A question regarding gear...

[angryhampster]

I'd like to start off by apologizing for this thread. :lol: I've searched back through the last year looking through similar questions but am still a bit torn. A few weeks ago I was asked by two friends of mine to photograph their wedding next year. The wedding won't be until July/August 2009, and the B&G are still unsure of the location, though they'd told me they'd like to have the ceremony outside. I'm unsure of the reception. Anyhow, this is my first wedding and I'd love to make a good impression of myself, so I'm thinking early about what I'll need.

My gear is:
5D & grip
Sigma 24-70 EX
Canon 50 f/1.4
Canon 17-40
Sigma EF-500 DG Super
Vivitar HV285

For Christmas, I'll be asking Santa Claus :lol: for an AB800 strobe (maybe ab1600 if necessary), as well as some wireless triggers. I'll definitely go in with a second body..probably a 20D. If I can afford it, I'd like to swap my Sigma lens for the Canon variant for more reliable (and quieter) AF. I've considered the 24-105 which I enjoy using at work, but I don't now if I could trust f/4, even with the high-ISO ability of the 5D.

Does anyone here regularly shoot weddings without a telezoom? If it's a necessity, I can rent or maybe even borrow a 70-200 f/2.8, but frankly it's too early to know if I'll need something that long yet. I'm friendly enough with the B&G to where it certainly wouldn't be awkward getting close for shots at the reception and whatnot.

I have very little studio experience and most of what I shoot is based in journalism -- I've been shooting for a daily newspaper for about a year. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

[TheHoff]

Hey Steve. I'm hardly a pro but for the few I've shot, you'll want 135/2 or 200/2.8 for the ceremony. 70mm on FF probably won't be long enough for the first kiss, exchange of vows, etc -- all the things that happen down the aisle where you can't be right in their faces.

Since you have a 17-40 rather than swap your 24-70 (which isn't too drastically different in range) why not go for a 200 or 135 prime?

[S-S]

i did a wedding with just a 17-55 f/2.8 & 85L... i had a 10-22 & 24-105 as well but couldnt bring myself to put the 85L in the bag

shots came out great - that being said it was an outdoor wedding so there was no 'aisle' as such. indoors i have needed a longer reach than 85, even on a crop body

[david888lee]

i think you should get a telezoom like the 70-200 f/2.8 IS or rent one for more versatility. while having a prime is great like thehoff said, I think different situations will need to be accounted for and because of this, it's better to be able to change your focal length. i think you should be good with the 24-70, 70-200 IS and a flash.

here are some shots I shot with the tamron 17-50 f/2.8, sigma ef-500 super and a stofen all on an xti.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2863375813_e112fbf062.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/2864208664_5d6c6e3078.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2863376245_0402501a93.jpg?v=0

[angryhampster]

David, those are really nice and I like the bride's choice of shoes. :)


THanks for the advice everyone. I also forgot to mention my budget constraints. I'm a full-time student (final year) with 2 part-time jobs and a car payment. I'm also living abroad for 5 months with job, so cash on hand will be minimal...a 135L is out of the question even though I've wanted one for quite some time. I may end up buying another 100 f/2 because I loved the first one I had, but had to sell it to fund my trip. Assuming I've got that mounted on a 20D, I may have enough reach to cover the ceremony from an isle or wing.

Having said that, I really need to test out my 24-70 in low-light situations more. I've shot with it in church before with success, but I also had natural light coming through the windows about 10ft away. Who knows?!

[david888lee]

Hey Steve, thanks for the positive comments haha.

Well since you are a student (like me) and aren't doing this wedding professionally, more of a favor, I'm sure they would be happy with anything you shoot. Maybe renting a 70-200 f/2.8 for the day would be a cheap solution? I dunno if renting is out of the question.

Anyways, good luck figuring out what you need lol. maybe sell your 5d for a 20/30/40/50d? to free up some cash?

[twofruitz]

I don't know how I would do a wedding without a 70-200 f2.8. It's on the camera most of the day actually :)

An 85mm f1.8 is also a necessity. If i were you, I wouldn't spend anymore on wide angle lens.

[Moppie]

I'd like to start off by apologizing for this thread. :lol: I've searched back through the last year looking through similar questions but am still a bit torn. A few weeks ago I was asked by two friends of mine to photograph their wedding next year..........................Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!



Rather than thinking about what you might need, think instead about how much you know about the gear you have, how familiar you are with it.
If you are not 100% comfortable shooting with what you have, then adding more gear will not help. Instead it will give you one more thing to worry about, and one more thing to make a mistake with.

