Budget Wedding Gear List

[Ved]

I've recently decided to do some wedding photography. I work well under pressure, I enjoy it and I'm confident in my ability and I believe I can do a good job. However I need some kit for my first few weddings I'm doing and came here to seek advice on what you think is acceptable budget gear, for my early weddings.

Gear I have:
I will be shooting with x2 EOS400D bodies (I won one, so one as backup)...which is going to have to be acceptable ;)

Kit 18-55mm
EF 50mm 1.8
Sigma 10-20mm F4.5.6
x4 Extreme III 4GB

Gear To Buy:
A flash (what is an acceptable budget flash for beginning wedding photography?)

X1 Tamron 17-55mm f2.8 OR 28-75mm f2.8? I'm thinking on a crop body the 17-55mm?

x1 Sigma 30mm 1.4

x1 Battery Grip + spare batts

Can I get away with this?

Am I going to need more zoom instead of the 30mm 1.4?

Am I missing anything?

Any help, advice comments are welcome and I would really appreciate it.

I have 6 months to prepare.

Thanks, V

[mminnig]

I would definitely say that you need to add a telephoto in the 70-200 range. You have 10-55 covered with just your current gear but there are a lot of times when you need/want to get that much closer.

[Ved]

So maybe the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG MACRO could do the trick?

[paf_uk]

I have the sigma and it tends to blur/soften at the high end so you might want to rethink. It is a slow lens, i think you will need something with a larger aperture.

[stathunter]

I have done tons of weddings and would NEVER suggest any lens past 2.8. If you cant afford the gear then wait until you can or rent it.
The 17-55 is a fantastic lens for weddings---- that and the 70-200 2.8 IS is a great combo.
Your kit lens will not cut it-- nor will the 50 1.8 ---while the 50 is good for some ports it is not fast at all---- you need a fast/low light lens for weddings.
For a flash you will need 430 or 580exII. DO NOT USE YOUR ON CAMERA FLASH---- the results will suck.

[Ved]

Ok so go with the Tamron 17-55 2.8, a 70-200 2.8 and a 430 or 580exII.

I assume the 580exII is going to reach further but other than that is it worth the extra £100?

Also the 580exII and 580ex are the same price, is there any preferance here as I'm suspicious of a superceeding model having the same price?

I might have to shoot the first couple without the 70-200mm 2.8 though, as I just don't think I have the money. I've done a fair bit of work with primes in the past so this might help I guess, in terms of positioning myself around subjects.

[delhi]

a used 550ex can be had for less than a new 430ex.

[bieber]

Honestly, if you aren't sure about what gear you're going to need to do the job, you probably need to go back and practice an awful lot more before you take on on.

[e r y k]

just dont tell the people you are shootign for that you are using budget gear. i would be worried if i was the client :P

in all honesty though, i would either rent, or save until you can get the proper equip.

the last thing you want is to ruin someones wedding day :)

[highbarger]

Honestly, if you aren't sure about what gear you're going to need to do the job, you probably need to go back and practice an awful lot more before you take on on.

Exactly what he said... if you need to ask US what equipment you need, you're not ready to shoot weddings.

[aaronactive]

i found this thread useful..im not going to specifically shoot a wedding..but ill be attending one and will be good to just get some practice anyway.

[Ved]

Exactly what he said... if you need to ask US what equipment you need, you're not ready to shoot weddings.


I know I can do a better job than a lot of people round here with expensive gear. Also unless I've shot a wedding, how would I know what gear would be useful? I have an idea therefore isn't anothers experiance here perfect to glean information from. Maybe other people read a book that tells them, this does not however constitute or validate the knowlage any more than me asking people here advice based on thier experiance.

[Tumeg]

Sell the 50mm f/1.8, buy the 1.4 version.
Sell your kit lens, it's useless
Your current sigma wont be much good, except for MAYBE the reception
Buy a 430EX flash
Sigmas 70-200mm f/2.8 is a cheaper version of Canon's identical lens(with probably better IQ) The sigma lens is $900, Canon's is $1,100+ (I think)

[crash331]

Um, yeah. Please don't shoot a wedding with a 400D and a kit lens. For your sake and the brides'.

