noobish question

[Autonomous]

hi!
I have some questions on my mind that I've been thinking of but I'm not really sure how to solve it.
1) what do I do/ where should I store all my pictures that I've taken instead of storing it in my laptop (because the memory is getting low)- and this is the only computer I have.
2) I'd like to burn some of my pictures into the CD, but somehow my laptop doesn't have the CD burner installed , what should I do? because some people that I've took shots of, want to have their pictures in CD's but since I don't know how to do it without the CD burner installed in my laptop. Lame.
3) What should I do with the pictures that I took after a wedding? I know the couples wanted it in albums, but I don't know where to start.
4)What's the difference between XTi and a 40D? Last week I did my first wedding ever, and there were several photographers as well taking pictures and when they showed their pictures to the B&G, the B&G sort of gave this really pleased look, whereas when they looked at mine, they just gave me this plain "it's fine, okay-ish" look. Right at that moment I felt my confidence is crushed. should I stop before it's too late. I'm only 17 and all of the photographers were like 30+. (I'm sort of the main photogs since the B&G didn't have any other photogs, and I kinda settled that I would be doing this for free and all in fear that they might be dissappointed in me).
Thank you so much for taking your time to answer my questions, I appreciate it alot!

[TechTrix]

This is going to be good

1) External HDD. They are cheap these days
http://www.amazon.com/Iomega-Prestig...4767896&sr=8-1

2) Get a CD burner? Cant think of any other way to burn a CD without one
3) You shot a wedding without knowing what to do with the photos afterwords? Ouch
4) Xti is more of a consumer grade body, whereas the 40d is more durable being made out of a metal frame. Also offers higher ISO and frame rate.

Certainly don't give up being a photographer. I would start small and work your way up to shooting weddings...you can't expect be amazing right out of the gate. How long have you been shooting?
The other photographers probably have way more experience that you do.

Again, I would strongly advise not shooting another wedding until you have some experience. And DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT do it for free. By doing this you are taking business away from other photographers far more capable than you.

Good luck, don't give up.

[HuskyKMA]

1) An external HDD sounds like your friend here. Since you have a notebook, you'll probably want to get a portable one. Here's a good one:

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-FreeAg...4774501&sr=1-1

2) You'll need to get a CD burner. Either an external one, or have one installed in your notebook. You can probably take it to any Best Buy or similar store and get them to install one for you.

[neilwood32]

1) External Hard Disk Drive - seagate or similar. Buy a good size as you will fill the space (its amazing how quick it will be used when you get going)
2) Either try to get one installed in your machine (if there is a bay) or buy a good quality external.
3) You will need to work your photos up to a presentation level with your post processing package, watermark them as proofs (and reduce the size to stop them printing them themselves) and then give them a disk or book to look at. Then give them the ones they want. You should really have had all that worked out beforehand.
4) Shooting a wedding is hard ( i certainly wouldnt unless the folk were desperate). I would not have shown anyone any photos until i had done some post production on them.

You may find that some of the other photogs were family and one of 3 things might have happened:
1) the photos really were great - well done to the person taking them (bear in mind that they possibly have 10 years experience on you!)
2) the photos were passable/poor but the b&g didnt want to upset anyone by saying so.
3) the photos might have been of someone important to the b&g and thats why they were really happy.

[Autonomous]

is it allright if i just store all my pictures in the usb memory card? (i'm thinking to buy one the 16GB one since someone sells it for cheap) and because i cant afford to buy both external HDD and external cd burner...

[egordon99]

You can't afford $50?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106278

Seriously, storage is probably the LEAST expensive type of gear involved in photography. 1TB drives are now $99, buy two of them and you'll be in "business" for awhile.

[DStanic]

4. Shooting weddings IS hard, and it's all about the lenses. Yes the 40D is better, but not by a wide margin. A better lens on a XTi will take better shots then a cheap lens on a 40D. I've used my XTi for a wedding and got good results (but would want to use it as a backup next time). Don't give up!!!! Shooting weddings (or whatever you want to shoot) takes practice practice and maybe some money for lenses. :P

[Autonomous]

Originally Posted by egordon99

You can't afford $50?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106278

Seriously, storage is probably the LEAST expensive type of gear involved in photography. 1TB drives are now $99, buy two of them and you'll be in "business" for awhile.

will this thing be able to write pictures on cd's as well? because it says dvd burner, and i kept thinking that the regular cd and dvd burner must be different. am i wrong?
oh will you guys also recommend me which storage should i get? my budget is $50 (photography IS expensive)

[egordon99]

I'm 99% sure that any DVD burner would also be able to burn CDs. Regardless, it would be ALOT easier to use DVDs as pictures files are BIG! I shoot with 4GB cards, and my typical event takes up ~5-10GB worth of space, and just a "day at the park" could easily eat up a 4GB card, so using CD-Rs really isn't practical. Some small photo sessions, I can use a CD-R to deliver the final JPGs to the client, but these are few and far between. DVDs are the way to go (ESPECIALLY for a wedding!)

