Wedding question

[manaheim]

Like tcampbell (who is always a good dude to listen to, btw), I primarily use the 24-70 and the 70-200. I do bring a second body with a super wide angle lens as well, but I used it fairly rarely. I'll also sometimes use my 105 macro, but mainly just for giggles, since it's such an awesome lens.

And yeah, you might wanna consider not doing this, but 80 million other people are going to tell you that, so I won't add to the ruckus.

 

[Robin Usagani]

No guts no glory. If you do shoot it, make sure you find another photographer friend who wants to get their feet wet in wedding photography to shoot together with you. 24-70 is the most versatile lens you can have.

 

[elizpage]

Don't be discouraged based on the fact that you haven't shot a wedding before. Seeing as how none of these people have seen your images, you might just be better than they are. I know I've seen some work from "experienced pros" that is absolute garbage. But eh, it's all in the eye of the beholder I suppose.

I would say your basic lenses would be a 24-70mm f/2.8 and a 50mm f/1.4 That's at least what I brought with me. I also had a 24 mm f/2.8 I had bought. If you have a place where you can rent the lenses, I would do that. borrow lenses.com is great if you want to have it shipped to you. I don't know how far out the wedding is though, time wise though.. But this would be a great thing to do if you have the time and money to do so.

I did the same thing that you did.. shot a wedding for a friend and was super nervous.. but instead of doing it alone, I brought along a photographer I knew had photographed weddings before. Many people on this website discouraged me from doing it, but I kept on trucking and the photos actually turned out okay! The bride loved them, and I got a lot of compliments on my use of composition. I also ended up learning a lot from the photographer who helped me and we're now good friends.

You never know what you are capable of unless you try. I would say to put out an ad or ask around to see if anyone in your area could help you photograph it. If you ask nicely, they might even do it for free (that's what happened to me!) I would recommend though definitely not doing it alone... that could end up disastrously in the situation that a battery dies (which happened to me twice, but I had a second to take all the family photos!)

Although it may not normally turn out this way, my friend was incredibly happy with the shots--even the really bum ones. She gave me $100 for my effort, and recommended me to all of her friends. After that, I was very encouraged, so I started my own business! I still use a lot of the shots from her wedding on my portfolio today (even though I'm new )

So TLDR: Do it. Bring someone else though and make sure you have the right equipment.

 

[SamiJoSchwirtz]

I don't have a "go to" lens for weddings. I politely decline the offer and tell them that I will help them find a good photographer to shoot it for them. Now from what I've seen on here the answer to your question varies greatly, but the usual suspects are the 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8, a 50mm, 85mm, and the 100 mm are ones that I recall people using most often.

She doesn't want another photographer.. Lol she wants someone in her price range and I wouldn't charge her.

 

[SamiJoSchwirtz]

I supposed your friend approach you hoping to get lower pricing?

I wouldn't charge her, she doesn't have the budget to hire someone and pay them 2k. We've been close all of my life.

 

[SamiJoSchwirtz]

A lot of B&G's do not have the financial means to hire a "real wedding photographer", let alone pay for a nice venue, catering, flowers and such. Not withstanding the unfortunate fact that some of the "real wedding photographers" that shoot for pay (low pay especially) are actually real wedding fauxtographers. Like Ron said, the go to lenses are typically 24-70 mm and 70-200 mm zooms. Though those are typical focal length ranges, a photographer may have a 24-85 mm zoom and an 80-200 mm zoom to cover essentially the same focal length ranges. For indoor venues and a lack of light, 'fast" lenses are often preferred. Fast lenses also tend to have higher quality optics. A lack of light can be overcome with a hot shoe or off camera flash - like maybe on a bracket. Note that many wedding officiants do not allow flash photography during the wedding ceremony.

Thank you for all the input! Also, her wedding is being held outside.

 

[SamiJoSchwirtz]

Hey, there! Are you considering obtaining some new glass for this? If you are renting, that is understandable. What lenses do you already have? Besides lenses, we might ask about flash, modifiers, a second camera, a second shooter, and how much is this worth? I mean; is the bride so poor she cannot hire a photographer? Is she going to pay you? If so, how much? What are you going to give her? Is there going to be a written contract? There are many questions yet to be answered.

Right now I have a 50 1.4, 70-300, 580 ex II flash. The wedding is in 2016, however she is getting everything planned early.. As most would.

 

[SamiJoSchwirtz]

You should be nervous photographing a friends wedding even if it is not the first wedding you have shot. Are you prepared to no longer have this person as a friend if you screw up photographing the wedding?

I wouldn't lose her as a friend, she's very fond of what I do and I have done plenty of shoots for her before hand.

 

[SamiJoSchwirtz]

No guts no glory. If you do shoot it, make sure you find another photographer friend who wants to get their feet wet in wedding photography to shoot together with you. 24-70 is the most versatile lens you can have.

Thank you answering my question.

