Out of Confort Zone

[mdaddyrabbit]

As the title states I am out of my zone with wedding photography, I have been ask to shoot my brothers wedding. He is fully aware of my skill level but doesn't have the budget to afford a professional and I surely cannot afford to hire one for him.

I have some questions I would like to pose to you guys, I have ask this question on another forum but I personally like to get a more broader spectrum of answers. If you can answer all questions that would be great but if not please answer what you can it will really help me.

My equipment is as follows: Canon 20D, 18-55mm, 70-200mm f/4 L, 420ex, HP ZD8080US 17" notebook with brite view gloss screen, Epson 2200, 1GB Kingston Elite CF card.

Software I have: Adobe Photoshop CS, Neat Image, Noiseware, Noise Ninja

I am actually thinking of buying a camera bracket, 1GB CF card, portrait lens, off-shoe cord.

Questions:
1. What lens would work for a amatuer doing a wedding?
2. Where to get leather photo book for photos, size for large and small photos.
3. Should I edit & print the photos my self, if not where to get printed?
4. What is the best way to show the B&G samples for choosing?
5. what is the normal for the size you put in the photo book?
6. How many photos are the norm for a wedding?

Thanks for your contributions, the reason I agreed to do this is because without me my brother wouldnt have any wedding pictures to bring back the moment.

[snibbetsj]

Well, you might want to think about 3 or 4 more gig of memory unless hes he going to have a pretty fast wedding. I get about 225 RAW photos on a 2G card. Sounds like a lot but it's really not (well for digital anyway). Think about a Sigma or Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 lens. You'll probably want something faster than the kit lens, particularly if the service is indoors, you also might want to consider either a Canon 50 f/1,.4, 35 f/1.4 or f/2 or a sigma 30mm f/1.4 for real low lighting situations. Chances are a flash will also be necessary sometime during the day, consider the Canon 430 EX or a Sigma 500 DG SUPER. Oops didn't see you alread had a 420, learn to use it and how/when to use FEC. Also consider a softbox /bounce.

I'd show proofs on CD myself, of you want to print 'em, send 'em to mpix.com, they have a pretty nice proof portfolio you can use. Don't give them all the photos, weed out the OOF, severe under/over exposure, doubles etc. Only show 'em the good stuff.

You can get albums at different prices all over the net. Also try Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

After they pick out the ones they want prints of, process yourself and send them out to lab for printing, I like mpix.com but there's several others people also use.

Good Luck, get lots of practice in before hand.

[tim]

1. 24-70 F2.8/28-75 F2.8 used to be my most used lenses. Lately i've been using the 50mm F1.4 a lot more, I might suggest that instead.
3. Don't print them yourself IMHO, but I can't suggest anywhere for you.
4. Proof CD/DVD with proshow gold, or a website show works for me.
5) There is no normal. My sizes are all over the place to suit the customer.
6) I take around 100 photos per hour, and show around half of that to the customer. My aim is to take less in the future.

1GB isn't enough memory. To 1GB cards is maybe enough if you have an assistant to dump the cards to your laptop during the day. You won't have time to do it yourself.

I could do a wedding without an off shoe cord and bracket, mainly by using available light. I don't use mine all the time, mainly for speeches at the reception, I only use fill flash.

Good luck!

[jj1987]

1GB isnt enough memory, the lens isnt fast enough, and the flash might need more power. You also dont have backup.

I would suggest renting a setup, and using yours for backup, that way you can do it cheap, yet not risk loosing moments.

[mdaddyrabbit]

Thanks you guys for your advice and direction, let me throw this piece of information out and see what you think I should do.

I live in a small town, no photography stores, infact the closes store would be 60 miles away and they dont do any type of rental just retail sells so unable to rent any equipment.

Because this is my brother and he doesn't have the money for a professional this will be totally out of my pocket expense. I am trying to take my equipment and if need be add a few new pieces to get through this with the least amount of money as possible.

I dont want to purchase a lot of equipment that is mainly for wedding photography because when I get this wedding done dont plan on another, I have no desire to do this type of photography.

I really wish we had a business that rented lenses and equipment, I would like to try some different sizes for some of my personal shooting.

Again thanks for your input and direction it really helps alot since I am not a wedding photo expert.

[tim]

Follow up questions:
- What's your budget?
- What equipment would you find most useful later (eg more CF, a better standard lens, better zoom, etc)?
- Will you have an assistant on the day who doesn't mind missing parts of the celebrations? They will need to be copying cards for you... you will need one more card.

