Wedding photography

[mrshaleyberg]

ok..so above all this, I have some basic questions as well.

How many back up batteries for my camera should I bring?
How many memory cards should I have?


As for being around large crowds, it doesn't bother me. I actually used to make wedding cakes.

I was actually thinking about going to the church and doing exactly what you said burgo. I wanted to take pictures of stuff so I could imagine in my head what I could do with the bride and groom to be a little creative. That way instead of being clueless, I'll have an idea of poses, and know what I want them to do for pictures.

Does anybody know of a good wedding photography book I could possibly pick up and read? I have a lot of questions, and don't wanna feel too stupid asking on here constantly.

 

[bigtwinky]

How many back up batteries for my camera should I bring?
How many memory cards should I have?

2 fully charged batteries should be more than enough for the wedding day...that is per camera

Memory cards, the more the marrier. However, I'm not a fan of those 32gb cards. I prefer smaller cards so if one craps out, then you lose less images. I bring 4x 8gb cards and 2x 16gb cards.

Lets do some math... for 12 hours of shooting, I should bring home say 1500 images to work on, process, and chose from. A RAW file (you should always shoot in RAW) on my 7D is say 25mb. So 1800 x 25 = 45,000mb. 1gb = 1000mb. 45000 / 1000 = 45gb of storage I will need.

I also bring with me a netbook computer. When I'm done with a card, I either ask the second shooter, assistant, or wait for downtime and copy the RAWs from the card to the netbook. I do NOT format and resuse that card. So I have the images on the card AND on the netbook. I'm covered. When I get home, I copy the images from the netbook to my PC. I still do NOT reformat the card. I do delete the images from the netbook. I only remove the images from the card once I burn backups on DVD. I want my images in 2 places at all times. Then I upload the images for third storage.

Does anybody know of a good wedding photography book I could possibly pick up and read? I have a lot of questions, and don't wanna feel too stupid asking on here constantly.

Head to a library and pick one up and read through it. Different authors have different ways of doing things. They aren't all the same. But you can easily google to find online tips for shooting weddings. Make a list of key shots (review it with the B&G) that you have with you during the day.

If you have two cameras, make sure to sync the time between them. So when you work on the images, they will show in chronological sequence. Same if you have a second shooter helping you.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

One other thing, don't take pictures of center pieces with a cool background.

You actually want to take pictures of the many details of the wedding. With the bride and groom being so busy, they may not remember the small things, and it is quite nice to have pictures of how everything looked.

 

[mrshaleyberg]

Bigtwinky- Thanks! I actually don't buy the bigger memory cards either. I read a while back (and it might have been you) not to buy big memory cards in case something ever happened and you were to lose all the pictures on it. Knowing my luck, it would probably happen to me. But I'll definitely invest in some more 8g cards since it wouldn't hurt to buy some more. Along with a few more batteries.

I'll be doing a couple shoot of the same people I'm doing the wedding pictures for in the next week, so I'll be able to sit down and talk to them more on their wedding. Haven't had a chance to talk one on one with the bride or groom since I'm currently in CA..But I'll be going home to Indiana next week!

I did have another question, but I forgot it. I thought of it while I was trying to go to sleep last night. I'm sure I'll find it again sometime today.

Thanks all!

 

[bigtwinky]

At the end of your meeting you should:

- Have a general idea of what why type of people and why type of images they would like to have

- Ensure they have 100% understand of your lack of experience and skill in doing weddings. I'm not saying that you will suck, but set expectations and make them 100% clear. In this case, its not a sales job, so be honest and up front, while still being confident.

- Get that list of must have shots from them.

- Write up a quick contract that states you are doing this for free and that they have reviewed your work and have a realistic expectation of the results

- Get a schedule of the day. One thing I have found is that I am not only the photographer for the day, but I am also the one keeping them on track for parts of the wedding. As I want to ensure I have the shooting time discussed, I try and usher them here and there all the while making sure they are on time for their own ceremony lol.

 

[Phil Holland]

Man...if I was shooting a wedding for free...I'd take one body and 50mm and let loose with the creativity. No stress. Any body in Dallas want a free shooter for four hours let me know

 

[sobolik]

Man...if I was shooting a wedding for free...I'd take one body and 50mm and let loose with the creativity. No stress. Any body in Dallas want a free shooter for four hours let me know

I LOVE this answer. I get rather tired and actually sick of the posts that go like this:

OP: I have been asked to shoot a lame wedding for free because no one wants to pay for top notch results. Any tips?

Answer: You should not because it is a once in a life thing thing that beginners should never do

Answer: You need a three thousand dollar lens

Answer: You should have several three thousand dollar lenses and six two thousand dollar bodies or forget it.

Answer: You need to hire other people to have six three thousand dollar lenses per person

Shoot the stupid wedding with what you have. If they wanted a pro they would not have asked you. It is like asking someone who is handy to help paint a kitchen and then we see a post: Which full size pick up truck do you professional painters use? Or can I drive over there in my sedan? Any tips are appreciated. AND THEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY RECOMMEND TRUCKS!

Like I said I love the post I am piggybacking on.

 

[bigtwinky]

Man...if I was shooting a wedding for free...I'd take one body and 50mm and let loose with the creativity. No stress. Any body in Dallas want a free shooter for four hours let me know

I LOVE this answer. I get rather tired and actually sick of the posts that go like this:

OP: I have been asked to shoot a lame wedding for free because no one wants to pay for top notch results. Any tips?

Answer: You should not because it is a once in a life thing thing that beginners should never do

Answer: You need a three thousand dollar lens

Answer: You should have several three thousand dollar lenses and six two thousand dollar bodies or forget it.

Answer: You need to hire other people to have six three thousand dollar lenses per person

Shoot the stupid wedding with what you have. If they wanted a pro they would not have asked you. It is like asking someone who is handy to help paint a kitchen and then we see a post: Which full size pick up truck do you professional painters use? Or can I drive over there in my sedan? Any tips are appreciated. AND THEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY RECOMMEND TRUCKS!

Like I said I love the post I am piggybacking on.

I do agree to an extent. Everyone has to start somewhere. And if realistic expectations are set, then there is no problem at all to just get out and shoot.

Those wedding posts are fine.

Its the wedding posts where people expect to be paid and want to know tips to make their wedding shots awesome without having gear OR KNOWLEDGE. I'm sure both you guys could make awesome shots with limited gear because you know what you are doing. But most people who are asking the questions they are asking dont have that knowledge. But we all have to learn. My first wedding was with an XSI, 28-75 and 50-200.

And the problem with most of these threads is when they post their pictures and they are very amaturish and not nice, the first excuse most of these people give is not lack of knowing, its I didnt have the gear, my lens was slow, my iso sucks at more than 400.

Just my 2 cents..

 

[burgo]

And the problem with most of these threads is when they post their pictures and they are very amaturish and not nice, the first excuse most of these people give is not lack of knowing, its I didnt have the gear, my lens was slow, my iso sucks at more than 400.

Just my 2 cents..

Yes people make the mistake of thinking that having some good kit automatically makes them a pro photographer or blaming consumer marketed kit for their poor photography.

You have to know what you are doing, that is the first prerequisite for good wedding photography. If you do not really know what you are doing beyond the basics of photography, then nothing will expose all your weakness as a photographer more than a wedding.

 

[thomas30]

It depends. Keep some extra memory cards with you so that you can use another card if one goes full.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Personally I would use your D700 with 70-200mm + flash during the ceremony. It would be nice during this time you also have 24-70 mounted on a full framer OR a crop sensor + flash. This will be crazy because 70-200mm is super heavy. I think 24-70 is heavy also right? But this would be the only time you need 2 bodies. The other time you can stash the other one in your car.

During the getting ready part I would probably use the 24-70mm.
Reception 24-70mm
Formal photos: 70-200mm
photos of details like her shoes, rings, centerpieces etc.. 50mm

GL!

 

[RealityCaptured]

I've never shot a wedding before, but I've been constantly researching to become more familiar before I dive in.

I found this post:
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...-hot-tips-wedding-photography.html#post219494

In this thread:
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/professional-gallery/20069-hot-tips-wedding-photography.html

That lists at least the basics you should think about.

 

[bigtwinky]

Personally I would use your D700 with 70-200mm + flash during the ceremony. It would be nice during this time you also have 24-70 mounted on a full framer OR a crop sensor + flash. This will be crazy because 70-200mm is super heavy. I think 24-70 is heavy also right? But this would be the only time you need 2 bodies. The other time you can stash the other one in your car.

During the getting ready part I would probably use the 24-70mm.
Reception 24-70mm
Formal photos: 70-200mm
photos of details like her shoes, rings, centerpieces etc.. 50mm

GL!

They are both heavy lol. Add to the lens weight the body weight, the grip, the flash on top.. (although might not use the flash during the ceremony).

Hence why I love my BlackRapid strap, I can carry that 70-200 all day without issues.

 

[Robin Usagani]

When I get busy, iI will definitely start shootin with 2 prime lenses. I love my 70-200mm but its just too heavy for carrying around 2 bodies.

 

[cliffy13]

How did we manage in the old medium format film days with an 80mm and 35mm lenses on the old Bronica SQA, a 24-70 zoom should cover 99% of weddings quite comfortably although of course a wider zoom allows more creative effects and a telephoto zoom is useful for isolating subjects but they are not essential