Watching official photographers... pre wedding jitters

before I start, this isnt a griping or "this photographer sucked" thread.


Well I was at a quincinera this past weekend with my soon to be wife, as usual I took my camera and decided to have some fun. I wanted to practice with M mode and onboard flash and find out what focal length I favor most.


Then the official photographer showed up, and I seen the oh so familiar camera strap we all know and love. So I figured, this will be good to watch since Its something that I do here and there just for my own practice.


Theo fficial photographer was using a canon camera, some offbrand flash (sunpack or something) and a zoom lens. Upon closer inspection I seen that it had a nice shiny gold ring and looked an aweful lot like my 18-55kit lens.

Turns out, it was an XTi and 18-55 non IS.

Now the lighting in this place is horrible, tho not too dark. there is a row of florescent lights going down the length of the hall on both sides, and a middle row of your average run of the mill yellow/orange bulb (tungsten?) lights. I had a hard time getting decent shots with flash from more than 5 feet away or so.

Then my soon to be wife pointed out that the photographer wasnt using her flash... I about died.

Now for all things equal, iso1600 on my 28-105 is workable under the lighting that was in the hall.


Now where my concern comes in and the whole point of my thread. My wedding after after party is going to be in that same hall, and Im paying for an official photgrapher for both the ceremony and after party. I havent spoke with the photographers directly, since the family knows more about the whole setup and what not but after seeing that there is this part of me that hopes that when I look over at my photographer that I see a nice red ring, or atleast something other than the kit lens, and a flash that fires.

I never payed it much thought, but the closer I get to the wedding the more I think about it.

So anyone else whos been in my position had the same feelings? I know the family will be happy with the pictures, but since Ive started getting into photography over the past year or so I guess I look at things with a different eye.

If i were you, i would speak to whoever is paying for the photographer and explain your concerns.

They will hopefully appreciate your point of view (i mean you are quite important in the event eh?) and book someone who you can be comfortable with. That said i think I would like to see the photographers portfolio well before the event or at least have heard good feedback about them.

Gear in itself is not a huge problem but only if used correctly!

It doesn't hurt to talk to your photographer! If you are paying for it you have every right to ask questions.

My photog's portfolio blew me away (and I didnt' know anything about DSLRs at the time) he took amazing pictures. 30D/40D and good Canon lenses. After the engagement photo shoot (before the wedding) I talked with him about gear a little bit and he was happy to chat about that stuff.

Jimmer411 wrote in post #5750865
...part of me that hopes that when I look over at my photographer that I see a nice red ring, or atleast something other than the kit lens, and a flash that fires.

Man up and take over the photography responsibility. I didn't do many things for my wedding as far as making decisions but I did choose the DJ and I did choose the photographer.

Next, stop worrying about what level of gear someone uses. It really is irrelevant. It is good that you know he should've been using flash because it was too dark given the ISO possibilities but don't judge someone's skill by their gear.

When you start looking for the photographer for your wedding (because you're going to take over that responsibility) you can check over their online portfolio (because any up to date photographer will have one) and make sure they know how to shoot indoors. At the least, get the name of the photographer they've already chosen and check out their images.

You do understand that they family or officiant could have requested "No flash" during any ceremonies!! Just a thought, they could also have hired a "friend" or went with the cheapest photographer they could find at the time. Could be any number of reasons...

Just playing el diablo advocato

neilwood32 wrote in post #5751025
They will hopefully appreciate your point of view (i mean you are quite important in the event eh?)

I think you misread the opening post. He's just the groom.

MY wedding photographer is a Nikon shooter. I trust him completely in doing a good job for us.

He's got some very good portfolios, so I'm just going to let him do his thing, and I'll do my thing (and have a good day).

Have you seen what the photographer from the quincinera got?

Jimmer411 wrote in post #5750865
I havent spoke with the photographers directly, since the family knows more about the whole setup and what not but after seeing that there is this part of me that hopes that when I look over at my photographer that I see a nice red ring, or atleast something other than the kit lens, and a flash that fires.

I have a friend who is a wedding photographer whose knowledge of the technical side of things is not the greatest, but who takes absolutely stunning images. Her daily rates are close to 5 figures and she is so busy she turns people away. In fact, she is being flown across Europe by a client to shoot his wedding.

If any of the POTN regulars just saw her at work, they'd be mocking her here too. Until they saw her images.

Put another way - I suggest you look at the photographer's portfolio and not his gear.

Vandit

Ha! I had the same experience as you at a convention I attended a few months back. The organizers were bragging about hiring a pro photog to document the event, and when I see her, it's with an off-brand flash with the XTi and 18-55 kit lens. I switched between my 28-135 IS and Nifty 50 all weekend and literally shot circles around her. And I say this knowing full well I'm mediocre at best, with 90 percent of my shots being garbage. Turned out the hire was based on friendship with one of the event organizers and little else. Wish I'd could've gotten that gig. I could use the money.

Our wedding photographer, on the other hand, was competent. His white balance was off in most of the shots, but the church had some odd architecture and lighting. I don't really fault him for that, because I'd have done far worse. He was a jerk, though, really difficult to work with and I do hold that against him.

When you select your wedding photographer, take a look at their previous work. Ask to see samples (not just the 'greatest hits') of a wedding, preferably in an album that they actually offer to their clients. Any wedding photographer worth their salt will have sample albums to show. Take a look at their images, from beginning to end.

Gear does matter, to an extent. An 18-55 Rebel kit lens won't allow me to shoot well in low light situations (think ISO 1600, 1/30th of a second, F3.5-4.0) and still capture reasonable sharpness and color. Gear IS part of the equation, but I'll say this - a good photographer with decent gear will perform much better than a mediocre photographer with omgwtfbbq gear. Good gear makes a good photographer better. Good gear doesn't make a BAD photographer better. Also, you wouldn't let someone shoot your wedding with a point and shoot digital camera, would you?

My wedding photographer is a friend and colleague I've worked and assisted on weddings with in the past. He's an excellent photographer, knows his stuff, and I've seen how he works. I've got complete faith in him.

Some broad, generally true statements...

1. A good photographer can transcend the equipment they use, making superior photos on the simplest equipment
   
2. It does not require the use of flash to make a good photo even under fluorescent lighting, if the photographer knows what they are doing
   
3. There are many relatively new photographers using entry-level dSLRs who are passing themselves off to shoot for hire
   
4. As others said, ask to see example work and talk to your photographer
   

I havent had a chance to see how the pictures turned out for the party so Im not sure how they turned out. Ill try to post one of my pictures from this weekend that will show how bad the lighting was in the area.


I was given numerous references for the photographer for my wedding, so Im not concerned too much about the quality so much. There is still that part of me that is worried that Im going to be up there and observing a photographer and asking "Why?!" when I see certain things (like no flash in bad lighting with a slow lens) or just in general seeing things that I normally wouldn't see had I not been into photography.

I was mostly wondering if others go thru the same thing when they hire professional work?

And I cant exactly cancel and rehire a new photographer 2 weeks before my wedding Not that I would anyways.

Well for one, you don't need a red ring around your lens to take excellent photos. It's not going to transform you into a better photographer just because you have one.

Of course, having wider apetures available is certainly a plus.

My 50mm f/1.4 has no red ring but I get excellent shots with it.

Have you seen the photos the photographer got?