[snibbetsj]

Well, there's no doubt that you need more memory, at least 2 more Gs. B&H has Sandisk Ultra II's 2G fo $90, the memory will serve you well no matter what type of photography you do. Look into a Sigma 24-70f2/8 or the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, either will be good for the wedding and is, in general, a great walk-around GP lens. With the above two products, lyou can get through (if nothing goes wrong) the wedding and you won't have any "wedding specific" gear to get rid of.

The best thing to do is lots of practice in an environment similar to what the wedding will be like. Find out the environment, lighting etc and set up some practice shoots, try to shoot until you can nail the exposure within 1/2 stop every time, with/without flash, also work on focus techniques. This will most likely take a while and several thousand shots. But is almost a must for a good shoot.
Good Luck

[mdaddyrabbit]

I really would like to have a assistant but I will most likey be on my own, I am going to purchase more memory. I am sort of caught up with should I get a 2 1GB cards or 1-2GB card.

I want a lens that wont break the bank but will give me a sharp lens for later use within the type of photography I like, which is landscape.

I havent really decided on a budget because it will depend on my side job income between now and the August wedding.

I have a few money items that I am going to Ebay and use the money for this job, I wish I had enough budget to really get some top notch equipment.

Being I am so new to wedding photography I have no idea if I should shoot in high quality jpeg or RAW.

You guys advice is really helping me, you time is appreciated.

[snibbetsj]

Well, I'd get a 2 gig card because they're cheaper than 2x1G and just as reliable. The 2 lens I suggested are less than $400 so they won't break bank, maybe hurt it but that can be overcome. Practice shooting in RAW and get learn to use ACR, you might also want to get RSE www.pixmantec.com (http://www.pixmantec.com) ) it's free) as many folks like this (myself included, I've upgraded to the Premium).
Think about a flash bracket also.

[tim]

I would think the Tamron 28-75 F2.8 would be a great wedding lens for you, but it's not really wide enough for portraits afterwards. The Sigma 24-70 F2.8 is a bit wider but still not wide. The Tamron's about $100 cheaper too.

Personally I buy 2GB cards, 1GB is too small. Be prepared to spend a little time dumping the cards to your laptop during the day, just try and time it well.

In my opinion should shoot RAW, since it gives you a safety net in case things go wrong. For you the downside is changing cards more often.

[Don Powell]

I'm not sure I can be of much help, but I'll try. I have only shot a few weddings, and that was a long time ago and I used medium format and film. My take on this is going to be slightly different. The most important equipment that you need, is your practiced eye and the ease and confidence with which you can use what you have. Almost no one does a wedding without back-up, so think about what plan B will be. You should get a flash bracket, it will make your shots look much more professional, and you can always use it later. Many, many weddings have been done with a lot of flash at f5.6 to f8, so you can use your present zoom. You need more memory! If you could only buy one lens, I would consider the EF 50mm f1.4. It will be your low light lens, portrait lens, hand with rings shot, bouquet shots. and trust me you will always be able to use it. You must practice! Practice flash, fill flash, getting good exposures. Study posing, this can make or break your photos. Know what you can do, and stick with it. Practice, practice, practice.

[morehtml]

If the wedding is inside you might want to get a faster lens. Have no idea if this place is reliable or not but you might rent here for several days before the event or rent for a couple weeks. http://www.rentglass.com/ . Trouble is they are out a lot of the time and you would need to 'test' the lens several days in advance to make sure the lens is ok and you get a little comfortable with it.

[mdaddyrabbit]

Lens comparison: What is the difference in a Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS

Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 28-70mm f/2.8-4 DG Compact High Speed Zoom

AND

(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=12140&is=USA&addedTroughType=search)Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus

Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens

Maybe faster speed and USM is all I see

[wazmunstr]

the sigma 28-70 2.8-4 is a garbage piece of lens. go with the sigma 28-70 2.8 ex dg.. the 1.4 canon is faster autofocus, and is just faster period. you get better shots as well.

im sort of in the same boat as you. ive done a few weddings in the past, but i need a new lens, and flash.

[tim]

Don't buy variable aperture lenses, get the fixed F2.8 lens.

If I could have either a 24-70 F2.8 or a 50mm F1.4 for weddings, i'd choose the 50mm F1.4. I'm not sure that's a good plan for everyone, I used my zooms a lot more when I was new to weddings, I use the prime a lot more now.