Lenses for first wedding

Relax, she’ll be right.
I shoot my sister’s wedding a few years back with a 400d 18-55mm kit lens, Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 and a flash. The photos turned out great, the weather definitely helped Melbourne in summer. I just floated around taking picture nice and relaxed, at the reception I mostly kept my distance using the 70-200.
It’s not all about your gear, a great photograph with a crappy old camera will take better photos than a **** photograph with a 1d and a bag full of L glass.
But after saying all that I wish I had my 1diii and 50mm f1.4 back then !
Just make sure you get the kiss at the ceremony !

smr wrote in post #14646078
Relax, she’ll be right.
I shoot my sister’s wedding a few years back with a 400d 18-55mm kit lens, Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 and a flash. The photos turned out great, the weather definitely helped Melbourne in summer. I just floated around taking picture nice and relaxed, at the reception I mostly kept my distance using the 70-200.
It’s not all about your gear, a great photograph with a crappy old camera will take better photos than a **** photograph with a 1d and a bag full of L glass.
But after saying all that I wish I had my 1diii and 50mm f1.4 back then !
Just make sure you get the kiss at the ceremony !

The OP admitted to being a noob, so this argument is almost surely moot.

Rent lenses. I would recommend the Sigma 17-50 F2.8 and Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS II plus a prime. Since you and your brother are shooting split the shots you and him will be shooting. In other words plan it out. Wish you the best.

Wedding went great had my sister also got a friend who was able to borrow a nice video camera and a Nikon with a good telephoto and a wide angle. he knew even less then I did but be very tech savvy he learned the basics very quick. between the three of us we got some fantastic shots. not stressful at all! I had a blast! I'm thinking about finding a professional and asking for an opportunity to be an assistant to get a more realistic taste of the occupation. but now the fun start of the editing. thank God for lightroom! will try to post some shots up after a few are finished.

Congrat's.. glad it went well for you( and for the B&G's sake).

Another happy ending it seems; has she seen the images yet?

I guess the more photographers you have, the less stress there is... I did it solo and was sweating bullets haha. So glad it went well though, and more importantly, that you had a good time. Cant wait to see the images! :]

I'de like to see the photo's as well. I've seen other "great" amateur wedding photos, that I thought were atrocious. Glad you got help, it takes an experienced photog to do weddings, and do them well.

Glad you had fun and I too would love to see some of the photographs when you have finished editing them

NBEast wrote in post #14642748
... Again; get a helper!!! You'll both mess up more shots than you make but between you maybe you'll get some framers. ...

Glad you're not stressed - and that you came back to the thread!

A helper is great, 2 even better. Chances are good, being your 1st wedding shoot, that something got messed up royally (or you're some kind of photography natural). The helpers sure do ease that worry, hua?

Cheers! Not to sound righteous but one small suggestion; only post the best. Your sister probably won't care about small flaws; OOF, eyes closed, people mid-speach, features lost in the dark shadows, all that ... personally I think they add character. I may be in the minority.

I thought this topic was very interesting and I read every word. lol

Please post pics of the wedding! =)

Have you posted any photos yet, hallfrisch? Came across this thread and I can't lie, it's gotten me a bit curious. Hope they turned out well!

@hallfrisch, its been a week.....come on man, we are all hanging out here to see how it went. Give us heaps (please), I'd like to see lots and lots of your work from this wedding. I am really interested to see how the images turned out. You must have pp them by now....

I will help in the effort to keep this thread alive.

We want pic-tures! We want pic-tures!

bernardxleon wrote in post #14700488
I will help in the effort to keep this thread alive.

We want pic-tures! We want pic-tures!

It takes a while to get around to processing a wedding.

Post a couple ... or not. Just assure us your sister has realized that photos DO matter.

My sister's wedding last month, same thing "oh, the pictures don't matter, just take a few and I'm sure we'll find one to frame". They were nothing great, but good enough. Another friend backed me up (thanks Minh!).

So; I showed her this slideshow and she burst into tears. She's figuratively hugged me a dozen times for not believing her. Her girlfriends that couldn't make it are saying they felt like they were there. We designed an album that she's now dying to get.

A year ago an old time friend convinced me to shoot hers. I took her at her word and did NOT take it seriously. The photos were seriously lacking! It didn't even bring a flash to the dinner the night before. Oh; if life only had do-overs.

Never believe a bride who says she doesn't care about the photos.

Unless you're amazingly good; always have a backup photographer.

So; post a few to keep the wolves at bay. Really curious if she's change her tune too.