A Question For The Pros

Very first wedding?
EOS 1n, with EOS 5 as backup, 50mm f1.8, sigma 28-70 and 70-200 f2.8 and a 540EZ speedlite (it may have been a year or two ago... )

mclaren777 wrote in post #15687386
I did my first wedding with a T2i and 24-105.

Thankfully is was an outdoor affair and the pictures turned out great.

Me too with the 24-105 but it was on my 5D2. I also had a 70-200 F4 IS on my 7D. Pretty sharp and at F4 got pretty decent Bokeh. Not like my 2.8 II I have now. Also outdoors with slight overcast so the light was kind to me.

Well im pretty happy with how my first wedding (this past sunday) went as the main photographer.
It was mid afternoon on one of the hottest and clearest days of the year, not a cloud in the sky, lighting was challenging to say the least with most photos needing to be taken with the sun in the background (location was beach side and on a wharf) I managed to find some good shelter to get some shots of the bridal party

My gear - 7d with 100f2.8 macro
500d with tamron 17-50f2.8 + 430 exii

Next wedding tomorrow
7d with 70-200f2.8 mkii + 430 exii
500d with tamron 17-50f2.8 + 430 exii

hopefully a 5d2 soon

My first was shot as a "third" with the two owners of the studio I now work for.

Gear:
Canon 1D Mark II
Canon 1Ds Mark II
Canon 60D (as backup)
Canon 24-70 2.8 (borrowed)
Canon 24-105 4
Canon 70-200 f2.8
Three flashes
Canon 50 1.8

Basically all the gear in my sig, minus the 5D2, and Tamron 24-70 2.8!!

I went equipped. It took me several years to squirrel away the money, but I did it, so i didn't show up with an XTi, sigma kit lenses and a 430 flash only!!!

Does gear make the photographer??? NO!, but it really helps!

hahaha, who says you must have the "best" gear?

First 4-5 weddings where shot on 10D and a borrowed 10D backup, lens lineup was 17-40, nifty fifty, and 70-200 f4, and a couple old flashes. Next 30 weddings were done mostly on a 40D with same lenses except for a faster 70-200. I still don't shoot with the latest and greatest, I choose the cameras that I feel will get the job done right without holding me back, I've never found the need to splurge on a lot of redundant features. Glass is the only thing I consider spending a lot on.

I am a weekend warrior and shoot (a self-imposed limit) of 1 wedding a month. I shoot with a 5D classic, and a pair of 40D. Not the latest and greates, but certainly able to get the job done well. Would newer equipment make me a better photographer? I doubt it. Would newer equipmet make the job a little easier? probably. Is it worth the cost to me? No, I will upgrade when the hardware no longer fits my needs.