most" of the members photography. I see who the dumbass really is.

 

[Ajlista]

Wow...this entire forum is full of a bunch of egotistical jackasses that think they are God's gift to photography. Not sure why everyone jumps everyone's case around here, this is, afterall, a BEGINNER'S forum, so if you are so magnificent, why don't you wander your way out of the beginner forum. A lot of people get on these forums to learn, not to read what some jackass that takes mediocre pictures and works at the Wal-Mart photo studio thinks. Clearly not many people on here shoot weddings because of their lack of ability and people skills. My opinion is that everyone on this forum (with a few exceptions) is so rude because they are completely worried that they aren't very good and someone with actual talent might someday swoop in and snag what few clients they may have.

"Gods gift"
I dont get it? Lol did god create the first camera?... Lol dont get too carried away there.
With the whole thing on trying to insult people btw, by telling them about their jobs, and mediocre photography.. you suck at it
And if you hate the forum so much.. leave? Lol kthx
Bye

I may suck, but so do most of the people on here, and I'm sure you're among them. You're a dumbass.

LOL did i tell you that you suck at photography and life? I dont think so, haha your really bad at this
No go ahead tell me a joke about how much i fail at life, or how the doctor told me something that would change my life, like something wrong with my crotch
Have fun:thumbup:

 

[amanda0908]

"Gods gift"
I dont get it? Lol did god create the first camera?... Lol dont get too carried away there.
With the whole thing on trying to insult people btw, by telling them about their jobs, and mediocre photography.. you suck at it
And if you hate the forum so much.. leave? Lol kthx
Bye

I may suck, but so do most of the people on here, and I'm sure you're among them. You're a dumbass.

LOL did i tell you that you suck at photography and life? I dont think so, haha your really bad at this
No go ahead tell me a joke about how much i fail at life, or how the doctor told me something that would change my life, like something wrong with my crotch
Have fun:thumbup:

lol...yep...you're still a dumbass.

 

[Light Artisan]

Wedding 'photag', anyone else see the irony in the author of that calling everyone else a dumbass?

 

[Ajlista]

Wedding 'photag', anyone else see the irony in the author of that calling everyone else a dumbass?

AHAHA i didnt notice this! Thankyou! : )

 

[twoboysnmygirl]

Yes, at least erose and I have something to read when the insomnia hits! Although it's getting a little tiring. Hey, that's the solution, maybe it will put me back to sleep!

 

[usayit]

Understood... but there is one fatal flaw in your assessment.

You don't go to school for wedding photography. You go to school for JUST photography.

Police officers don't enroll into school equipped for the beat. That happens during and after their training. Enrollees that have an in depth knowledge of side arms do so because of an interest that has spawned in firearms regardless of their decision to enroll.

I am have taken several courses of what would have gone towards a 2 year photo technology degree (done while i was unemployed). Not a single course was specific to wedding photography... you need to build a foundation first then specialize. By then you'll have all the answers you seek.

LOL, that is so untrue- the first time I ever picked up a gun was after I was accepted and was given a "school supply" list. And I HAVE a foundation in photography, what I want to build on is what little experience I DO have in wedding photography. I've been asked to do another wedding in April, and another in October. Obviously the weddings I have done have been good enough to get a couple more jobs from it. But, people get a little stingy with information when it comes to wedding photography and like I said, we move a lot because of the military so I haven't had an opportunity to find a willing wedding photographer to let me so much as shadow them (or anything else for that matter) so you tell me: how is one supposed to learn a specialization without someone willing to teach them?? That is an honest question (even though I'm sure many will find it dumb).

Whatever you say.

What's the point of starting a thread of discussion with a closed mind. Since you obviously have all the answers. Good luck with that.

 

[JAFO28]

Just saying hi before this one gets closed.