[sapearl]

You can, but then you may eventually run out of space, or just get tired of sorting through them in a fairly cumbersome manner. As has been pointed out, storage is really cheap. Check out the Presidents Day Sales today on external HD's.

Don't be discouraged. Wedding work is quite demanding and difficult. Anybody can take P&S snapshots, but it's all about timing, posing, knowing how to direct people, effectively interact with them and knowing where to be. Those 30+ folks are only better than you because they've been doing it LONGER. Keep plugging away at it and you will only improve. We all started somewhere once. - Stu

Originally Posted by Autonomous

is it allright if i just store all my pictures in the usb memory card? (i'm thinking to buy one the 16GB one since someone sells it for cheap) and because i cant afford to buy both external HDD and external cd burner...

[Autonomous]

as it turns out, the b&g loved my pictures more than those 30+ old guys
(i felt happy seeing as i only used my xti+kit lens, whereas those old guys used high end cameras + L lenses). but one thing that bothers me the most is how they acted during the session, as if they're really that good and pro, acted as if they know everything, what to do, they even directed the b&g to pose (even though the b&g is technically mine because they're the ones that basically chose me). piss off!

[jennnyy]

and is it also because the other photographers were professionals whereas you're just a teenager that doesn't even know what to do with the photos afterwards? yes these people acted snobby, but that's because they probably have tons of experience and know how to work a wedding. you're young. you're going to need LOTS of shooting to get up to the level of a professional wedding photographer.

[sapearl]

How much control and direction did you give Autonomous? The bulk of the nicely composed and often memorable photographs don't just happen at a wedding. For many of key and important shots you really do have to be involved with the b&g.

Perhaps they were more assertive because you were not? Maybe they felt you were missing important poses (were you working from a shot list or just obviously winging it?).

I don't know - I wasn't there and can only speculate. But your comment that you had know idea what to do with the pictures reveals your naivete and lack of experience. This is not a criticism, just a statement of fact. Wedding photography is not for the faint of heart. The meek get run over and trampled unfortunately by the more assertive.

I'm not really clear on who the main the photographr was here now. You said "I'm sort of the main photogs since the B&G didn't have any other photogs, and I kinda settled that I would be doing this for free and all in fear that they might be dissappointed in me." Did you have a clear understanding with the B&G about what you would be doing, and exactly what you would be providing?

Originally Posted by Autonomous

.....but one thing that bothers me the most is how they acted during the session, as if they're really that good and pro, acted as if they know everything, what to do, they even directed the b&g to pose (even though the b&g is technically mine because they're the ones that basically chose me). piss off!

[Autonomous]

Originally Posted by sapearl

How much control and direction did you give Autonomous? The bulk of the nicely composed and often memorable photographs don't just happen at a wedding. For many of key and important shots you really do have to be involved with the b&g.

Perhaps they were more assertive because you were not? Maybe they felt you were missing important poses (were you working from a shot list or just obviously winging it?).

I don't know - I wasn't there and can only speculate. But your comment that you had know idea what to do with the pictures reveals your naivete and lack of experience. This is not a criticism, just a statement of fact. Wedding photography is not for the faint of heart. The meek get run over and trampled unfortunately by the more assertive.

I'm not really clear on who the main the photographr was here now. You said "I'm sort of the main photogs since the B&G didn't have any other photogs, and I kinda settled that I would be doing this for free and all in fear that they might be dissappointed in me." Did you have a clear understanding with the B&G about what you would be doing, and exactly what you would be providing?

oh yeah, i even made them sign this piece of scrap paper that i wrote of the conditions and stuff, and that i am merely just a beginner and not to fully depend on me and stuff. basically, i gave them warnings and stuff and they agreed.
ironically, those so-called professionals, they may act like they know how to work a wedding and direct the b&g to pose and whatnot, even their style while taking pictures looked oh-so-pro, it seems to me they like to "show-off" their pro-ness, but when they gave their results to the b&g, the b&g were horrified at the results, and when i saw the pictures, i, too was shocked at the results cause most of it was not pleasant and lack the pop or capturing the emotions spot-on, underexposed and whatnot. and i was shooting together with them professionals too and i didn't mean to brag but i successfully captured the weddings spot-on

[sapearl]

Glad it worked out for you Autonomous, and that was a good idea that you got certain things in writing.

Sorry to hear that the other guys weren't able to produce - I wouldn't wish that on anyone during what is a very important event. But don't sell direction and interaction short. Personal interaction and the ability to work with stressed people in a complex situation is far more important in the long run than just photographic skills. Try an 8-12 hour wedding day shoot and then see how you feel .

I'm curious though - since you only did your first wedding last week, what was your basis of comparison for feeling the "so called pro's" didn't do a good job?