David Ziser, Pro Wedding Shooter, blogs "GO JOE BROWN!!!"

http://digitalprotalk.​blogspot.com …ssional-are-you-food.html

The above blog post is from yesterday. David Ziser is probably one of the best known "Wedding Bloggers" in the the US. His new book "Captured by the Light" is the number 1 wedding book (oddly) and number 3 photography book on Amazon. He just finished a sold out "world tour" presenting his seminar on digital photography. He teaches at Photoshop World, WPPI, and all the other big "meet ups". He's featured at Scott Kelby's Training Center as the "wedding shooter in residence", having completed six videos for Scott at present.

So, the guy isn't a hack. He knows his way around a camera. And a studio. And a customer.

He is also a tireless blogger, as you can see from the post above. I follow David closely, as he gives away so much info its staggering. One thing you learn from David is that gear is only part of the equation. He shoots with a 5D2 and a 7D, but 18 months ago he was using 40Ds exclusively. He often uses EF-S lens. He explains why in his blog, and the logic is sound -- and the results are there.

Now, to the point. (Finally, right?) His blog post on Judge Joe Brown's recent "smackdown" seems to come down squarely on the heads of the "Rebel for Pros" crowd out there. I thought he would disagree with the Judge's assertion that a Pro has to shoot a 1 Series. But he didn't.

So, an interesting read. Just thought I would share.

Great blog -- thanks for sharing!

Bryan

Very good read...............

The "pro" doesn't think the rebel is a good wedding camera.


Mark

Markk9 wrote in post #9790225
Very good read...............

The "pro" doesn't think the rebel is a good wedding camera.


Mark

It doesn't sound as if he does. I've met Dave on two occasions, and have been on a photowalk that he conducted. He's a pretty level headed guy, but you can tell this got under his skin. The "guy with camera" phenomenon is not one he is pleased with.

These guys who've been shooting a long time just need to accept it and move on. It isn't changing. Wasting energy on the subject is pointless, imo. The guy is probably an amazing photographer and a great guy, but I never understand getting upset about things that one can't change.

bnlearle wrote in post #9791361
These guys who've been shooting a long time just need to accept it and move on. It isn't changing. Wasting energy on the subject is pointless, imo. The guy is probably an amazing photographer and a great guy, but I never understand getting upset about things that one can't change.

You're right -- its not going away. Interestingly, he makes his living now off teaching "wannabes" how to become better photographers. But if the barrier to entry is $1500 for a 50D and a lens, there would be far less wannabes -- and far fewer customers for him.

I don't think there is anything wrong shooting a wedding with a rebel -- as long as you are treating the wedding with the professional respect it deserves. In fact, in capable hands, I would rather have a wedding shooter with TWO rebels instead of ONE 7D.

Cause **** breaks, you know.

bnlearle wrote in post #9791361
These guys who've been shooting a long time just need to accept it and move on. It isn't changing. Wasting energy on the subject is pointless, imo. The guy is probably an amazing photographer and a great guy, but I never understand getting upset about things that one can't change.

Lol, it's just those things I can't change that make me the most upset! If I could change them I would, then I'd cease being upset And yes, I've heard the serenity prayer...

mattograph wrote in post #9791417
You're right -- its not going away. Interestingly, he makes his living now off teaching "wannabes" how to become better photographers. But if the barrier to entry is $1500 for a 50D and a lens, there would be far less wannabes -- and far fewer customers for him.

I don't think there is anything wrong shooting a wedding with a rebel -- as long as you are treating the wedding with the professional respect it deserves. In fact, in capable hands, I would rather have a wedding shooter with TWO rebels instead of ONE 7D.

Cause **** breaks, you know.

I agree, but it would be the kit lens that would be my concern.

I've been out of the wedding profession for like 17 years. I finally sold my old Medium Format equipment, but I still get asked to do a freebee on occasion. I explain that I no longer have the pro equipment and I have done a recent wedding with my T1i backed up be the old Digital Rebel XT. But I did have better lenses than the kit lens in my bag.

Later this year, I will be getting back into the wedding business. I will be starting slowly, but my plan is to purchase a 5dII and a 24-70. Having used the rebel in a wedding situation, I will have no issue with using them as backup until I can afford another camera, probably a 7d. Oh, and I still have all my old lighting equipment and it all works great.

David surprised me there with his opinion. Out of all the people in the business I'd expect him to tell us it's the photographer and not the camera that delivers most of the quality. The reactions on his post are a good read btw.

mattograph wrote in post #9791417
But if the barrier to entry is $1500 for a 50D and a lens, there would be far less wannabes -- and far fewer customers for him.

There will always be wannabes, as there will always be brides that want rock bottom prices. My opinion is two XXD's and the 24-70/2.8 and 70/200/2.8 or a good selection of fast primes (35/2, 50/1.4, 100/2, 200/2.8) for a basic wedding kit.

mattograph wrote in post #9791417
I don't think there is anything wrong shooting a wedding with a rebel -- as long as you are treating the wedding with the professional respect it deserves. In fact, in capable hands, I would rather have a wedding shooter with TWO rebels instead of ONE 7D.

I still think the rebel lines is not a safe choice, Canon has crippled it's high ISO usage. But, for the Joe Brown things it's the glass she used. A rebel with a 24-70/2.8 would have taken usable inside no flash photos. A Rebel with a 35/2 and 85/1.8 would have been even better.

Mark

Personally I think a nice camera helps but only a part of the whole solution. As long as the pro has redundant gear, who cares what they shoot.

But for my wedding, I want to shot all by a 8x10 view camera.

David is a great guy, and I happen to agree with him. Too many whiners on his blog's comment area.

It's the photographer, not the gear, yada yada yada...sure you can start with one, but how many well known, successfully photographers do any of them know off hand is currently shooting with a rebel?

viet wrote in post #9803728
David is a great guy, and I happen to agree with him. Too many whiners on his blog's comment area.

It's the photographer, not the gear, yada yada yada...sure you can start with one, but how many well known, successfully photographers do any of them know off hand is currently shooting with a rebel?

Andre Agassi?

mattograph wrote in post #9804022
Andre Agassi?

I don't know who he is, but ok, one, who else amongst the thousands professional photographers that you know shoot rebel now that they are successful?

viet wrote in post #9804212
I don't know who he is, but ok, one, who else amongst the thousands professional photographers that you know shoot rebel now that they are successful?

Sorry -- this might explain it:

http://www.youtube.com …Lo7u3LBHo&featu​re=related