Got a wedding to shoot ad All i have is an 18-55 lens? What should I get?

You are one heck of a lot braver that I am. With that equipment I would never consider a wedding. Way too important. I would take the Crown Royal suggestion and stay home if it were me.

Andythaler wrote in post #2031969
It's just what I thought when I read the post.

You might also consider good liability insurance (most photographers I have heard discussing weddings stated that they do have that).

Best regards,
Andy

I meant what Curtis said, not you. I guess it just stunned me since I usually don't see that coming from him. I'm a jerk by design so I don't shock myself.

Andythaler wrote in post #2031969
It's just what I thought when I read the post.

You might also consider good liability insurance (most photographers I have heard discussing weddings stated that they do have that).

Best regards,
Andy

Probably not needed for a family friend's wedding or a few a year but if going to be doing a full time business, sure.

Lunajen wrote in post #2031371
Well, I hate to say it they want the digital.

You may have noticed, since my recommendation that you might want to shoot film, a couple of other posts have recommended the same. When you say "they want the digital", do you mean that the couple want a CD or .jpg? If so, you can shoot film, have it processed and saved to a CD.

I used my Sigma 17-70mm for the one wedding I've shot, along with a 16-35mmL. The Sigma did quite well; better, in fact, in some respects than the 16-35mm.

The Sigma 17-70mm is under four bills...

At least this person is asking what they need. For some reason I know a couple people that once they get their Canon cam (rebel, 20D, 30D) and the kit lens they really don't understand there is anything else they could possibly need. Best Buy (a retailer) only carries like one extra lens for instance. So they think they can shoot everything and charge with that setup.

rklepper wrote in post #2031974
You are one heck of a lot braver that I am. With that equipment I would never consider a wedding. Way too important. I would take the Crown Royal suggestion and stay home if it were me.

Me too! In fact, I think I'll have one on the rocks now. Be right back!

Aaahhh! Okay, I'm back. What'd I miss?

runninmann wrote in post #2032024
Aaahhh! Okay, I'm back. What'd I miss?

You missed my outreached hand holding an empty glass.

cdi-ink.com wrote in post #2032042
You missed my outreached hand holding an empty glass.

Mine, too. I seldom drink, but Crown is my favorite!

On a opposite note my brother in law hired this 'photographer' for his wedding for $1500. He actually brought great equipment, Canon 20D, L lens (24-70 I think), flash brakets, 580 flash and assistant but...............

I found out much later by googling him that he was a 'starving artist' and his brother was a photographer in town (and a good one). So I presume he did this while he was doing his music gigs. Anyway he obviously didn't know his equipment and didn't shoot raw and had pics that were incredibly off white balance and dark. He obviously shot in camera jpgs and did no post processing.

I dummied up one of my pics to give you a idea of what 30% of the wedding photos looked like. (Ie the non flash ones where the hotel funky lights blew auto wb)

here is a example: No joke. Equipment is not everything.

On a side note I took like 2 pictures of them together and actually messed up leaving my camera at 1600 ISO with flash and the pic I took was the only useable picture of the 2 of them together after the ceremony.

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cdi-ink.com wrote in post #2032042
You missed my outreached hand holding an empty glass.

liza wrote in post #2032086
Mine, too. I seldom drink, but Crown is my favorite!

Get 2 straws!

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Jenn, try to get your hands on a 70-200L 2.8 to rent for the day. If you can, get a 24-70 as well. Anything L at 2.8 or lower is going to be successful as long as you think you can use it well. Personally, I hope the wedding's a great success and you can afford to get a 70-200 2.8 as your reward. It'll open you up to doing many more if you like it.

Good luck! I for one stand behind your willingness and braveness to take a step into a new work. Even Curtis had to take that step at some point! I'm sure you'll be able to get some good advice by wading through the crap here. This especially happens anytime someone mentions the words "first" and "wedding". This forum really needs some work on it's friendliness and team support.

It continues to amaze me the negativity that there is on this forum. In this thread alone there are several posts putting the OP down for even trying something new.

Since I have joined this forum, I have noticed a handful of 'regulars' that troll the boards to spew their know-it-all attitudes. (not necessarily this thread) It's almost as though some of these people try to fight off possible competition, which is far from the case. It's really a turn off to come to a place that has this problem. It also blows my mind that some of the heartless responses come from long-time members who think they are God's gift to this forum. The sad part is there are lots of lap dogs that just follow them around. It's pathetic.

amonline wrote in post #2032235
Jenn, try to get your hands on a 70-200L 2.8 to rent for the day. If you can, get a 24-70 as well. Anything L at 2.8 or lower is going to be successful as long as you think you can use it well. Personally, I hope the wedding's a great success and you can afford to get a 70-200 2.8 as your reward. It'll open you up to doing many more if you like it.

Good luck! I for one stand behind your willingness and braveness to take a step into a new work. Even Curtis had to take that step at some point! I'm sure you'll be able to get some good advice by wading through the crap here. This especially happens anytime someone mentions the words "first" and "wedding". This forum really needs some work on it's friendliness and team support.

It continues to amaze me the negativity that there is on this forum. In this thread alone there are several posts putting the OP down for even trying something new.

Since I have joined this forum, I have noticed a handful of 'regulars' that troll the boards to spew their know-it-all attitudes. (not necessarily this thread) It's almost as though some of these people try to fight off possible competition, which is far from the case. It's really a turn off to come to a place that has this problem. It also blows my mind that some of the heartless responses come from long-time members who think they are God's gift to this forum. The sad part is there are lots of lap dogs that just follow them around. It's pathetic.

It's more about accepting a rather substantial sum AND not having any experience than just trying something new...

$800 is not a substantial sum when the going rate was placed at $1500. At least, that's what I read... feel free to correct me if I read that wrong.