A Question For The Pros

Milutiche wrote in post #15687905
Thanks SuzyView
Interesting responses, I should add, im not asking this because I want to go out and buy the best gear (I couldn't afford it if I wanted to anyway)
I've shot at least half a dozzen weddings as a guest using moddest gear and had realy good feedback, most of the brides found my "capturing of the moments" better than that of the official PhotoG

This Sunday I take the bull by the horns and am shooting my first contracted wedding, I don't want to loose my natural style by trying to "pose" the couple too much.

I am confused, you are a second photographer working for the official photographer?

Milutiche wrote in post #15687905
I've shot at least half a dozzen weddings as a guest using moddest gear and had realy good feedback, most of the brides found my "capturing of the moments" better than that of the official PhotoG

This Sunday I take the bull by the horns and am shooting my first contracted wedding, I don't want to loose my natural style by trying to "pose" the couple too much.

Just remember that when you're the main photographer, you need to get the main important shots. Sounds obvious, but it needs to be mentioned. You won't have time to sit back and get candid shots all day as you would a guest or a second photographer. Everyone's going to look to you to direct the show so be ready for that. If you aren't ready or don't know what you're doing, it's going to show and it's going to get everyone antsy. Good luck!

The very first wedding I shot as a 2nd:
Rebel T2i
24-70L
70-200 f/4L IS
10-22
50 1.8
430EX speedlite

My first "real" contracted wedding I shot solo (not counting a couple small backyard gigs I picked up):
Two 5D2's
16-35L
24-70L
70-200 2.8 IS
35L
85L
100L
2 580EX speedlites

Bronica S2
Nikkor 75mm
Nikkor 50mm
Nikkor 150mm
Sunpak 544

1st wedding as official photog I shot for free:

50D + Tamron 17-50 F/2.8, 30D + 100 F/2.8, 430exII

1st paid wedding:

50D x 2, 30 1.4, 17-50 2.8, 100 2.8, 580ex, 430exii

Both went really well.

first real gig, outdoors (for cheap). Back when the 50D first came out, if I remember right:
50D & 40D
17-55/2.8 IS
24-105L & 28-135
(2) 580exII's

30D, 50/1.8 & another flash in the car

The very first paid wedding:

5D MKI (main), 20D (backup)
Tamaron 16-35 F2.8
Canon 100 F2.8 Marco
Sigma 28-200 F3.5-F5.6
Tamaron 18-200 F3.5-F5.6
And a couple of other lenses also
480 EXII
580 EXII

After two weddings I bought the 16-35 F2.8 MKII L, 24-70 F2.8 L and 70-200 F2.8 MKI IS L. I also bought a 5D MKII as soon as it came out.

Jimconnerphoto wrote in post #15687958
I am confused, you are a second photographer working for the official photographer?

I am the official photographer

Milutiche wrote in post #15687905
This Sunday I take the bull by the horns and am shooting my first contracted wedding, I don't want to loose my natural style by trying to "pose" the couple too much.

There is indeed a big difference between being a 2nd shooter and a primary shooter. It's quite a bit easier to melt into the background and shoot candids all day as a 2nd shooter. As a primary shooter you will be asked to take any number of 'posed' shots and you will need to make sure your timing is good (when to take the formals--before or after the ceremony--, how much time you'll need the B&G alone, with family, and with wedding party for their formals--while all the guests are waiting, etc). This was perhaps the most challenging transition I made when I became a primary shooter 8 years ago. Obviously it's a good idea to scout out the location beforehand, discuss the type of images the couple wants and how long they're willing to spend being posed, etc.
Having the absolute best gear isn't the most important thing. The important thing is that you are completely comfortable with the gear you do have so that you can spend more time being creative and less time being a camera technician

2x20D (good at the time), 70-200 F2.8 IS, Tamron 28-75 F2.8, kit lens, flashes, tripod. I really needed a wider lens, but other than that I was good. The photos weren't bad either.

5D2, 7D, 2 580EXs, 70-200 2.8L IS, 24-70 2.8, 17-55 2.8 IS

Milutiche wrote in post #15687905
Thanks SuzyView
I don't want to loose my natural style by trying to "pose" the couple too much.

You can not be a fly on the wall as the main shooter and I think you will not get all of the loose and natural images like you did in the past since you are the main.

People will be looking for specific direction from you.

I would love to hear how it went.

Primary (Me) gear: 5D2, 35L, & 135L.
Backup/ 2nd & 3rd shooter gear: 5D2, 5Dc, 85 f/1.8, 70-200 f/2.8 L, 17-40 L.
Lights: a few speedlites in softbox umbrellas.

What kind of lighting conditions will you have to deal with? If you are limited to natural light or choose to shoot without strobes you may need the speed of primes to deal with low light conditions. How are you going to light the reception? On camera speedlite bounced? Or strobes on stands?

For my first wedding I was lucky enough to have one of my senior models shadow me with a portable softbox umbrella rig on a paint pole. This gave me a nice soft light all night.

The paintpole rig:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/stimpyjcat/8076​186913/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/stimpyjcat/8553​054449/

My first offical wedding:

Canon 40D
Tamron 28 to 75
70 to 200 F4
580 EX
Sunpak 120J

Back up was an EOS 620 film body


A VERY small wedding

First wedding, Rebel XT and 30D, Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX, Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 EX, Sigma 15-30 f/3.5-4.5 EX, Speedlite 580EX and 430EX .... and a lot of TUMS!!