Of course if you are 100% confident with the gear you have, and using it is second nature, then adding more to it, and taking the time to get familiar with it before the event will give you more options on the day.

[angryhampster]

Hey Steve, thanks for the positive comments haha.

Well since you are a student (like me) and aren't doing this wedding professionally, more of a favor, I'm sure they would be happy with anything you shoot. Maybe renting a 70-200 f/2.8 for the day would be a cheap solution? I dunno if renting is out of the question.

Anyways, good luck figuring out what you need lol. maybe sell your 5d for a 20/30/40/50d? to free up some cash?


Yeah I'd certainly consider renting a 70-200 for the day if I can't snag one from the office to use for the afternoon. As for selling my 5D, I'd never consider it. I sold my 20D for it back in April and have become quite attached. :lol: However, I wouldn't have a problem buying a 20D on the cheap and then flipping it after the wedding. Doing that should only cost me ~$20 or so hopefully.



Rather than thinking about what you might need, think instead about how much you know about the gear you have, how familiar you are with it.
If you are not 100% comfortable shooting with what you have, then adding more gear will not help. Instead it will give you one more thing to worry about, and one more thing to make a mistake with.

Of course if you are 100% confident with the gear you have, and using it is second nature, then adding more to it, and taking the time to get familiar with it before the event will give you more options on the day.

I shot with a 20D for over a year, have owned this cam since May, and don't intend to get rid of it..I'm familiar enough with the layout and design that I don't ever need to take my eye off the viewfinder to adjust settings. I'm very familiar with my lenses, their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. I've done plenty of work with shoe-mounted, bracket-mounted, and short-cord off-cam flash as well. I definitely plan on honing my multi-flash and remote-mounted flash skills though. That's the main reason I'm posting this so early -- in case I do need a slight change in equipment, I can be well-accustomed to it by next summer. Thanks for the move, btw; I wasn't sure where to put this thread.

Do any of you wedding shooters have any books you recommend? I plan to start reading a lot more when I get back to the states in November. Should I just start going down the list in the sticky on this forum?

[airfrogusmc]

Steve BACK UP.... I'm sorry if I missed it but you need a back up body and back strobe.

[Moppie]

.......... I don't ever need to take my eye off the viewfinder to adjust settings. I'm very familiar with my lenses, their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. I've done plenty of work with shoe-mounted, bracket-mounted, and short-cord off-cam flash as well.........


Sounds like you know how to use your gear then, and you do have a long time to learn new techniques etc. This is like the opposite of the "tomorrow I have to shoot xyz how do I do it?" threads. :cool::D

[angryhampster]

Steve BACK UP.... I'm sorry if I missed it but you need a back up body and back strobe.


Yup I'm planning to get a 20D as a backup and I'll have two hotshoe flashes plus my (hopeful) Alienbees.


Sounds like you know how to use your gear then, and you do have a long time to learn new techniques etc. This is like the opposite of the "tomorrow I have to shoot xyz how do I do it?" threads. :cool::D

I've ready WAY to many of those to make that mistake. :lol: I'll have loads of opportunities to test out any new gear I get between now and then.

[ShotByTom]

Why not get a 40D rather than the 20D, it will be much better with high ISO. I would highly recommend the 85 1.2 L, that's the best lens I've ever used and its perfect for weddings.

Someone mentioned that you should ditch the wide angles, but I think the wide angle lenses make some great, fun shots at the reception and you can be very creative during the ceremony.

During the ceremony I usually have a 70-200 & 85L mounted, for the reception I use a UWA and 24-70. I also have flashes on light stands near the DJ and the opposite corner with wireless triggers.

[SoccerRef]

As has been said... Backup your equipment! Rent if you have to, but have backups for EVERYTHING! Read my experience this past weekend HERE (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=574172).

Short version, I was prepared for the worst, and had I not been, it would have been a disaster. However, several good folks here steered me in the right direction beforehand and I was prepared. If you are not prepared, you are screwed! Don't be screwed.

You don't have to have everything backed up with equipment of like quality, but have a backup for everything, you never know when a lighting system is going to just stop working for example...

And as for your Sigma 24-70... If it is anything like my 28-70, you definitely want to take the time to shoot in low light BEFORE the wedding so you know what to expect. Mine hunts for focus in low light. In a wedding situation, you don't want hunting, you want FOCUS.

[Philco]

I'll put in my two cents, much of which probably echos what's already been said.

Getting your hands on a 70-200 F2.8 IS for the day would be a huge help. You really need the reach during the ceremony, and the longer perspective is nice if you have room to use it for portraits.

