Newbie to wedding/portrait photograpy

[mg4]

Hi all, I've been reading posts here for weeks now and have learned alot. I'm just starting out with my own biz on the side until i can do it full time. i'm shooting my first wedding in april and it is for a friend in the Dominican Republic. Any advice on shooting a beach wedding would be appreciated GREATLY!!


My equipment: Canon 5D, XTI bodies both with grips. Canon: 28-135 IS, 50 2.8, 20mm 2.8, 100 2.8; tamron 28-75 2.8; sigma 70-300. Canon 580 EXII and 430EX flashes, 2 Alienbees 800s.

also, what are the best batteries to use with my flashes?? i've been using regular batteries and the recycling time sucks and so does the life of the bats! I'm using rechargeables right now until i find out what's the best and not too costly alternatives.

On last thing, what's the best lens to use for groups over 6 people without having them so far away you can't recognize their faces?? Again, all advice/help appreciated!!

[jgogums]

I'm not entirely familiar with your lenses but I have the 5D and shoot mostly beach weddings. You certainly have the focal ranges covered and most seem to be pretty fast.

580ex is great. I use a variety of NiMH rechargeable batteries plus a Canon CP-E4 battery pack. Greatly improves recycling times for (multiple group photos and bouquet/garter toss pics). I don't have a particular brand that I find is better or worse. Although I do use them together (8 AA's in the pack all the same brand and 4 more in the flash unit itself all the same brand). Never had to change out batteries while shooting a wedding yet (granted...flash was not used in all my shots).

I think a circular polarizer is a good idea. Cuts glare and can saturate the colors. Play with it first though. Also probably not practical to buy one for each lens!! If I use a Cir Pol it's usually on my 70-200 in real bright conditions.

I'm a believer in UV filters on all my lenses for protection against sand/salt spray and water. Again, inferior quality filters can degrade the IQ of your photos. Best to test with them on and off on the same scene and see if IQ is affected.

If shooting around sunset get real good and exposing for the sky and using fill flash for the couple/guests. In the heat of the moment all knowledge sometimes drains from your skull and you can feel a little overwhelmed. If you don't have it down, don't worry. It's not complicated at all. Read up here about that topic. It's widely discussed.

What else...group shots. I'd use my 24-70 for a group of 6. If light is low and you want to still grab some ambient light in the picture and expose the couple with flash you may want to choose your 28-135 for the IS feature. If there is plenty of light and your shutter speeds are high then it opens your options up a bit.

These are just some quick suggestions off the top of my head. There is a ton of great advice here. Don't feel like there is ONE way to do the shoot. Make sure you know the limitations and strengths of your equipment as those are constant variables, you however can constantly choose to improve. Good luck, you'll have a blast!

[mg4]

Thanks for replying. I always see such great advice here! I do have a cir polarizer for my 28-135. Should I get one for any of the other lenses? Which do you use most often? I was going to get the battery pack but someone said it limits your movements? is that true, do you feel tied down when your connected like that?

I've done some portrait work already and some small events for friends and I know how it feels when your brain just drains all knowledge right out! I just keep practicing and like I read in a post here, I'm getting to know my camera and it's features so that I can work it in the dark! I just got my 5D and I love it. I have uv filters (not sure of the quality) but I will test them on and off to test iq. Thanks again for the post.

[jgogums]

Hi mg4 and sorry...didn't notice when I responded earlier that you are relatively new to POTN. WELCOME!

Regarding the battery pack. I have zero problems with mine. It slides into my pant pocket and the cord doesn't imped my shooting style at all. I use two cameras, one hanging off each shoulder (usually 30D with 70-200 plus flash and then my 5D with my 24-70 or other short zoom lense/prime and flash).
Like many things I guess it comes down to shooting style and comfort. I just kept the pack in my left pocket and hook it to the camera/flash hanging off that shoulder. Bending into weird positions doesn't seem to bother me while using it this way.
However you can also screw the pack under the camera via the tripod connection. I've seen some use it this way as you are now not tethered to it at all. For me it felt strange holding the camera this way so I just put in in my pocket.
The battery pack is great but you don't "need" it. Your 580ex cycles pretty quick. I just think the benefits to my work was worth it. But I'm not saying it is required. A flash is required!

Play with the Cir Pol on your 28-135 in bright conditions near water (go to a lake or ocean). Get a feel for how it affects the sky and water. You may not like the affect, but best to decide now how best to use it (and when).
If it shares the same filter size as your other lenses than that is good. I wouldn't say you need one for each lens though.
When I use my CP its on my 70-200 and 24-70 as it shares the same filter size (it is off however the majority of the time). But I really want to get one for my 16-35. That lens grabs so much real estate that a CP would be great on it. I think on the wide end of your 28-135 is good but maybe your 20mm would be a good canidate for a CP.

Some UV filters have a noticeble haze to them. Put them over a dark piece of cloth and you can easily see if a haze is apparent. Maybe I'm paranoid but I use the UV filter for protection, really nothing more. I don't want to see a mild haze on the filter. I want it to be clear.

Hope this helpa a bit. I'm sure someone else will chime in with other tips!

[mg4]

Thanks! It's helped a lot! I just checked and my 28-135 and wide angle are the same size so I can use my circ on both!! Thanks!!

what do you use to protect it from sand???? anything special?? what's a good way to keep condensation off the lens leaving an ac room to the beach?? had this happen once and freaked because i thought my lens was ruined.

[jgogums]

Nice...CP fits your wide!

Unless it is windy and the sand is fine grain you should be OK with a hood (also for flare control) and a UV filter. I wouldn't recommend stacking a CP on top of the UV, IF you decide to use either. While not weather sealed, your camera bodies should also do fine on a beach. Obviously commen sense reigns supreme...don't put in the sand, etc.
So externally you should be alright unless it is real bad whether in which case I wouldn't think you would want to shoot in pouring rain with a non-sealed camera/flash/lens setup.

Be swift when changing lenses outdoors. The 5D has a rep for being a dust magnet. Whether it is deserved or not who knows. I do find it gets dust bunnies on the sensor quicker than my 30D...but I change lenses more often on my 5D...so it kinda makes sense.
Be swift but don't panic. My girlfriend tells me horror stories of dropping two of her lenses while rushing through a lens change at a wedding.
Again, use common sense. Turn your back to the wind, watch for people kicking up dust/sand, keep the camera mount opening pointed down or block the opening with a shirt corner, etc. Some people just refuse to change lenses in a beach type environment. I do it. Just be aware of your surroundings.

Let your camera acclimate after moving camera from AC to humid outdoor environment. I really don't know anything to prevent it. People talk about using those moisture packets but those only work to absorb moisture in a sealed environment. Otherwise they get saturated with moisture from the air pretty quick and provide no more benefit. I've actually never had my gear fog up on me here in Hawaii, but it happened in San Antonio once real bad. Kinda had me worried for a moment to!