A single purchase for an amateur wedding

413x · 2 Mar 2015 at 12:05

My sisters wedding is imminent and she wants pics
FYI I have told her not to place any faith in what I get etc so this is essentially a try out
This is also my first go at anything involving people

This is in April and I am happy to make one purchase geared towards it

I only have my 60D
No off camera flashes

Available lenses
Canon 10-22mm f3.5-4.5
Sigma 35mm f1.4
Canon 50mm f1.8
Canon 100mm f2.8 macro L
And one to avoid I'm sure.. Sigma 120-300mm f2.8

Glaring omission 1
is a zoom in the mid range
Should I get the 17-55mm canon? I will at some point

Omission 2
Off camera flash

Note
I find keeper rate on 35mm dire. I don't know why I struggle so much with this lens
As I have made threads before. Mainly it's blurry pics even at high speed shutter
When it does get a good one it can look amazing
Despite this I expect this is one of the ideal situation for this Lens

Part of me thinks I should use this to make a decision on whether I even want to keep the 35mm

Raymond Lin · 2 Mar 2015 at 12:24

Get yourself a Yongou 600EX-RT, it's £110 thereabouts, you will need it for the evening photo. That's ahout 20% of the day.

And practice with your 35mm. lots.

D.P. · 2 Mar 2015 at 12:40

The. Ingest glaring ommison is lack of a second body.

If I was you I would rent a second body with a fast zoom lens, either another crop camera and 17-55mm f/2.8 or a FF with 24-70mm.
Buy a flash and learn to use it.

The 120-300mm should be left in the car- you might need something longer. Some churches will only allow the photographer to be at th back of the church and 300mm f/28 is perfect for that.

Get the 35mm sorted out. Do some static test shots for focus errors. If it passes the test ***** then fails in real life then it is time to return it, like some focus issue.

413x · 2 Mar 2015 at 12:53

Yep great shame my gf sold her cam!
I don't think I'll be able to get a second body

At 110 that flash is great. Definitely get that immediately as Yeah I will need practice.

I'll force myself to use the 35mm in next couple of weeks and make a decision on it.

I'll look at cost of renting a FF vs getting a 17-55mm bought.. Probably the least likely to happen

dannyjo22 · 2 Mar 2015 at 13:03

17-55 second hand prices are pretty great these days. Mine was £750ish uk stock when I got mine about three years ago new. It's going to **** me off when I sell it this year

TBH you would be better placed putting the money towards a photographer and enjoying the day. Take a few pictures yourself by all means but this is her wedding day, you are supposed to be enjoying it. I'm so glad I didn't do my sisters.

Raymond Lin · 2 Mar 2015 at 13:25

I am actually glad I photographed mine, it turned out great actually ! lol

But that's not the point here, the point is get practice or get someone else to do it.

413x · 2 Mar 2015 at 13:49

I don't really enjoy these sort of things in themselves so getting the camera out will likely help there.
It's best way for me to find out if I am any good at it at all. I actually don't think I will be lol. But I might really enjoy it. Just don't have a clue

Just to reiterate there's no pressure on me so I cab take as many or few as I like

Smeghead · 2 Mar 2015 at 13:59

If it's a one off, I don't see why you can't hire for the day, especially when it comes to that second body.

D.P. · 2 Mar 2015 at 14:17

Smeghead said:
If it's a one off, I don't see why you can't hire for the day, especially when it comes to that second body.

Definitely, rent a second body and a fast zoom, buy a flash or simply buy some books on wedding photography and portraiture.

CGrieves · 2 Mar 2015 at 14:54

Another suggestion- If it's your first time you're going to miss stuff, be in the wrong place and suchlike. So get a mate who's into photography and has complementary equipment to come and shoot too, and have a plan. Less pressure, you can stick to one body and one focal length/range, and you'll have someone with a second viewpoint, to bounce ideas off, moral support etc.

Steeps · 2 Mar 2015 at 18:03

I looked into hiring kit for weddings and the prices for bodies, lenses, cards etc it works out cheaper to buy second hand then re-sell just after... but I never got around to selling it all on as I found myself using it more.