I shot for about a year with a 5D/30D combo - using the 24-70 on the 5D and the 70-200 on the 30D for reach. It worked really well, but there was a definite gap in focal length coverage because of the crop factor. The Sigma 24-70 doesn't focus as fast as the Canon and that's a bit tricky for things like processional / recessional, but I think it will do the job for you. I used one for about 6 months and it was fine. I'd put up with it to get f2.8. If you can rent the 70-200 for a day, maybe you can get your hands on a speedlight too, so at least you're covered with flash back up and you can use ETTL.

I do bring 2 AB800's with me to every wedding. I generally only use one - the other is 'just in case.' I don't use it every time, but when I do, it's almost always just for the group formals. Sometimes I get lucky and have nice open shade and natural light coming in and I can pass on the Bee, but otherwise I use a single head with a medium softbox/octobox just off camera axis to fill in the shadows and warm everybody up. Dragging a lightbag with stands, heads, and a Vagabond, is a lot of extra stuff to carry and it means I really do need an assistant or second shooter to help. It's surprising how much all that gear weighs, especially when you truck it around for 8 hours. Not that many wedding shooters bring off-camera lights for formals and I think it's a lot to keep up with for a first wedding.

I think if you're prepared to wear a camera on each shoulder for the day, and you bring 24+ gigs worth of CF with you, you'll be in good shape.

It would be great if you could find at least one second shooting/assisting gig between now and then, just to experience the flow.

Good Luck,

Phil

[angryhampster]

Sweet, thanks for the advice everyone! As for the lo-lite/focus issues with my 24-70EX, I'll be selling it for the new 24-70 EX HSM when it comes out (presumably this winter).

a521: If the 40D is affordable by next year I may consider it, but I can pick up a 20D for $350 and it's performance at ISO 1600 is perfectly usable. I can always convert to B&W and simulate film grain if necessary.

Soccerref: That sounds ridiculously hectic, but also quite familiar. :lol: Glad everything turned out OK.

Philco: I hadn't thought about shooting as a 2nd. Are many shooters typically looking for a 2nd? I don't personally know any of the studio/wedding photogs in the area, but I'd be more than willing to assert myself and try to shoot a gig with someone.

[2.8orfaster]

I have not read this whole thread, but I soot with 24-70 on FF and 70-200 2.8 IS on 1.6 crop. 200 on a 40D (320mm) is one of my most used focal lengths on that body.

I recommend renting the 70-200 because of its versatility.

[SoccerRef]

Philco: I hadn't thought about shooting as a 2nd. Are many shooters typically looking for a 2nd? I don't personally know any of the studio/wedding photogs in the area, but I'd be more than willing to assert myself and try to shoot a gig with someone.

Philco is right. I found a photog to shoot with here on POTN. I offered to help free of charge, and the experience I gained was invaluable. For us, it has become a friendship and a partnership of sorts. I have helped him with his website and with some technical stuff and he has helped me with photography stuff and some great experience.

I would venture to say that the other things you've discussed here are important, but shooting a few weddings before you go it alone would be the BEST investment you could make.

[angryhampster]

BTW, I got word yesterday from the bride, and the date is set for 3 October 2009. :) I've got tons of time to get everything straightened out, and the light will be absolutely fantastic if it's an afternoon wedding. It's at a lake in central Iowa, and the reception will be in a nearby country club's clubhouse.

[SoccerRef]

BTW, I got word yesterday from the bride, and the date is set for 3 October 2009. :) I've got tons of time to get everything straightened out, and the light will be absolutely fantastic if it's an afternoon wedding. It's at a lake in central Iowa, and the reception will be in a nearby country club's clubhouse.

Unless it rains...

Sorry to toss a wet towel on your optimism. My wife and I got married outdoors, 1 hour before the wedding a thunderstorm passed through and soaked everything. 30 minutes before the ceremony was to begin, it stopped and the sun came out.

My best man and a groomsman went across the street and got a case of paper towels to wipe seats for the guests. (I later found out they talked the manager into donating the case of paper towels!) Anyway when the ceremony was over we started the final prayer, and just as the preacher said, "Our Heavenly Father," It started to rain again, so he said, "Thanks for the rain and Mr. and Mrs. Perger. AMEN!" He slapped me in the back and said, "You two better RUN!"

It was the best day of my life!

[angryhampster]

Haha that sounds great! :lol: I've considered that thought; the only other outdoor wedding I've been to was during a sunny break in a rainy day.