5D Wedding Failure

I had my first 5D failure during a wedding Saturday afternoon. After thousands of shots and no failures I missed the B&G coming down that aisle. It just turned off and would not come back on. I was able to grab my back-up for the rice-throwing and recieving line. It was fine afterwards for the formals. Everything was turned on and it had worked well throughout the ceremony but just decided to take a break. The groom said he saw the look of horror on my face as I stood in the aisle looking at the camera. My back-up was only a few yards away, but no time to grab it.

Ah man that sux

As in my other thread, currently have one body and a wedding in July. Now you have really got me worried

I feel for you, your tummy must have turned. I know you would have told yourself this a milion times after it hapened....but...... hang your back up camera on your shoulder....

Unfortunately, I was caught a little off guard. This was the shortest ceremony I have ever seen! As I was moving into position for additional shots up front the minister pronounced them man and wife as I was rushing back to the back for the aisle shots. Didn't have time to grab the back-up and it had my 70-200 lens on it. This camera has never failed me as the 20D has in the past.

I don't ever shoot anything without a camera on my shoulder. I would suggest just putting your 20D on your side so that if you are in this situation again that it won't put you out of the loop for the shots.

Normally I do....... but I had the long lens on it and I was moving into a tight situation with the 5D and my 24-70 that would have made it cumberson. I was afraid I would bang the long lens on something and make a noise. I was concentrating more on the shot than on what the minister was saying and by the time I realized where I was and what was about to happen, all I could do was hurry to the back of the aisle. Stupid mistake that will not happen again. I guess that's why a second shooter can be invaluable!! I have just not had any problems the 5D to this point and was more in shock than anything else.

This was an ideal setting for a photograhper. The wedding coordinator was an older lady that went out of her way to make sure I had everything I needed. She asked me how I wanted the church lights set during the ceremony for my photography, she helped with the formal shots and the posing. The minister was extremely cooperative and said the only rule he had for me was to not break anything. Other than that I could do whatever I wanted to get good shots. Flash....no flash...... he didn't care. He even performs the ceremony with his back to the church so the wedding party is facing the guests and they can see and hear everthing. All of my shots were great with this one exception, so I really can't complain.

I know that feeling (not at a wedding, my first is not until Jul 28th) and it's gut wrenching to say the least.

A good rule at weddings is three bodies, two on you at all times with the third in the bag.
Mike

Gee Bob, that's terrible - I'm really sorry to hear about. Being a 5D user myself that gives me the shivvers too. I also have the same setup, with the 70-200 on the second body, so I would have been in the same jam.

Easy enough to armchair quarterback after the fact, but I wonder if perhaps taking out and putting the battery back in might have helped. Well, hopefully this is the first and last time. - Stu

Yikes...

I have seen other posts like this and it just makes your heart stop. I could imagine the look on your face. I know I would try my best to fake it, but what could you do? Most likely everyone else was watching the bride....and not you...

Let us know how the pics go and if they even notice that segment missing....

Camera failure can make your heart stop.....read Tim's recent acct and CPR would be needed!!! His account was fascinating and handled like the pro he is...calm heads prevail.

Sorry about hear about your troubles. Tell me, what did you have to do to get it going again? R&R the batteries?

StaticThought wrote in post #3127406
one body and a wedding

You are a pilgrim in an unholy land.

Great example WHY to have backup...now I know!

5D, elans and 20D are all in the same category.

Too bad it happened.

Sorry to hear of your trouble, similar to my own. I've only missed one thing during a wedding, I recreated it after the ceremony and put it in the right sequence, hopefully the couple will forget it ever happened.