 

[SamiJoSchwirtz]

Don't be discouraged based on the fact that you haven't shot a wedding before. Seeing as how none of these people have seen your images, you might just be better than they are. I know I've seen some work from "experienced pros" that is absolute garbage. But eh, it's all in the eye of the beholder I suppose. I would say your basic lenses would be a 24-70mm f/2.8 and a 50mm f/1.4 That's at least what I brought with me. I also had a 24 mm f/2.8 I had bought. If you have a place where you can rent the lenses, I would do that. borrow lenses.com is great if you want to have it shipped to you. I don't know how far out the wedding is though, time wise though.. But this would be a great thing to do if you have the time and money to do so. I did the same thing that you did.. shot a wedding for a friend and was super nervous.. but instead of doing it alone, I brought along a photographer I knew had photographed weddings before. Many people on this website discouraged me from doing it, but I kept on trucking and the photos actually turned out okay! The bride loved them, and I got a lot of compliments on my use of composition. I also ended up learning a lot from the photographer who helped me and we're now good friends. You never know what you are capable of unless you try. I would say to put out an ad or ask around to see if anyone in your area could help you photograph it. If you ask nicely, they might even do it for free (that's what happened to me!) I would recommend though definitely not doing it alone... that could end up disastrously in the situation that a battery dies (which happened to me twice, but I had a second to take all the family photos!) Although it may not normally turn out this way, my friend was incredibly happy with the shots--even the really bum ones. She gave me $100 for my effort, and recommended me to all of her friends. After that, I was very encouraged, so I started my own business! I still use a lot of the shots from her wedding on my portfolio today (even though I'm new ) So TLDR: Do it. Bring someone else though and make sure you have the right equipment.

. Thank you for the encouragement and HELPFUL comments!!

 

[Designer]

Hey, there! Are you considering obtaining some new glass for this? If you are renting, that is understandable. What lenses do you already have? Besides lenses, we might ask about flash, modifiers, a second camera, a second shooter, and how much is this worth? I mean; is the bride so poor she cannot hire a photographer? Is she going to pay you? If so, how much? What are you going to give her? Is there going to be a written contract? There are many questions yet to be answered.

Right now I have a 50 1.4, 70-300, 580 ex II flash. The wedding is in 2016, however she is getting everything planned early.. As most would.

You've got some time to get organized. Get yourself familiar with the venue, the ceremony, the timing, and make a list of all the required photographs. Practice at the venue as much as you can.

 

[Light Guru]

We've been close all of my life.

The closer you are with the person the harder things will be if you don't do a good job. Even if they say it doesn't matter, it really does matter, you would not just be shooting this wedding for your friend but your friends spouse and foe family on both sides. Even if your friend can look past a poorly shot wedding and keep a friendship can their spouse? Because if even one of them are not pleased with them then your friendship will never be the same.

 

[SamiJoSchwirtz]

So sick of SOME of the people on here where you only come on people's posts to bash them! It's my first wedding, so what? You ALL started somewhere and were once in my position. So before you go and say "DON'T do the shoot." Would you have? Have you ever done a shoot for a friend? Probably! I don't want to hear negative comments, I'm my own person and I'll do as I please and will not tolerate people who just bash my posts all day. So for those of you who were helpful, thank you!! Don't even bother commenting unless in regards to my question.

 

[astroNikon]

I've never done a wedding but I did a prom shoot for a friend. I was contacted the day before they needed pictures (they couldn't find an affordable photographer), and it was at their venue (where other kids were going to be .. and the location kept changing due to the weather). Ooh . and I only had about 15 minutes before they had to leave from when I got there.

I took a versatile lens - a Nikon 35-70/2.8 (24-70/2.8 is better as mine is an old school lens). You want a 2.8 lens no matter what as even outside, heavy cloud cover could cause lower light. If your camera has high ISO capabilities that's a plus too. The f/2.8 also allows you to get subject isolation in the correct circumstances.

The hardest thing, once you know your camera and capabilities, was making sure you got the shots that people wanted, and how they wanted. If you're artistic then having the time and their attention to do the things you want to do.

From everything I've read .. weddings are basically planned to the wazoo but come the day the plans go out the window in regards to time schedules, etc etc etc. So you have to be quick on your feet and thinking alternatives. Good Luck

 

[Light Guru]

So sick of SOME of the people on here where you only come on people's posts to bash them! It's my first wedding, so what? You ALL started somewhere and were once in my position. So before you go and say "DON'T do the shoot." Would you have? Have you ever done a shoot for a friend? Probably! I don't want to hear negative comments, I'm my own person and I'll do as I please and will not tolerate people who just bash my posts all day. So for those of you who were helpful, thank you!! Don't even bother commenting unless in regards to my question.

I don't think anyone on this thread has done any bashing. I know that has not been the intent of any of my comments. The purpose of my comments has been to make you aware of what could happen when photographing your first wedding especially when it is done for a a close friend. It's a bad enough situation when you mess up photographing any wedding and if that happens when photographing a close friends wedding the issue if even worse. Weddings are a BIG deal to people and not something you want to mess up on.

Nobody is saying you should not photograph weddings the people on here just want you to be ready and be capable of doing a good job. We don't want you to become one of the growing number crapy wedding photographers out there.

If you want some experience and are looking to add some images to your portfolio you can always offer to do bridal shots and engagement photos for them. If you mess up on those they can be redone unlike images from a wedding.