If you are going in with this kind of equipment, do some for free as a backup, or help out a pro photographer. Not being snooty or saying you don't have talent, but it's like Andretti trying to run an F1 race in a Yaris with a nail in the tire. It's just asking for trouble.

[Karl C]

I know I can do a better job than a lot of people round here with expensive gear.

My following comments are not given in malice...

While your confidence is commendable, that's a pretty bold and condescending statement to make after a mere four posts, given the talent that exists on POTN.

There's been some great advice given in this thread - advice you'd best heed. To shoot a wedding, fast glass is the only option. And, despite how you feel, unless you have previous experience shooting weddings, I would highly recommend gaining experience first as an assistant to a wedding photog before venturing on your own. While the general principles of photography are pretty much the same across the genre, a wedding is the last place to try getting your feet wet for the first time.

Best of luck to you.

[jgogums]

I know I can do a better job than a lot of people round here with expensive gear. Also unless I've shot a wedding, how would I know what gear would be useful? I have an idea therefore isn't anothers experiance here perfect to glean information from. Maybe other people read a book that tells them, this does not however constitute or validate the knowlage any more than me asking people here advice based on thier experiance.

Ok Ved, you get a mulligan on those opening two lines. You can't state you KNOW you can shoot a wedding better than most here and then plead ignorance in asking what equipment it takes to shoot a wedding since you've...wait for it...NEVER SHOT A WEDDING.
Don't let your confidence get the better of you in responding to blunt, yet honest, responses to your post. Remember they are just opinions.
Your enthusiasm to go into this business is great and you are in the right place for information but stating you can do a better job than most of the people here while never actually having photographed a wedding isn't going to get you too far.

The "if you have to ask then don't do it" responses are quite common here. It just comes with the territory. It's just your "type" of question has been asked many, many times before. Your asking it for the first time. Many here are answering it for the 100th time. The advice given to you is extremely consistent with all the other similar threads that inquire about going into the wedding photog business.

Use the search function, ask questions, resist the urge to get drawn into a pissing contest, use fast glass, two flashes, two bodies, shoot RAW, have a contract and have fun. Good luck.

[agent.media]

Yeah go hire a 70-200. You'll love it.

[StewartR]

Yeah go hire a 70-200. You'll love it.I'll second that, since agent.media recommended it. All the different varieties of 70-200 are superb. At www.LensesForHire.co.uk (http://www.LensesForHire.co.uk) we have the f/4 IS, the f/2.8 non-IS and the f/2.8 IS. We also have lots of other fast lenses suitable for weddings.

[cdifoto]

Budget Wedding Gear List

2x Rebel XT
1x 85mm f/1.8
1x 18-55 IS (kit lens)
2x Flash
4x Batteries
a lot x memory cards

[Ved]

All replies have been heeded and I appreciate them. My weddings this year are all free and upon reading this thread again I have made sure no promises are made outside of the contract I'm using, which stresses my non-fees and my lack of relavent experiance. They are happy, so am I.


Sell the 50mm f/1.8, buy the 1.4 version.



I was thinking on a crop body maybe the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM would be more useful at around the same price?

I'm now going to rent a 70-200 f2.8 so thanks for the advice.

430EX flash on order.

There will also be two of us shooting the weddings.

V

[agent.media]

I was thinking on a crop body maybe the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM would be more useful at around the same price?

You can get great portrait shots with that lens, and its great in close quarters when you have people posing. But it will be tough to get candids from a distance.

I'm now going to rent a 70-200 f2.8 so thanks for the advice.
This will be much better for candids from a distance, or even posed shots. Lots of yummy bokeh.
430EX flash on order.
Indeed, a good bounced flash wont go astray. Practice with it with some friends in a poorly lit room. There is an art to using a bounce flash and lighting your subject without over lighting the whole room. Try to avoid using a direct flash. (i.e. with the flash head pointed forward)

[stathunter]

Ved,
I give you lots of credit for asking. Weddings are a much different animal and you will very soon realize that equipment does play a huge role in them. Mistakes in wedding photography are not forgiveable. You will feel bad (when) you make a mistake---you can't reshoot weddings.......no takeover with them.
Good luck and I wish you tons of success.

