I'm a nightclub shooter who's been asked to do a wedding. COMMENCE STRESS

How different are these two styles of photography?

In the monthly night club event I shoot I'm in low light so I began using the shoulder-firing technique that's on youtube for low light and so far all of my photos are still in focus and sharp even at 1/5 a second. I'm used to running around, on my ass trying to get that one perfect shot of the DJ, and there's the crowd shots, the people at the bar etc. So I'm used to getting pleasing photos of people, candids, portraits, etc.

I'm also a bit worried about my gear. I have a 1D classic, a 50mm 1.8 and a 28-105mm 3.5-4.5, 2 camera batteries and a 270ex flash. I've got a 4 gig memory card (over 800 raw photos fit in it!) and another 2 gig one. I have a Manfrotto tripod and finally have a dc power link thing that lets me shoot from the wall sockets. Equipment wise, am I lacking anything or would I need anything?

What else do I need to know here? I sort of tried to talk my way out of it, but the woman wants me to do it for a few reasons. Am I missing any key skills? I'm gonna read up on the stickies above, but I kinda think it shouldn't be harder than shooting low light night clubs right? Just hyper focused on composition?

Well, for starters, your equipment is lacking. Despite the fact that your camera is old and cannot handle the high ISO that I find necessary in most situations, you do not have a backup body. You do not have reliable, fast lenses. You do not have another flash, or one with enough power or flexibility to bounce.

Skills wise, do you know how to run a wedding? Do you know how to pose a couple, bridal party, or family photos. Do you know how to find good lighting, how to make up time when the wedding goes late, or deal with uncooperative guests/couples?

I think shooting night clubs are pretty easy, weddings I find much harder.

I'd want 2 cameras, a lens wider than 28mm on a 1.3x, and a more powerful flash. I'd also want something faster than 3.5-4.5.


You may be fine with the coverage part of the day (ceremony and reception) but you should read up on posing. The bridal and couple portraits are really a chance to make some of the best images of the day.

You should just look through tons of wedding posts from good photographers for inspiration.

Red Tie Photography wrote in post #13010346
Well, for starters, your equipment is lacking. Despite the fact that your camera is old and cannot handle the high ISO that I find necessary in most situations, you do not have a backup body. You do not have reliable, fast lenses. You do not have another flash, or one with enough power or flexibility to bounce.

Skills wise, do you know how to run a wedding? Do you know how to pose a couple, bridal party, or family photos. Do you know how to find good lighting, how to make up time when the wedding goes late, or deal with uncooperative guests/couples?

I think shooting night clubs are pretty easy, weddings I find much harder.

No offense intended, but I needed that reality check. She mentioned she wanted me to do her bachelor party and and an engagement session, but I'm praying she doesn't want me to do her wedding.

I think doing those events would be great. She can see what you can produce and how you react to situations, and if it is worth it for her to hire a professional. Even if she insists, you can still say no if you are uncomfortable. If you do decide to do the wedding though, you really need to get the gear up to snuff. I am not saying that the equipment you have cannot produce good images, but it will be tough for you.

Check you a few of my blogs to help you think this out.

Are you ready? http://redtiephotograp​hy.blogspot.com …dy-to-become-wedding.html

Do you have the gear? http://redtiephotograp​hy.blogspot.com …rofessionals-wedding.html

Need faster shutter speeds to capture motion during dances, processionals....unles​s you use flash, in which case you can get a "focused" exposure at literally any shutter speed.

Good news, sort of. Still wants me to do her wedding, engagement dinner, and a shot for her and her fiance to display BUT she's got a wedding photographer already bought and paid for. So she just wants 3 hours of my time taking photos of the guests, in an outdoor location after the wedding.

Should I do it? What do I have to worry about?

THE Phreak wrote in post #13017358
Good news, sort of. Still wants me to do her wedding, engagement dinner, and a shot for her and her fiance to display BUT she's got a wedding photographer already bought and paid for. So she just wants 3 hours of my time taking photos of the guests, in an outdoor location after the wedding.

Should I do it? What do I have to worry about?

Yeah, that's a different ball game then. Is she paying you though? That changes things a bit, even if it's a 3 hour thing outdoors. Is it during the day or night time?

THE Phreak wrote in post #13017358
Good news, sort of. Still wants me to do her wedding, engagement dinner, and a shot for her and her fiance to display BUT she's got a wedding photographer already bought and paid for. So she just wants 3 hours of my time taking photos of the guests, in an outdoor location after the wedding.

Should I do it? What do I have to worry about?

Does her wedding photographer have a clause that prohibits other photographers from shooting? If she hired a photographer for her wedding, but still wants you to do it, does she not trust them? I dont mean to jump to conclusions, but she seems to be asking an awful lot, and from experience this is a good indicator that there may be problems down the road - more headache than its worth.

nicksan wrote in post #13018676
Yeah, that's a different ball game then. Is she paying you though? That changes things a bit, even if it's a 3 hour thing outdoors. Is it during the day or night time?

Yep she's paying me. It's from 4pm to about 7pm. Its still very well light by then, by 9 its typically dark

Red Tie Photography wrote in post #13018877
Does her wedding photographer have a clause that prohibits other photographers from shooting? If she hired a photographer for her wedding, but still wants you to do it, does she not trust them? I dont mean to jump to conclusions, but she seems to be asking an awful lot, and from experience this is a good indicator that there may be problems down the road - more headache than its worth.

i
I don't think theres a clause. She wants me taking photos of the guests after the wedding and everything else I mentioned because she only has her wedding photographer for that certain time period. He will take care of the important parts, I'll operate on the side and cover everything else.

I guess shes hit her budget and has been coming to me for the little thinga because Im giving her a stupid cheap rate (Ive lost some gigs in the past because of my "high rate". Promoters are greedy, who knew? )

THE Phreak wrote in post #13019657
Yep she's paying me. It's from 4pm to about 7pm. Its still very well light by then, by 9 its typically dark

You should be fine in those conditions, however, I would say, if she is paying you, you should have a backup body.

nicksan wrote in post #13019826
You should be fine in those conditions, however, I would say, if she is paying you, you should have a backup body.

I wish I had one, my 1D's my only camera. Don't have a budget big enough to rent another one :/

THE Phreak wrote in post #13019879
I wish I had one, my 1D's my only camera. Don't have a budget big enough to rent another one :/

For paid shoots, you should always have redundancy. Perhaps you have a friend who can lend you one?

nicksan wrote in post #13020006
For paid shoots, you should always have redundancy. Perhaps you have a friend who can lend you one?

I don't think that can happen. I don't have any close friends that are also really into photography, and the ones I still stay in touch with depend on their rigs much more than I do.

If you are getting paid, you need another body - its a necessity. You may have to rent one, but what better way to try out that camera you have always wanted to play with?