Events and weddings, essential focal lengths?

yep.

I've just done a portrait shoot for work to get photos of all the staff and one of the lads started chatting to me about how he's a photographer and does weddings etc.

After a couple of mins it turns out he and a mate does them, he has a Nikon D40 (my D60 was pants) and they charge £200 per wedding. When I mentioned insurance he hadn't got a clue what he would need it for. :(
 
Mp4 said:
Hi guys,

Well after doing 3 assisted wedding's

im now taking the plunge with a wedding in May 2012

Gear Canon 400D
50mm 1.8
85mm 1.8
standard 18mm - 55mm
sigma 70-300 4.0
5 battery (7day shop ones)
Yonguyo flash gun (no TTL)

Is there anything I can buy in the mean time to help.
Click to expand...

5Dc + Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 (maybe the new 24-70 if it's available)
TTL flash is kind of a huge help for weddings.

Also tbh, and I don't want to appear rude, but I had a look at Somantha & Richard's wedding, and I think you need to work on a number of things. Your exposure has too many blown highlights and deep shadows that are losing allot of detail.
When you use flash, it seems to be bare-direct flash instead of bounced, which looks ugly.
The processing and colours look a little too funky imo, and the contrast likely adds to the blown highlights and black shadow areas.
Composition is bad in a few, and I wouldn't have those on my website.
Composition is also quite good in a few, but they are ruined by the above issues imo.

I wouldn't normally say anything if someone hasn't asked for critique, but this is someone's wedding we are talking about, I hope you realise how important it is to not mess up?

You may think this is just someone's 'opinion' and maybe not what most people think, so maybe try posting a few of those images on fred & miranda's forum, and ask if they think your ready to go solo or not?

Again, I really don't want to cause any offence, but I felt this elephant really needed to be addressed for the sake of the couple. If this couple are a friend or family, then you potentially have allot to lose, so hope you know what your doing, is all.
If I was you right now, I would be doing some serious practice in just about every area...
 
the photos i have on my site of richard &samantha was all in auto when i knew nothing about my camera. Now will be diffrent as i know about settings etc. At the moment a second body isnt something i can afford as i have my own wedding this year. another lens and insurance i feel is about where i need to go.
 
Last edited:
Well if you don't have a second body insurance is a must. The body failing during a wedding isn't as simple as just giving the fee back, compensation would be involved. You could write something into the contract possibly but then that might put clients off? Don't forget to declare to the taxman either, having to fill in the previous 7+ years of tax forms isn't fun...
 
Mp4 said:
the photos i have on my site of richard &samantha was all in auto when i knew nothing about my icamera. Now will be diffrent as i know about settings etc. At the moment a second body isnt something i can afford as i have my own wedding this year. another lens and insurance i feel is about where i need to go.
Click to expand...

Actually, where you need to go, is to get a CLUE, then as well an insurance you need to get a backup body, either rented, borrowed or purchased!
Ask any wedding photographer what they think, when you tell them your not going to take a backup body!
At this point, I just feel sorry for the couple, as they have misplaced their trust in a cowboy, that doesn't give a damn about them seemingly.
I don't know what else to say...
 
Last edited:
Rojin said:
Well if you don't have a second body insurance is a must. The body failing during a wedding isn't as simple as just giving the fee back, compensation would be involved. You could write something into the contract possibly but then that might put clients off? Don't forget to declare to the taxman either, having to fill in the previous 7+ years of tax forms isn't fun...
Click to expand...

Even so Rojin, no amount of money is going to bring back those photographs.
Imo, it's not just a matter of liability and litigation, it's about professionalism and moral's.
If he doesn't have respect for the couple and their wedding, he shouldn't be a wedding photographer, or 'claim to be'...
 
Last edited:
An Exception said:
Actually, where you need to go, is to get a CLUE, then as well an insurance you need to get a backup body, either rented, borrowed or purchased!
Ask any wedding photographer what they think, when you tell them your not going to take a backup body!
At this point, I just feel sorry for the couple, as they have misplaced their trust in a cowboy, that doesn't give a damn about them seemingly.
I don't no what else to say...
Click to expand...

Makes me think of this for some reason..

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/8273105/dudes-photos
 
An Exception said:
Even so Rojin, no amount of money is going to bring back those photographs.
Imo, it's not just a matter of liability and litigation, it's about professionalism and moral's...
Click to expand...

I don't disagree. It's a massive responsibility that should not be taken lightly.
 
Why anyone would agree to shoot a wedding using full auto and also admitting he didn't have clue about his camera, is beyond me.
 
I wasnt a photographer at my cousins wedding sam/richard i took this in 2007 the first weeks of me buying a camera so had no clue then.

we all have to start at a point and this is mine.

ill post back later when near a pc
 
Last edited:
Mp4 said:
I wasnt a photographer at my cousins wedding sam/richard i took this in 2007 the first weeks of me buying a camera so had no clue then.
Click to expand...
You said you have assisted on 3 weddings, were you carrying the bag's rather than taking pictures?
If you did take pictures, why are they not on your site instead of the selection of poor quality pictures I noted earlier?
If you really are better than those examples, wouldn't it make sense to put your best foot forward and put some more recent work on there instead?