[SuzyView]

Ved, I also think it's amazing you are taking this on. I was asked by a friend when I only had a 10D and bought the 28-135 for her daughter's wedding. Most of the event was outside, so the pictures turned out beautiful. Now 5 years later, I am proud of the work I did all along the way, everyone has to start somewhere, but I have a ton more gear. I joined the forum way too late, you are lucky you have everyone here to help you.

I agree that talent is the most important thing, but good gear can't be ignored. I can tell you by experience that my 5D and 20D combo was excellent, and the pp was much more satisfactory and simple. Lenses with apertures of f2.8 or larger are much better for indoor work and faster, focus better, and cost a lot more.

I have a friend who did weddings with an XT and kit lens. His shots were good, and he's an excellent photographer. I gave him my old 20D and 28-105II and he says that the 20D is so much better and he sees a huge difference. Imagine how good he'd be with the 24-70 and 70-200 combo? I know my work has improved with practice and experimenting, but don't dismiss the gear. That's why most people want pros with nice expensive gear, it could make a big difference.

Good luck and enjoy shooting! I also shoot for free and so do some of my POTN buddies here (Jim, in particular). I'm shooting only 4 weddings this year. I have terrible tennis elbow. I still think you can rent a nice 17-55 and that would make a huge difference.

[Raphael V]

2x Rebel XT
1x 85mm f/1.8
1x 18-55 IS (kit lens)
2x Flash
4x Batteries
a lot x memory cards

Most appropriate answer I think.

I have a friend who shoots weddings with the 400D+kit+28-135+Sigma DG500 flash, and gives good results.

I have very basic equipment too: 350d+Sigma 17-70, 40D+24-105, Kit, 430EX and I shoot average 4 weddings a month, and I have a 100% keeper rate.

I remember reading someone's signature on this forum "the more and more I learn, the less and less equipment I need" and he is right.

Go ahead with the shoot, good luck.

[sapearl]

Ved, the grip is not critical. You can do fine without it. In the 34 years I've been doing wedding and event work I never used one, but would certainly never criticize those who enjoy it.

As for "fast" lenses - sure. Those are nice, but again most of my wedding work is done with an f/4 lens... the 24-105. This is my mainstay and it works wonderfully. Prior to that all my MF film work was done with an f/3.5. Again things depend upon your style, technique and ability. And as others have said, get lots and lots of memory - it's really cheap these days and of course compact. Consider shooting these events RAW too for the flexibility it offers, especially since you're just starting out.

[sapearl]

I gotta' say Ved you have a lot of nerve to be making a bold statement like that :lol::lol:. Why don't you give us some gallery links to examples of your capability and we'll be the judge of that ;). Anyway, welcome to the forum.

That being said you probably want to consider a few other things:

1.) Get some practice with group shots, large and small. These are moneymakers and you have to know how to properly group folks for good exposure and DOF.
2.) You'll need a good sharp lens with a wide enough angle of view for large groups in small rooms.
3.) Will you be providing album services?
4.) If yes to #3, will you be provided traditional matted albums, or designing your own coffee table style albums?
5.) Will you be using a commercial lab?
6.) Will you be furnishing real lab proofs, proofs-on-line, both or a high rez disk of images (and killing your reprint sales)
7.) How much PP do you plan on doing to your images?

These are just a few more things that came to mind. But ask us some more questions and I'm sure you'll get additional info.:D - Stu

I know I can do a better job than a lot of people round here with expensive gear. Also unless I've shot a wedding, how would I know what gear would be useful? I have an idea therefore isn't anothers experiance here perfect to glean information from.......

[highbarger]

After rereading my post last night I realized that it sounded rather harsh... sorry, didn't mean to come across that way. What I should have said was that as a wedding photographer, you should KNOW what images you want to capture and what equipment is necessary to achieve that look. During the shoot is not a good time to figure that stuff out. BUT, we all had to start somewhere... I wish you the best of luck. I hope you have the vision to succeed in your business.
Craig