Wedding Photos (for a newbie)

[TCampbell]

$2k is tight for two lenses and a flash.

The standard "bread-n-butter" lenses that a wedding photographer will have are classically the 70-200 f/2.8 IS (or IS "II" now), the 24-70mm f/2.8 (on a full-frame body... on a crop-frame you might want one of the 17-55, 17-50, etc. f/2.8 lenses... Canon makes one as do a few others.)

You'd also need a good flash. The Speedlite 430EX II is really the minimum and a 580EX II would be even better (I have one of each.)

You can only "bounce" when you have a ceiling... preferably a neutral white ceiling and not too high. Otherwise you have to shoot straight-on (and someone holding a 2nd flash from a 45º angle sure would be nice for those situations.) The flash also has a focus-assist beam so you can focus in dark reception halls.

BTW, you can RENT this stuff.

I was just at Lensrentals looking for something when I stumbled onto the fact that they now rent "bundles" -- they even have a basic crop-frame camera wedding bundle (includes the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8, a Speedlight 430EX II, and a Gary Fong diffuser.) If you rent, do NOT set up the rental so it arrives the day before. You really want to give yourself plenty of time to use, test, evaluate, and learn to use all this gear correctly. ESPECIALLY if you're not accustomed to shooting with flash. The advantage is that this is probably about $3500 worth of gear that you don't have to buy for a one-time event.

 

[jhodges10]

I just rented a 24-70 to shoot a wedding from BorrowLenses.com . I rented it for 10 days so I could tinker with it before the wedding and I was unbelievably happy with the lens and the rental process. I think it cost about $85 but they have the wedding package as well. Not sure what he Canon package came with but the Nikon was a 24-70 2.8, 50mm 1.4 and a 70-200 2.8 plus a flash. I already had three of the four items or I would have gone with the package. Renting the lenses is definitely the way to go unless you're absolutely certain you'll be using them on a regular basis. Plus it'll give you a chance to see what lens you really want/need before dropping a ton of cash. I've read several threads where most of the responses raved about the 70-200 so I bought one. Having used the 24-70 I can honestly say I wish I'd bought that instead and rented the 70-200. It's a personal preference and you may find that your future needs dictate what lenses you buy in which order.

 

[Patrice]

Go with what you have plus a cheap flash and spend any money you would have on gear to buy a disposable camera for every table. (if you can still find those things)

 

[texkam]

Might want to spend some of that 2K on a lawyer to draw up a good contract. Just sayin'.

 

[Tony S]

Rent a whole new set up...

 

[bratkinson]

I'll only re-state what's already been said before:

A WEDDING IS THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME & WORST POSSIBLE PLACE TO LEARN NEW EQUIPMENT!

And a handful of 'test shots' before hand certainly won't cut it.

Dirty Harry put it most aptly in the movie Magnum Force: "A man's got to know his limitations". In this case, the limitations (and abilities) of whatever camera gear you may be using and how to work around (and with) them is the most important part of the equation.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Perhaps after the wedding you can compete in a professional NASCAR race with no experience and a new Mustang GT. Ford dealer will give you quick driving tips to make up for lack of car too

 

[Solarflare]

Hmm.

Recently someone I made a really awful picture of(*) totally praised it.

So the car comparison doesnt really apply. Its pretty easy for people to rate the quality of a racer - the one in front is better.


(*): I was kind of in a hurry, had to use the lens that was on the camera, had to use the popup flash because I couldnt install my external one this quickly, and couldnt take more than one picture. The result was anything but pretty - awful light plus overexposure.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

Hi Guys,

I am taking wedding photos for a friend at a small ceremony soon. I currently have a Canon 600D plus three lenses (55-250mm 1:4-5.6, 60mm Macro 1:2.8 USM, and a stock EFS 18-55mm), and a Manfrotto tripod.

Ultimately what I am looking for is a new lens (or two), and a new flash for this situation. The setting will be partially indoor and outdoor and at twilight - evening and will be mostly close shots (from 1-5m away).

I am still a relative n00b when it comes to photography, so any recommendations or anything that points me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

P.S.- I'd like to get away with this for under $2k if possible.

Thanks!
Matt

No gear on Earth will compensate for a lack of mastery of your equipment. Rent the best you can afford for a full week and spend several hours practicing ahead of time. You'll need at least a midrange zoom (24-70mm or similar) a tele zoom (70-200mm) and a body with great high ISO performance, 6400 or higher.

Don't depend on your gear. It's nothing but a tool. If you haven't put in the hours to develop your eye and technical expertise, you're screwed no matter what you're shooting.

Good luck!

 

[Mike_E]

I'm going to zag a little here.

Pick one lens, either the 80-200mm or a 17-50mm f2.8, which ever you want to keep and rent the other.

Then go and get a pair of monolights that have battery packs (in case you can't plug them in when you get there). A kit something like this Flashpoint FP620MPPWK Portrait Wedding Monolight Kit FP620MPPWK Don't get less than 300 ws per.

And then something like one of these Amazon.com: Sekonic L-308s Light Meter - Black: Electronics -I'd get the meter used.

Then get a couple of wireless triggers for them.


If you're only going to get one lens then get the 17-50mm, you can get closer but you can only move back so far inside a room. An 80-200mm on a crop body is useless as a main lens for a wedding. Sure you can get nice tight shots but people want to see themselves with other people, what everybody is wearing and some of the background that makes it a photo of the event and not just a picture of themselves.

You can use the strobes for the formals (it's not that hard to do with a flash meter and a little study) and then simply place the monolights in strategic locations and aim them at the ceiling- you'll know you've done it right when you can walk around the whole room with your camera set to one manual setting and get good shots pretty much everywhere.

Do not get softboxes!! they'll have had another kid or two by the time you've gotten one set up, use umbrellas or brollies.

Practice your hand holding technique! Lay off the caffeine and the booze and wear Comfortable shoes!

Good luck with it.





Oh yeah, get and read and practice with a good wedding book, pick one that you like the shots in so that it will fit what you want to do.

 

[rexbobcat]

Here's my recommendations:

430EXII flash

85mm f/1.8

And like pixmedic said a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and a Sigma 70-200 f/2.8

 

[JAC526]

I just rented a 24-70 to shoot a wedding from BorrowLenses.com . I rented it for 10 days so I could tinker with it before the wedding and I was unbelievably happy with the lens and the rental process. I think it cost about $85 but they have the wedding package as well. Not sure what he Canon package came with but the Nikon was a 24-70 2.8, 50mm 1.4 and a 70-200 2.8 plus a flash. I already had three of the four items or I would have gone with the package. Renting the lenses is definitely the way to go unless you're absolutely certain you'll be using them on a regular basis. Plus it'll give you a chance to see what lens you really want/need before dropping a ton of cash. I've read several threads where most of the responses raved about the 70-200 so I bought one. Having used the 24-70 I can honestly say I wish I'd bought that instead and rented the 70-200. It's a personal preference and you may find that your future needs dictate what lenses you buy in which order.

Since you're in Cincy you should check out Dodd Camera off Galbraith Road in Kenwood. I rented a 70-200 2.8 from them and was really happy. Hal is the rental guy there and he is awesome.

Shameless plug over.