Mp4 said:
we all have to start at a point and this is mine.

ill post back later when near a pc
Click to expand...

Yes we all start somewhere, but we don't all have to go in under prepared and potentially ruin a couple's big day, to do so would be shameful, and I think you should consider other peoples interests over your own in matters this important.
 
Last edited:
Do you not have a friend/family member that you could borrow a body from at all?
 
If you can't afford to buy another body, then you should be renting one, infact, you should be renting any lenses and flashes you need to. I can't see how anyone can be considered serious if they don't.

Sure it means a reduction in the profit you would make from a Wedding, but ultimately it's about ensuring you produce fantastic images for the couple and build up your own portfolio, eventually leading to making decent money from it because you can afford to buy your own gear. You have to take a hit somewhere starting out, that hit being the most important day of a couple's life is not where I'd want it to be.


I've never done Wedding Photography myself, but I know full well that it's the most stressful type of Photography going... which is obviously something people also thrive on. I know enough that it's something you've got to be fully committed and prepared with to even consider doing it though. There are far too many cowboys out there and people who think that just because they've got an SLR, it means they can shoot weddings.

My Cousin had a disastrous Tog' at their wedding last year and they were really unhappy with the images. During their first dance, I watched as he was just wondering about taking shots without even looking through the viewfinder... snap, snap, snap.
 
An Exception said:
You said you have assisted on 3 weddings, were you carrying the bag's rather than taking pictures?
If you did take pictures, why are they not on your site instead of the selection of poor quality pictures I noted earlier?
If you really are better than those examples, wouldn't it make sense to put your best foot forward and put some more recent work on there instead?
Click to expand...
1.Carrying bags, holding reflector , guest list etc . & asking questions :)

2. No pictures


Bri said:
Do you not have a friend/family member that you could borrow a body from at all?
Click to expand...

I know people but all Nikon users …

Nexus said:
If you can't afford to buy another body, then you should be renting one, infact, you should be renting any lenses and flashes you need to. I can't see how anyone can be considered serious if they don't.

Sure it means a reduction in the profit you would make from a Wedding, but ultimately it's about ensuring you produce fantastic images for the couple and build up your own portfolio, eventually leading to making decent money from it because you can afford to buy your own gear. You have to take a hit somewhere starting out, that hit being the most important day of a couple's life is not where I'd want it to be.


I've never done Wedding Photography myself, but I know full well that it's the most stressful type of Photography going... which is obviously something people also thrive on. I know enough that it's something you've got to be fully committed and prepared with to even consider doing it though. There are far too many cowboys out there and people who think that just because they've got an SLR, it means they can shoot weddings.

My Cousin had a disastrous Tog' at their wedding last year and they were really unhappy with the images. During their first dance, I watched as he was just wondering about taking shots without even looking through the viewfinder... snap, snap, snap.
Click to expand...

Having a look at rented 40D £81 for a weekend

£200 to buy the body of a 40D … not bad I thought they were £300-£400 2nd hand ofc but shutter use is an issue for 40D no?

Saying that ive had my 400D since 2007 … god knows what that’s taken.

I also thrive on stress when I get stressed which isn’t that often.
 
mother-of-god-meme.jpg
 
This does sounds dodgy..

Mp4 said:
1.Carrying bags, holding reflector , guest list etc . & asking questions :)

2. No pictures
Click to expand...

the photos i have on my site of richard &samantha was all in auto when i knew nothing about my camera. Now will be diffrent as i know about settings etc
Click to expand...

Do you have some representative examples of your current work? I think it would stop everyone at least thinking you aren't a total cowboy, otherwise, just because you know one end of the camera from the other doesn't exactly mean much unless you can execute..

And as for a backup camera, if you have friends with Nikon kit, at least that gives you a fighting chance should it all go Pete Tong.. I'm doing a family wedding this year (They can't afford a Tog, so have asked me..) At the moment, I have my own basic kit (Canon with 28-75 f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4, etc + Flash (can be wireless as well)) but I've still arranged to borrow a friends Nikon SLR with 17-50 f/2.8 and a flash just in case.. I wouldn't dream of turning up with zero backup, that's insane.. Even though I'm doing it for free, it's such a special day for them and I just don't want to mess it up, insurance is no excuse to be sloppy..
 
Last edited:
Mp4 said:
£200 to buy the body of a 40D … not bad I thought they were £300-£400 2nd hand ofc but shutter use is an issue for 40D no?

Saying that ive had my 400D since 2007 … god knows what that’s taken.

I also thrive on stress when I get stressed which isn’t that often.
Click to expand...

No!?

Shutters go on all cameras, mine is at 55k and is working perfectly...


As an aside, i'd listen to everything people have said in this thread.

I've had a number of offers to do peoples weddings, and I simply would not, and my kit list is more comprehensive than yours (7D, 40D, etc).

A wedding is FAR too important to **** up, and if you haven't got the basics right then I shudder to think :o
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom