Wedding Photography

[Robert Butts]

First, allow me to wish you and your familes a Merry Christmas

I am trying to learn wedding photography @ age 50; and request all advice.

Could you let me know if my combination of camera and lens will allow me to shoot indoors at weddings successfully; Canon 40D, 17-40 f/4, 70-200 f/4 non-IS, 100 f/2.8 Macro, 50 f/1.8, 580 II flash, Tripod, monopod

Also, would appreciate any suggestions as to which camera body and lens that you think I should invest in to give myself a better chance

Tks,
Bob

[Robert_Lay]

There's nothing wrong with your choice of equipment, but I think you are looking for the wrong thing by looking for a stamp of approval on the equipment. Everyone you ask will find some fault or deficiency with whatever you have, no matter what.

Wedding photography is a very business oriented type of photography. Have you thought about getting a book on the subject?

[SwingBopper]

Good advice from Bob. As to equipment, you'll probably need a good large diffuser/bounce for the flash, a second flash and light stand, remote triggers for the flash, gray card. Tripod will be good for the setup shots; but for candid, you'll probably be hand holding (doubt the mono will get much use unless it's a quick release type). I think you'll need a fast wide angle lens or WA zoom like 16-35 L 2.8 ,for those candid moments where a flash would be too intense.

[RandyMN]

Looking at yopur equipment I think the biggest stortage would be a second body.

Apart from a good amount of experience in portrature, lighting and directing subjects, if you don't have back ups for your equipment then I wouldn't even think about booking a wedding unless it's a couple that will understand that camera's stops working after you drop them.

Good luck with trying something new, weddings certainly offer opportunities for almost every aspect in photography, and they can be extremely rewarding. Like Bob said, it's actually more about business if you really want to succeed.

[form]

A backup body is a must-have for weddings.

A f/2.8 standard zoom (Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS, Canon 24-70L, Tamron 17-50, or Tamron 28-75) is virtually a must-have lens for weddings.

At least one good fast prime f/1.8 or faster is extremely useful for weddings.

At least one flash unit (580EX, etc.) is virtually a must-have for weddings. More off-camera flash units are extremely useful. Diffusers are very low on the priority list, but white umbrellas, stands and radio triggers are very useful.

A macro lens or extension tube set are useful for detail shots, but not a must-have for weddings.

Canon EOS 5D is great and the full frame width gives narrower DoF, but it is NOT a must have for weddings.

Anywhere from 16 to 40gb of CF memory is a must-have for full weddings.

Some photography experience, attention to detail, adherence to basic rules of photography, understanding of limited DoF, effects of focal length on framing, and a general understanding of how and where to use light and what type of light should be used, are all very important for weddings.

I started weddings with a Canon 20D, an ultra-wide zoom Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6, and a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, with 580EX flash and 3 sunpak 383s flashes, some umbrellas, stands, and pc-sync cables. I've since aimed my purchases towards wedding work, so I've acquired a 40D, a Canon 85 f/1.8, Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS, a Canon 135 f/2L which I am now selling to pay for the 70-200, and some Skyport radio triggers. My equipment is still on the semi-budget end, the only really expensive item being the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. I would buy at least a 5D, 85 f/1.2L, 35 f/1.4L, and several more off-camera flashes and triggers for them if I had the money, but I can get by very well with what I have now.

[Benji]

Find a seasoned out of town pro and volunteer to assist him for free for a couple of weddings and see if you can take the heat.

Benji

[MattMoore]

Also, look here :

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=113

AND

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=23

AND

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=78