What else do I need?

[tiefelj]

Ok, I may want it and I can justify more purchases with this!

I was just informed that I would take most of the pictures and fix the pulled pork for my son's wedding.

Ya just gotta love your kids! :D

Not that I don't mind--plus they don't have any money for a professional photographer. Of course that means, I'm not a professional but I have equipment to take above average photos. (I worded this very carefully).

My equipment so far is a 20D with a 17-40 and a 50mm 1.4 and I have the 580EX. So far I'm planning a tripod (a Gitzo with a RRS ballhead) and another lens (70-200 2.8 IS?) or perhaps a two lens purchase.

Now, I'm not going to asked which lens, but where should I look in this section or the lens section? You can guess what comes up if I do a search on "wedding".

Of course I'm always open to advice and suggestions in this thread. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Jake

[liza]

The 70-200 would be a good lens to add, as would the 50mm f/1.4. You also need to rent or borrow backup equipment and purchase plenty of memory. For weddings you really should shoot raw, due to exposure and white balance issues.

[tim]

70-200 F2.8 IS is a great lens, but only get it if you know you'll want to hang back a bit at the ceremony or the reception (or if you think you'll use it for other things after the wedding). I'd get the 17-55 F2.8 IS, it gives you a four stop advantage over the 17-40 F4 - 3 stops with IS, one because it's F2.8, but try to keep the shutter at least 1/30th for people who look like they're completely still, and 1/100th if they're moving a little. High ISO is fine on the 20D.

Forget the tripod, you won't have time to use it. A 2nd body with a 2nd speedlite would be handy, it lets you keep 2 different lenses available at all times. I recommend 8GB or more of memory, and shooting RAW.

[blackshadow]

In addition to what was said above the 17-40 may be a little slow if you need wide angle in ambient light.
Perhaps you should consider a 24-70L or 16-35L or the 17-55 IS - all are f2.8. I can vouch for the quality of the 24-70 and although I haven't tried the other two myself I have seen some great shots taken with both.

[jamiewexler]

Some great advice here, but I'm going to take a different tack. I used a 17-40 as my money lens during the 2005 wedding season, and loved it. Combined with the 580ex it should meet your "standard zoom" needs quite well. The 50 f1.4 is a great tool for available light ceremony/getting ready shots, as well as the B&G portraits. Really the only thing that I'd be missing with your rig would be a little zoom. An 85 f1.8 would satisfy me - giving me just enough reach to be sneaky.

Of course the 70-200 IS is the king of the heap, but it's a pretty pricey purchase for one wedding (unless you're using the wedding to justify it to your wife - in that case you absolutely should never think of photographing a wedding without the 70-200 IS :D).

[joegolf68]

What else do I need? A second job?

What is fixing the pulled pork mean? I hope you aren't referring to the bride. lol

Good luck, enjoy the wedding as much as you can. Have some fun too!

[Big Mike]

Or...for the price of a 70-200 2.8 IS, you could hire a photographer...then you would be free to enjoy the day. (besides pulling the pork :) )

[picturecrazy]

If you are not a pro, and not trying to make a career out of wedding photography, I'd just buy some more CF cards (8GB as tim said should do... depending on your trigger happiness). Your son knows you aren't pro and obviously shouldn't expect pro results. Shooting an entire wedding with just a 580EX, 17-40 and 50 1.4 is totally doable. I would likely borrow or rent another body before buying another lens.

Just be prepared to not have any time to sit back and enjoy the day... are you sure this is what you want on your son's wedding day?

[tiefelj]

Thanks for the great feedback.

OT: Pulled pork--as in BBQ done low and slow. Usually about 225 deg. for 10 hours or so. The usual piece of meat used is the Boston Butt from the shoulder of the pig.

Jake

[jamiewexler]

Ha ha...my mom (who's from Florida) went into a grocery store up here and asked for a Boston Butt. You should have seen the look she got :)

[imhotep]

For weddings you really should shoot raw, due to exposure and white balance issues.

Please elaborate if you don't mind :) I'm really eager to understand more about this.

[liza]

Set your camera to RAW, which will capture all the data the camera "sees." You will have to convert the RAW files using software such as ACR, DPP, or Capture 1 Pro. After all the files are converted, you make further adjustments, such as levels, cropping, and sharpening in Photoshop.

[Photolistic]

I don't shoot weddings (yet) but I would say the the 17-55 2.8 IS will be your best friend, especially inside. This is going to be my next purchase, can't wait!

Also having another body there (or close by and ready to be rented at all hours) is very necessary. If you mess up a wedding, you may mess up something a girl has been dreaming about her whole life. Im glad Im not a girl. :)

I know this all has been said, but I am just putting in my 2 cents.

[agosling]

I'm kinda with Big Mike on this, take the money it costs to buy a 70-200 and pay a pro to do the wedding. Of course if you really just want a 70-200, then go right ahead and buy it and tell your wife it is an absolute must have :-)

[tiefelj]

There has been some very good advice. I appreciate all the responses. What a group!

The truth be told, I am using this to justify several purchases. Don't all guys do this?? :mrgreen::mrgreen:

Not to worry. I've actually shot some other weddings for people who didn't want to pay a lot (read brother-in-laws) You would not believe what equipment I had. They were all satisfied--you get what you pay for :p and I'm talking about myself here not talking about you professionals.

My wife's and my wedding was shot by a very good photographer, here, near Seattle, but that was 37 years ago. :) But my daughter got married two years ago. The photographer, a supposed professional, posed everyone the most unusual way. Where do the photogs learn this stuff. Don't answer that, it's past history.

But I will buy another (or more) CF card, and a 70-200 2.8 lens, plus various other "necessary" tools for the job. (2-gig cards are now the price of 1-gig of last year)-sigh. Go with the times.

Jake

[tim]

The truth be told, I am using this to justify several purchases. Don't all guys do this?? :mrgreen::mrgreen:

Used to, nowdays cameras are tools mostly, but there's still a little bit of toy factor :)

Where do the photogs learn this stuff. Don't answer that, it's past history.

Trial and error... and books.

[Scott_Quier]

Good advice. I'm trying to learn more from books then from "trial and error." I find I'm happier with myself when this concept works. Error is just so embarassing/disappointing!

[picturecrazy]

... Error is just so embarassing/disappointing!


haha, that's why you do it on your own time... nobody has to see. ;)