Oh no......HERE WE GO!!!

[Jackal]

So yeah someone managed to see some portraits I've taken of a friend and now they're wanting me to shoot their wedding. She tells me that she wants me to do it because she's not into the whole "traditional photographer" thing with just fake poses.

The wedding will be at Parrot Jungle outdoors (a parrot type of themepark down here in miami). Funny setting. And then some indoor action at the reception.

I've warned her that I've had no experience in shooting weddings but then she said "That's why I want you." She wants me to give her a price. I don't know what to say. She's asked me if she'd do the printing or would I (she has a good printer) so she's obviously not that insanely serious about prints and creating a huge album and stuff.

I need some help here guys. If she agrees to nice price then I will go through with this. My photography friend can be my backup since we sometimes do some teamwork shooting anyways. (He has a 300D).

My current equipment is in my sig. Along with only ONE cannon battery and ONE 1GB 80x Lexar. So that might have to change if I agree to do this =)

I just need to know pricing! I don't know what to charge!! Also, any other tips would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance guys. I love this forum.

[Jackal]

Also, these are the pictures she's seen. So it's not like I'm a complete newbie to photography.

http://bellsouthpwp.net/J/a/Jackalx8/R/Rox5.jpg
http://bellsouthpwp.net/J/a/Jackalx8/R/Rox4.jpg
http://bellsouthpwp.net/J/a/Jackalx8/R/Rox2.jpg
http://bellsouthpwp.net/J/a/Jackalx8/R/Rox7.jpg
http://bellsouthpwp.net/J/a/Jackalx8/R/Rox1.jpg

[MTalley]

Sounds like an informal wedding at an informal place. Your style, judging by your portraits, fits the bill nicely. I can't honestly tell you what to charge, but you might put out a feeler for how much she was thinking of paying.

What the heck, tell her the down payment consists of a couple more batteries and a couple more 1GB cards, then work from there. :D

[CappuccinoDavid]

Hey homie, I really like the fotos. Just figure out how much couple more batteries and couple more Gigaboos cards and times that by 2 or 3. That way it gives you money to buy Dr Pepper with.

(btw I was born in Ft Lauderdale, right next to you)

[tim]

I like those photos, they're really nice :) You might learn something from this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=75678) I posted a little while back.

[Barb42]

Nice work - very good photos, indeed. You will be just fine.

[Jackal]

Thanks for the link, Tim. And thanks for the comments everyone.

So it seems the required things would be:

-Grip + extra batteries
-420ex with alot of new batteries
-Difuser for flash and flash bracket
-Extra memory cards (preferably Sandisk extreme III since Lexar seems to have some problems)

I know the flash bracket is good for two things. Redeye (which I never get with the 420 anyways) and removing the shadow of the person which appears with a headon flash.

Now...Would I need this flash bracket if there's a ceiling to bounce flashe off of? Which of course is a trillion times better than direct in my opinion.

But does anyone know what I should charge? Ugh! I have no clue!!! Any actual wedding photographers want to chime in? =)

[CyberPet]

Well, I haven't used a flash bracket... so I'd say you'll do without it. But I'm an amatuer and beginner too when it comes to weddings. A bouncer is good though and you can aim it either 45° or direct, as long as you control the flash exposure. If you've used the flash while shooting portraits, you'll know what to do, really.

The grip is good for balance, but you'll do OK on one battery, but have a spare just in case (I shot 9 hours straight, over 700 pictures and the battery wasn't dead when I got back home). Spare batteries for the flash is also good, fill flash with bouncer can suck up lots of power.

Memory cards... the 350D can't take advantage of the speed in the Sandisk Extreme III, so get the Sandisk Ultra II's instead. I shot in jpeg that day and got about 2 GB's worth of images... so if you gonna shoot RAW, pick up more GB's. You'll fit about 100 images on one 1 GB card.

I think you'll do great. Those portraits you took is great and you should just make sure you feel confident about your gear. The rest will work out, since you have talent and ideas.

Good luck! :D

[tim]

You can't rely on bounce flash, and you'll find if you bounce without some direct light you'll get horrible shadows. I wouldn't do a wedding without a flash bracket, it removes side shadow (which is an amateur/lazy bas***** mistake), and helps with the quality of the light. I used the LS2 on my 550EX on a Pro-T. Yeah - take lots of batteries and memory. The grip would be very handy, if you can get hold of one, i'm looking for one myself.

Good luck!

[bikerider]

Hey Jackal,
I used to shoot weddings........charging depends on how many images you're going to supply, how long you will be there and the time it takes to post process, which includes arranging the files and presentation etc etc. Now, what's your time worth? I used to charge a minimum $1500 and about $4500 for a full on coverage (that's Oz $ by the way). First time out I think I charged about $600. Hope that helps you out!
Roger.

[Jackal]

Thanks for the tips you three.

Cyberpet, I know I probably don't need a battery grip...but hey...this is the perfect excuse to get one.

