Equipment for a wedding

[Bobster]

Oh, and finally, be aware of the time commitment. If you expect to get the best from the images, you need to be prepared to spend quite a lot of time post-processing, be it "developing" the RAWs, getting colour balance right (making the bride's diamond white dress looking off-white or mildly cyan is a no-no), applying selective crops, soft-focus or "wedding" framing, or just reprints of various sizes, can really eat up the time. How much are you prepared to put in?

for proofs, all that needs to be applied is colour balance and exposure (tweaks to curves etc)

i only ever prepare a shot for print when it's ordered, there's no need to spend hour upon hour re-touching spots etc if the shot isn't being printed or going into the album.

[Bobster]

I wouldn't bother with a 2nd body unless it's to replace your first,

ignore that from him.. i scrapped through on the skin of my teeth on my first wedding using 1 body and lens.. however if anything had happened to my 300D, i would have been royally screwed - the shutter or anything else can go at any time in any camera be it professional or consumer - if you can borrow that 20D take it, and anything else you can get your hands on!

[Jay]

I have to post to say the title of this thread made me laugh.

[brammers]

ignore that from him.. i scrapped through on the skin of my teeth on my first wedding using 1 body and lens.. however if anything had happened to my 300D, i would have been royally screwed - the shutter or anything else can go at any time in any camera be it professional or consumer - if you can borrow that 20D take it, and anything else you can get your hands on!

Nonsense. Backup kit is the first piece of kit on the list for the professional, who will be in serious trouble if anything fails. You're not a professional, you're doing a favour. Make your own decision as to whether you want to incur the expense of doing a professional job on an amateur's (lack of) pay. I can fully see the reasons for doing so, but personally I wouldn't.

[Bobster]

you'd make a great Paparazzi J.. no conscience..

POTN has a huge variety of photographers who shoot weddings, head over and say hi

[Saracen]

for proofs, all that needs to be applied is colour balance and exposure (tweaks to curves etc)

i only ever prepare a shot for print when it's ordered, there's no need to spend hour upon hour re-touching spots etc if the shot isn't being printed or going into the album.

Oh, up to a point, I quite agree. But if you're going to do the fancy framing, or soft-focus etc, I'd say you want to do it for the proofs, because otherwise, people won't visualise what they'll look like.

My real point, though, was that being even a "semi-official" photographer at a wedding can be more of a burden that just showing up and taking pictures. Of course, one way is to take the pics, shove then all on a CD and give them to the happy couple to make of them what they will. But if you want to do a polished job, and make them really pleased with the results, then it requires time, and the more ou do and the more images you do it to, the more it adds up.

As a professional, you build the time to do the necessary work, even to get to proof stage, into the quote, but as a friend doing it as a favour, you are perhaps going to feel obligated to go to lengths a pro wouldn't, because it isn't commercially viable.

Anyway, all I'm really getting it is that the work, and time, doesn't end when you put the camera away. How much extra work and time? Well, that'll vary.

[Bobster]

Anyway, all I'm really getting it is that the work, and time, doesn't end when you put the camera away. How much extra work and time? Well, that'll vary.

Oh absolutely, and the work doesn't start on the wedding day either, its way before talking to the B+G about the group shots, who's who on which side of the family etc.. timings of everything so you can plan the journey to be there in good time..

[Saracen]

Oh absolutely, and the work doesn't start on the wedding day either, its way before talking to the B+G about the group shots, who's who on which side of the family etc.. timings of everything so you can plan the journey to be there in good time..

Quite so.

I also found that talking to the vicar beforehand was a productive move. If you give then the clear impression that you respect the service and will be thoughtful and respectful, you get far better cooperation (and permission) from them. I even had some that wanted my cards to hand out, presumably on the basis that they'd rather have someone that was sensitive to the fact that it was a religious ceremony than some clutz that wasn't. After a while, you build up trust with them, too. And an endorsement or recommendation from the vicar can't hurt.

Do you also find that different people expect difference types of shoot? Some want a 'modern' feel, some a minimalist job, others a more traditional approach. Some just want the standard shots, others want the preparation at the house, the bride getting ready, etc. One way to look at that is as a business development step, 'cos some people don't realise what they could have until they're told the options, but once they realise, the size of the job (and bill) can grow appreciably.

[Bobster]

Do you also find that different people expect difference types of shoot? Some want a 'modern' feel, some a minimalist job, others a more traditional approach. Some just want the standard shots, others want the preparation at the house, the bride getting ready, etc. One way to look at that is as a business development step, 'cos some people don't realise what they could have until they're told the options, but once they realise, the size of the job (and bill) can grow appreciably.

when i've met with some B+G in the past they've told me what they wanted (the opposite to what i do), i've asked them if they've actually seen my work? and refer them to another photographer who suits their style.

ive also had brides break out the scraps of magazine clippings saying they want this and that picture showing me the shots.. ive nodded smiled and referred them to another photographer.

[Saracen]

Yeah, sometimes it's a good idea not to take certain jobs, for that reason and sometimes for other reasons too. With some types of jobs, I just get the feeling that the customer is going to be a nightmare. On occasion, I've ignored that and regretted it. Some jobs just aren't worth the hassle. I don't need the work that badly.

[bharte]

The 20D is a great wedding camera if you can borrow it. Should you need to shooting at 1600iso (if your exposure is good) will be possible in low light. I'd try to borrow or hire a 2.8 lens also on my 5D is can shoot a whole wedding using 24-70 which on a 20D would be a 17-55mm lens (it's f2.8 and with image stabilisation you can hand hold it at lower speeds).

Unless the church is really dark/just before sunset or you can not get a f2.8 lens leave the tripod at home it will only slow you down.

You can end up carrying too much equipment on a wedding so keep it light and keep your backups in a safe place (car boot if your car is nearby?). In the unlikely event of camera failure you will only miss a small amount while you get the camera.

Dont feel shy about asking people to do things again if you didnt get it the first time (like cutting the cake, kissing the bride etc) they would more likely want the shot than miss it. Relax, find photos that interest you as a photographer and you'll enjoy the day more. Keep a pre-arranged list of groups they want and do them straight after drinks/canapes before people disappear to the bathroom.

If you need to give me a call (just google my name Brian Harte) and I'd happily answer some questions.

Brian

[stavroshamster]

Well, the friend I was going to borrow a 70-200 f2.8L IS off for the wedding in a couple of weeks managed to drop it at a wedding and bust the IS, so that's off for repair. Bit of a bummer.

He has given me a 24-105 f4L IS instead which I think I will get away with as I have discovered that there are only going to be 40 people in quite a small space at the wedding (registry office), and most of the rest of it is outside. I will take my crap 75-300 as backup if I really can't cope. I also have loan of a 20d from him too, which I am playing with to get used to it.

[Bobster]

must be the season for dropping 70-200 2.8 IS - i know another wedding tog who dropped his 70-200 and knackered it..

[stavroshamster]

Argh - day before the wedding and my battery charger has broken!

Think I'll be able to borrow one from a friend in the short term, but if anyone has a spare one they'd like to sell to me then I've set up a thread here:

http://forums.hexus.net/wanted/19231...batteries.html