what cameras, lenses, flash units, and accessories for wedding photography

[photopro234]

I have posted before but I made a mistake in saying that I had been photographing weddings for ten years.
In those ten years I photographed five weddings the rest was family portraits, senior high school portraits,and children. I am going to be buying digital cameras, flash units, lighting units, and accessories ( all Canon)
What is the best way to utilize this equipment to get my clients the best photographs.

 

[texkam]

I've done some woodworking in the past. I'm going to be buying power tools, screw drivers, wrenches and accessories.
What is the best way to utilize this equipment to make my clients the best furniture?


Do you see where your question is impossible to answer? Your gear is a set of tools. You utilize different tools in different ways depending on the circumstances and the desired results.

 

[gsgary]

This where i can do both photography and make funiture but cannot tell you what tools to use, but if i was to shoot weddings i would get 2 no 5Dmk3's , 24/70f2.8, 70/200f2.8, and 100 macro, but i shoot Leica so i would get the new M and 50f0.95 to go with my film Leicas

 

[PaulWog]

Here's my advice based on no experience at all, just boredom and lots of time to waste watching YouTube videos:

If you're shooting on a DSLR, and you don't know what you need, but you've got money to spend, then get two camera bodies (one FX preferably, the other FX or DX if you need to save money), and get a 24-70 f2.8 lens, and a 70-200 f2.8 lens. Take a single macro lens with you, and if you like take a couple quick primes for the shots where you really want specialized DoF. Get a capable flash setup, and have at least a couple of flash heads, and proper equipment for lighting.

The thing is that wedding photography, as I understand it, is going to differ based on a lot of things. Your style, for one, will matter. The types of clients you take on will matter too: If you're taking on a $10,000+ wedding ($10k just into the photography job), you'll need at least one assistant, and you'll need to really be on top of your game and know what you want and when you want it. If you're taking on a cheap wedding gig, you can get by more easily with simple setups.

I don't really know everything there is to know about wedding photography. I simply know the basics of what gear is worth looking at, and what you need to start looking at. Since you've shot weddings already, you should have an idea of what you want to bring with you, and what you have been lacking so far. I've walked by some pro photographers shooting weddings (at the beach, so after or before), and the things I've noticed are off-hand flashes, fast feet, and monopods.

In the end, it comes down to the jobs you take on, and how you like to do your job. I recommend you watch some YouTube videos where pros give you the run-down on what gear they use, and why they use that gear. It won't be the be-all end-all of what you use and do, but it will shed light into what you might be missing right now, what you can think about, and what you can improve on.

I'm spewing out information that I've simply filtered through. I'm bored enough to regurgitate what I've read about and watched.

 

[o hey tyler]

I have posted before but I made a mistake in saying that I had been photographing weddings for ten years.

Wow, that seems like a good deal of experience.

In those ten years I photographed five weddings

So you shot one years worth of weddings over the course of ten years?

the rest was family portraits, senior high school portraits,and children.

Well, those aren't very similar to weddings...

I am going to be buying digital cameras, flash units, lighting units, and accessories ( all Canon)
What is the best way to utilize this equipment to get my clients the best photographs.

I would use the camera in the best possible way to produce the best image quality whilst still producing the exposure that I need for the shot.

 

[KmH]

FWIW - the blue text is not very professional.

What is the best way to utilize this equipment to get my clients the best photographs.

It would require writing you a couple of complete books to answer that.
Light Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting
Fine Art Wedding Photography: How to Capture Images with Style for the Modern Bride
Captured by the Light: The Essential Guide to Creating Extraordinary Wedding Photography
Profitable Wedding Photography

Equipment:
Many wedding venues do not allow the use of flash during the wedding ceremony, and many wedding venues are dimly lit.
Consequently the camera's low light ISO performance is often critical for getting those shots of the wedding ceremony.
The better ISO performing digital cameras have a full frame image sensor, and I would recommend seriously considering Nikon over Canon because Nikon currently produces cameras that deliver better low light ISO performance.

You will need 2 camera bodies so there is a backup camera. One with a 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens on it. One with a 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens on it.

Both cameras will need a TTL capable flash unit.
Studio strobes are often used for reception venues.

You will need to quote a budget before anyone can make more specific recommendations.

 

[photopro234]

KmH you say that blue text is not professional then what color text is professional?

 

[KmH]

Black.

Black also provides better contrast and improves readability compared to pretty much all other colors when the background is white.

Forum web sites generally use a default text color and font that also provides good text contrast and readability.