My First Wedding is in two weeks

[hsphotography]

HELP! My first wedding is in two weeks. I want someone to help me with fun poses and for sure the equipment and settings I should have.

Right now I have a Canon 40D
Lenses: 24-70mm f/2.8
70-200mm f/2.8

580 Flash

What else do I need? Should I get another flash or what about prime lenses?
Do you recommend the 50mm 1.2 or 1.4 or the 34 1.4? Also what about wide angle or macro lenses? What about other flashes or lighting? And use pocket wizards? Where do you set up your flashes?

Please help I would really appreciate it! What about some fun poses? Thanks!!!

[jonwhite]

1. You shouldn't shoot a wedding with just one body, if something goes wrong with it your totally screwed. Same for other crucial bits like lenses and flashes but the body is the most crucial and probably the most likely thing that could go wrong.

2. You need something wider than 24mm on a crop body, you could quite easily find yourself with your back to a wall trying to get wider but have nowhere to go.

If you havent used remote flashes previously your leaving it a bit late to start learning that now, better off sticking to on camera bounced flash.

Extra batteries for cameras and flash, and plenty of memory cards (we take about 160gb between two of us to each wedding) are all very important.

Read the wedding FAQ here > http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=255604

[shaggymatt]

1. You shouldn't shoot a wedding with just one body, if something goes wrong with it your totally screwed. Same for other crucial bits like lenses and flashes but the body is the most crucial and probably the most likely thing that could go wrong.


That about sums it up. Take the money you're willing to spend on the prime, or whatever else you had in mind and rent backup gear. Camera failures DO happen.

[egordon99]

Ditto. Rent another 40D and a second 580EXII. Learn to shoot with what you have already. Many weddings were shot with just a 24-70/70-200. And if you're asking about "settings I should have", are you really ready for the wedding?

You don't even know if you need a prime lens? A macro lens? A wide angle lens?

Best I can offer you is "good luck!" ;)

[mjadse]

hsphotography- I just did my first wedding and I understand all your questions. You are asking so many here that it is just too difficult for anyone to answer everything. I scoured these threads for about two months before and if you do the same, you will find many of your answers. There are FAQ's at the top of the thread. Look at shaggymat's suggested links and search for any other specifics.

Your equipment will be fine- I had the same lenses with a 5D2 (and a back-up 20D). I also had a 17-35 I used a little during the ceremony. Since it was my first, I found it too difficult to switch to my 85 1.8 which will be nice when I have more experience.

If you set up additional lighting, yes on the radio transmitter.

I learned so much here from tim and others and also from http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/ about lighting. I bought TEN books about wedding photog (crazy, I know.) Go to the ceremony location and PRACTICE- logistics, settings, bounce flash, etc.

Good luck!

[Regalpix]

One of the first weddings that i shot, the mirror came off of my 5D, rendering it totally useless the rest of the day. I had a couple of backup cameras (another 5D and a 40D), and trust me they are crucial!

If you haven't used radio transmitters, now is not the time to start. Get comfortable with your 580, and camera(s) that you will be using.

Can't tell you where to set up your lighting, don't even know about your location.

Practice your ass off. I shot a 12 hour wedding straight through, don't have time to figure out settings on the fly, better know what you are doing. Also go to the location prior to the event, shoot and take notes. And then shoot some more.

Also whatever can go wrong, sometimes does! Be prepared at all times. Remember you can't reschedule.

Good luck.