Also, are you sure the 350D can't take advantage of the Sandisk Extreme III's speed? So you're saying I'd get the same amount of bursts on RAW mode if I get the cheaper one? I guess the XT's buffer is the limit.

[CyberPet]

Jackal, Yup I'm 100% positive. The camera is the limit, not the card.

tim, odd you say that it's amateurs that don't use brackets. My mentor and professional wedding photographer for many, many, year don't use a bracket when he shoot outdoor weddings. So, I will take your very harsh statement with a grain of salt.

[tim]

6 camera batteries for a wedding? I used 3 and had enough power - I used 2 and had 1 still fully charged. Having spares is a great idea, better to have too many than too few.

And 15 shots out of 2400mah batteries? Time to get some new batteries Bloo, or a new charger. I get a couple of hundred with cycle times of 6-8 seconds max, on ISO 200-400. If you use a diffuser that goes down a lot. I used 4 sets of batteries for my only wedding to date, and I wish i'd had 6 sets of bats.

[Jackal]

Thanks for your wonderful tips, Bloo Dog. I appreciate it. How nice of you to go into such detail for people.

About what you said with not being trigger happy. I wouldn't mind shooting off a good amount of shots because I'd be able to select the good ones from the bunch. I would of course just mind how many more pictures I can take before I run out of space =)

Anyone recommend a nice simple, sturdy, and well priced bracket?

I want to add up the cost of the stuff I'd need so I can throw it into the price that I would tell her. ;)

[tim]

Anyone recommend a nice simple, sturdy, and well priced bracket?

I use pro-T, and I like it. Your other option is a bracket that filps the camera but not the flash, like the Pro-RL, but I prefer that the flash and camera keep the same orientation, to make sure of full flash coverage.

[tim]

I took 600 shots for my first wedding, maybe 650, just getting basic color correction and exposure done correctly took WAY longer than I was expecting. I took a week of working hard every evening after work, then most of the weekend, to get the shots out. Next time i'm not sure i'll take less pictures, but i'll be more selective about what I take, and i'll put a lot more effort into getting the exposure right first time.

Shoot RAW. It's not even an option to shoot JPG for your first time out, too many things can go wrong that RAW lets you correct.

[Jackal]

Alright guys so here's the place:

http://www.parrotjungle.com/jsps/treetop_gallery.jsp#

Yeah those are some major high cielings...flash bracket seems like a must. I wonder if a 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 would do good in those lighting conditions without a flash?

Would this be an ok bracket? Is it high enough away from the camera? Can it extend higher?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=105119&is=REG

The cord I would need is just a normal off camera shoe cord right? My friend has a 2ft one I can borrow if that's the one it needs. How does the flash attach to the cord and then to the bracket?

[tim]

That bracket looks ok, I went for the Pro-T because it looked more sturdy, but I think quite a few people use that one. I'd use the Tamron with the flash rather than a 50mm lens with no flash. I use a lightsphere II on the bracket too, it works well, but it does go thru a lot of batteries - I used 4 sets and would've liked 2 more. If I could find a portable power unit that wasn't insanely expensive that'd be my next purchase.

[Jackal]

I edited my post with another question at the end while you replied. Mind helping me on that one? =)

[AjP]

well, I have 580 not 420 and don't have flash brackets, always either using bounce or/and reflector on flash, working just great. it matter of using it for a while to know what angle and flash compensation....

[tim]

The Canon cord is only about 2ft, that's the one you need. I don't know how that bracket works, but with the Pro-T the cord attaches to the bracket with a screw (supplied with the bracket), and the flash slots into the cord. It sounds kinda confusing and weird but it's very simple in practice.

[lkorell]

I used to use my 580EX with a Press-T bracket and the Stofen OmniBounce. Now I don't use a bracket but add the Lightsphere II instead. It works great.

For making sure you get the "safe shots", I recommend shooting the flash with the camera in P mode. Let the camera & flash regulate the exposure and set your ISO to 400 or if really low light, 800.

In many cases, depending on the type of ceremony it will be, you can't even use flash. In that case, you will need a 1.4 or 1.8 lens to get enough light. This place looks bright, but if the shooting takes place in the evening and all you have are the room lights, you need faster lenses.

Bring lots of spare batteries for your flash. If you use rechargeable AA's, bring a few fully charged sets. you may only go through one or two, but just in case....also bring spares fully charged for your camera. If you use the grip, you probably won't need them, but just in case you are inspired and shoot more than 1500 shots.....;)

ALWAYS carry your CF cards on your person. Do not leave them in a camera bag....ever, ever. People steal camera bags.

Get there early if you can't go to the venue beforehand and take a few practice shots to get your exposures down.

Have fun!

Lou

[tim]

If you use a lightsphere without a bracket you can get side shadow if the person's near a wall. If you use one take a *minimum* of 4 sets of 2400mah+ batteries.