WEAPONS OF CHOICE

gonzogolf wrote in post #11176745
Is it wrong for me to pray he does?

OH, I dunno. Maybe a bit evil.

bloomin eck what have i started ... Right to all the aggressives and slightly insulteds....... I have 3 fully pro commercial, wedding, corp tv and film photographers who will be 1st or primary for 2 of the main eeddings... I have access to and practise in many an event and studio.. And recommendations for eeddings have come from the pros... So... I can understand its a cut throat business ... My bad for being generic.. I am a newbe.. But cme on... You were new once too....... And someone once told me it aint the equipment but the skill that gmakes rhe phto great.... Thanks to the guys who have offered advice... To the aggressive ones.... If your rich... Well done.... If your struggking fior business... Maybe focus less on qual lenses, more on your relationship building and skillsets. No way am i big headed... I am sincere and know i havent even scratched the scratch of the surface and woukd never ruin a special day but i need more advice than googke will give me ... The first 3 occasions i am giing are free.

Reecesp, I hope you don't count my posts as aggressive. I was serious when I suggested to use the forum search feature. I easily see these questions at least once a week, so reading a few of those would answer 95 percent of your questions already!

reecesp wrote in post #11176863
bloomin eck what have i started ... Right to all the aggressives and slightly insulteds....... I have 3 fully pro commercial, wedding, corp tv and film photographers who will be 1st or primary for 2 of the main eeddings... I have access to and practise in many an event and studio.. And recommendations for eeddings have come from the pros... So... I can understand its a cut throat business ... My bad for being generic.. I am a newbe.. But cme on... You were new once too....... And someone once told me it aint the equipment but the skill that gmakes rhe phto great.... Thanks to the guys who have offered advice... To the aggressive ones.... If your rich... Well done.... If your struggking fior business... Maybe focus less on qual lenses, more on your relationship building and skillsets. No way am i big headed... I am sincere and know i havent even scratched the scratch of the surface and woukd never ruin a special day but i need more advice than googke will give me ... The first 3 occasions i am giing are free.

In addition to the good answers that have been posted so far, I guess you could also try asking your PRO friends that you mentioned??

Seriously, you should consider a flash if you do not already have one...a couple fast primes as well in addition to a fast zoom (17-55/24-70 are nice ones)

reecesp wrote in post #11176863
bloomin eck what have i started ... Right to all the aggressives and slightly insulteds....... I have 3 fully pro commercial, wedding, corp tv and film photographers who will be 1st or primary for 2 of the main eeddings... I have access to and practise in many an event and studio.. And recommendations for eeddings have come from the pros... So... I can understand its a cut throat business ... My bad for being generic.. I am a newbe.. But cme on... You were new once too....... And someone once told me it aint the equipment but the skill that gmakes rhe phto great.... Thanks to the guys who have offered advice... To the aggressive ones.... If your rich... Well done.... If your struggking fior business... Maybe focus less on qual lenses, more on your relationship building and skillsets. No way am i big headed... I am sincere and know i havent even scratched the scratch of the surface and woukd never ruin a special day but i need more advice than googke will give me ... The first 3 occasions i am giing are free.

It might have helped to mention that you were a second shooter with qualified pros. Sort of like mentioning you were using a net when you learn to walk a tightrope. Keep in mind your post is just one of many where people who have a few months behind a dslr decide they are wedding pro ready.

guys... yeah my apologies. didn't even twig on you would have probably seen this hundreds of times before.....doh for me!....thanks for your patience.

I have asked the peeps and they have recommended the same lenses........ but I love boards online cos you get so much good info that you keep learning n learning what people love...

I think that kit choice is an extremely personal decision. The goal of a wedding kit is to have a collection of lenses, flashes and bodies that will allow you to capture the wedding in the photographic style that you choose.

I suggest that you go to a local camera store and try out the lenses that you have mentioned and see what fits your style. For these first few events check with one of your professional friends and see if they will let you borrow a couple of lenses so that you can get a better grasp on what equipment you will need. Another option is to rent some lenses and see what works best for you.

As a general recommendation I would say that it is good to have a wide, normal and a telephoto lens in your bag. I would highly recommend carrying 2 camera bodies. Also optionally have another fun lens/camera with you.

My wedding kit is real simple 1DMKIII, 24L, 50 f1.4, 85 f1.8, 580EX, a few 4x8 California Sunbounces, Elinchrome Ranger, and a couple of soft-boxes.

guys... yeah my apologies. didn't even twig on you would have probably seen this hundreds of times before.....doh for me!....thanks for your patience.

I have asked the peeps and they have recommended the same lenses........ but I love boards online cos you get so much good info that you keep learning n learning what people love...

Good luck, you are braver than I am... I've been in the hobby for 10 years and still haven't done a wedding. Although I must confess they don't appeal to me as much as senior portraits and other various portraits. Mostly because of the stress involved. Knowing what I know now I definitely was not ready to do a wedding my first year or even my first 3 years. I'm probably ready now but just choose not to.

With that said, I recommend a second body and an external flash as a start. If I HAD to sacrifice somewhere it would be with the lens. You can always use post-processing to fix color and a bit of exposure, but you can never duplicate a missed shot due to camera failure or just motion blur. (Flash will help with the motion blur more than a fast lens assuming you are allowed to use a flash.)

To be honest though, I think the toughest things about weddings is you actually have to be an event coordinator more than anything. As in getting everyone in the right place or you being in the right place at the right time. Once again good luck and have fun.

reecesp wrote in post #11176419
Yeah I am lucky... I am lead for the first and latter 2..... in order (as I am in your hands)

Nov =1x reception in a function room (assuming v dark with disco lights)

March & April = weddings (church)

June = Reception & Vow Renewal (open air)

July =Wedding (church)


FYI::::: I am offering each a 2 day package for all which is capturing the whole occasion of planning, practise and actual. so the lighting and 'staged' or manipulated photography is available for all but the first in november.

I'm really not trying to be either aggressive or discouraging but I am intrigued, so I hope you won't be offended by me asking you a question.

Didn't the people who have commissioned you to shoot these events want to see samples of your work beforehand?

I assume that, like me, you are in the UK and, although I don't know the situation in the USA, I do have an idea that professional photography is hard to get into here and it really does intrigue me when I see beginners asking for advice about how to shoot commercial assignments which they've already been commissioned to do.

David

ive been paid to shoot an indoor event.. some family reunion.. all i bring was 16-35.. they were happy

I'd like the OP to start a thread on how to get gigs. 4 weddings and no kit, incredible.

Aw heck....getting the gigs is the easy part. All you have to do is post something on a Facebook page, and in short order, you'll have more gigs than you have time to do.
Now....whether you have the talent and gear to succeed is another story !

Primes. 28mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8

Or the 17-55mm IS and pray you don't need low-light capabilities.

Apollo.11 wrote in post #11177403
I'd like the OP to start a thread on how to get gigs. 4 weddings and no kit, incredible.

I've no idea but, according to George, you just post something on a Facebook page.

David