How much storage for wedding?

[tim]

I'm doing my first wedding in a few days, and i'm still not sure if I have enough memory. I have 6GB of CF, and i'm considering getting a 40GB X-Drive VP6210, which can show 20D CR2 files.

Is 6GB enough, or should I go for the X-Drive?

[cactusclay]

Are you shooting Raw or Jpeg and is it just the ceremony and formals or reception as well?

[tim]

All RAW on a 20D, mixture of natural light and flash, so some high ISO/larger files. I'll shoot everything from the bride getting ready to the ceremony, shots of the location, some formals (not too many) and a few arty shots of the couple, and the reception. Could be a long day.

[cactusclay]

Sorry Tim, I have know idea with raw, I shoot Jpeg. I can usually get most of what you described except for the reception on two 512's shooting Jpeg high res with 20D and have room left over, but they are small weddings.

[tim]

Lets say a RAW file is 10MB, that means I have space for 600 images, maybe a few more, 650 perhaps. Is that enough for a wedding? I tend to shoot more than I need "just in case". I could drop down to JPG if I think i'm going to run out of space - i'd fit around 1300 pics on the cards if I shot pure JPG, or even if I shot 4GB RAW then switched to JPG i'd still get a total of maybe 800 shots.

[cactusclay]

Sounds like plenty to me. Are you getting nervous?

[tim]

Sounds like plenty to me. Are you getting nervous?

Maybe a little, but these are very relaxed and totally undemanding people i'm doing this for. Last time I talked to him the groom said "if you f*** it up and delete all the images we won't be too upset". I just have to do my preparation (reading my books and looking at lots of photos) and make sure my gear's all ready, and have faith in my ability to take interesting non-crap shots! ;)

[cactusclay]

Shooting raw should solve most of your exposure problems, if you have any. Just relax and pay attention to getting good compositions and if you are changing the WB, make sure to keep track of it if the lighting changes. If you are using your flash alot, for fill, keep the flash on either high speed sync for AV or TTL2 for Progam mode. I made the mistake last Saturday of forgetting to swicth off the high speed syc, when I went into the shadows and I got some blurred shots, luckily I was shooting with two bodies and had back up shots. Oh, you are using a 550 flash, humm. Maybe just leave the camera in Program mode which is pretty intelligent for getting the correct exposure, with flash. I guess with Raw you can fix most things, unless you blow the highlights out too much. Good luck, I'm sure you will do fine.

[tim]

Thanks for the reassurance and suggestions :) Getting well exposed, in focus shots isn't a big problem, I wouldn't have taken this on if I couldn't do the basics like that.

I've never needed or used high speed sync, as I understand it it just lets me use the flash with shutter speeds faster than 1/250th, right? I can't even think of a situation where i'd need it, the opposite really, I think i'd have more use for the flash as a fill on longer exposures for dim places. If you can point out why I might need high speed sync i'm always happy to learn something new :)

[cactusclay]

For outdoor weddings in daylight, shooting at large apature openings, the shutter speed can get a tad bit higher than 1/250 of a sec.

[tim]

Good point, thanks. I guess I better find my manual and read up on high speed sync.

[robertwgross]

600 frames of RAW ought to be plenty.

From that, you can take the 200 best ones to show to the B&G. Keep the other 400 in your back pocket, just in case.

I don't think that I have ever shot more than 300 at any one wedding.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

Thanks Bob.

[Moments]

Tim,
Is this your first wedding and are they paying you? It always interests me when I see these types of questions when it comes to something like wedding photography.

[tim]

Yes, this is my first attempt at shooting a wedding, I did it because the opportunity came up. My plan was to find an established photographer to work as 2nd shooter with for a while first then move into it, but beggers can't be choosers. They offered to pay me, I turned them down because I wouldn't be comfortable charging someone for something i'm using as a learning experience, where I can't guarantee great results.

[lostdoggy]

Anybody have an answer to the High speed sync??? it doesn't sound right. I thought the 20D max out at 1/250 sec. sync???

[tim]

Anybody have an answer to the High speed sync??? it doesn't sound right. I thought the 20D max out at 1/250 sec. sync???

Have a look at the links in the EOS flash sticky (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46599). I'm reading thru a good thread (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=33872) now.

[Moments]

Well good luck. Keep doing your homework

[tim]

Thanks Pete, it should be fine :)

[mvonditter]

600 frames of RAW ought to be plenty.

From that, you can take the 200 best ones to show to the B&G. Keep the other 400 in your back pocket, just in case.

I don't think that I have ever shot more than 300 at any one wedding.

---Bob Gross---

I just shot one in CA and took 310 shots, All in RAW and it took less than 4gb. Cameras where a 1Ds and 1D mkII for size comparison req.

[S230]

I'm doing my first wedding in a few days, and i'm still not sure if I have enough memory. I have 6GB of CF, and i'm considering getting a 40GB X-Drive VP6210, which can show 20D CR2 files.

Is 6GB enough, or should I go for the X-Drive?
This is probably something I can answer... You should definitely get the X-Drive or something similar. I use the PD7X. The more important thing is redundacy because if something goes wrong, you will have something to backup on. 6GB is NOT very large if you are considering shooting RAW.. With an additional backup, it would give you an extra piece of mind. I had shot over 3GB within one photo session doing portraits imagine doing weddings... This also depends if you are the only one doing the photos or if you have an assistance helping because the files can surely add up.
Also, it can add a sense of security to the B&G that you are taking best measure to make sure their photos are secure.

[MAD DOG]

Just got married in March.
The pro that shot my wedding took around 200.
That comprised of the bride getting ready, civil ceremony and the wedding breakfast.
600 shots. You'll have plenty

[KevC]

Holy crap. 600 shots. Yeah, I think that's enough rofl. I'm thinking of doing a friends wedding with just 2GB. Lol. That's *only* 200 shots... *sigh*.

I'm gonna go buy one of those HDD storage things just in case.

[Maureen Souza]

I have 5GB worth of CF that I shoot JPEG on, Tim. I have taken 300-500 photos at a wack but I might try to outdo myself once or twice since I can shoot 5 frames/sec. My previous cameras did not have that capability so I'm itching to go wild one of these days. My computer has 120GB so I have plenty of room to download everything on it and also put them on a disc. Can't wait to see some of your first wedding photos.

[tim]

Heh heh, i'll take 20GB of cards and just never take my finger off the shutter! ;)

Sounds like 6GB will be enough, thanks everyone, if I start getting paid to do this i'll get a PSD.

[Wazza]

If you don't show up at the forums.. do we presume you're dead?

Nah, you'll do great, as I've seen your fast learning shots. I shot a few pics last night, and really was difficult.. Even though it was supposed to be an easy non paid event, shooting JPG on 2Gb (they wanted lots of shots, rather than quality....) So ended up with 502 shots, at 1.4Gb. I wanted to shoot RAW, as the lighting was bad, and I don't have an external flash. But 100 shots wasn't enough for them. :p

[tim]

Wazza, I think you need more storage ;)