If you need a hand with trying out different kit to find out what's right for you I'm not too far away, haven't got all of it to hand as I've loaned some out to another photographer for a few months but still got a couple of canon bodies, lenses and flashguns to hand.

An Exception · 2 Mar 2015 at 18:17

al4x said:
It's best way for me to find out if I am any good at it at all. I actually don't think I will be lol. But I might really enjoy it. Just don't have a clue

Just to reiterate there's no pressure on me so I cab take as many or few as I like

I delivered some photo's to a client who lived locally once. When I arrived, they opened the door and invited me in to view the pictures with them and their friends. Out of politeness I agreed. Halfway through viewing the pictures one of the brides friends burst into tears and ran out the room apologising as she left. Her now husband then left the room to go check on her. When he came back in, he said "she's OK, she just hates how her wedding pictures turned out, and now deeply regrets it".

Sure wedding pictures may not be a big deal to her now, but what about after the wedding, and for the years to come?
If I was you and this was my sister, I would refuse out of kindness.
If you go ahead with it, then just do a better job than this guy...
http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2012/01/should-i-book-a-professional-wedding-photographer-or-get-a-friend-to-do-it-for-free-a-cautionary-tale/

D.P. · 2 Mar 2015 at 18:26

Steeps said:
I looked into hiring kit for weddings and the prices for bodies, lenses, cards etc it works out cheaper to buy second hand then re-sell just after... but I never got around to selling it all on as I found myself using it more.

If you need a hand with trying out different kit to find out what's right for you I'm not too far away, haven't got all of it to hand as I've loaned some out to another photographer for a few months but still got a couple of canon bodies, lenses and flashguns to hand.

Agreed but you do need the capital to buy in the first place, plus there is the hassle. The Op could hire something like a 5DMK3 and 24-70mm with much less stress or risk than buying second hand.

But actually I think what CGrieves says is excellent advice. Instead of just getting a backup body get a backup photographer that can use that body, more likely to get a set of good results with 2 less experienced shooters than one with 2 bodies. Will also reduce the stress a lot.

Raymond Lin · 2 Mar 2015 at 20:03

An Exception said:
I delivered some photo's to a client who lived locally once. When I arrived, they opened the door and invited me in to view the pictures with them and their friends. Out of politeness I agreed. Halfway through viewing the pictures one of the brides friends burst into tears and ran out the room apologising as she left. Her now husband then left the room to go check on her. When he came back in, he said "she's OK, she just hates how her wedding pictures turned out, and now deeply regrets it".

Sure wedding pictures may not be a big deal to her now, but what about after the wedding, and for the years to come?
If I was you and this was my sister, I would refuse out of kindness.
If you go ahead with it, then just do a better job than this guy...
http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2012/01/should-i-book-a-professional-wedding-photographer-or-get-a-friend-to-do-it-for-free-a-cautionary-tale/

I've never sat through the photos with the couple but I've heard many times from people who has already married say how they wished they hired me instead.

The most complimentary is whenever I go back to a clients' house some years later, their house is a little like a gallery of my photos from the day. I feel deeply humbled by that.

413x · 2 Mar 2015 at 20:57

Just to answer some questions

wont be able to get a second person, i dont know anyone into this
i have told my sister i probably wont take any good pics (i probably wont tbh) - i will stress this!

i do not like the idea of renting (in anything) it really is such a waste. maybe a second body off ebay with a 17-55mm is better option?

413x · 2 Mar 2015 at 20:58

Steeps said:
I looked into hiring kit for weddings and the prices for bodies, lenses, cards etc it works out cheaper to buy second hand then re-sell just after... but I never got around to selling it all on as I found myself using it more.

If you need a hand with trying out different kit to find out what's right for you I'm not too far away, haven't got all of it to hand as I've loaned some out to another photographer for a few months but still got a couple of canon bodies, lenses and flashguns to hand.

this would be very much appreciated! Im not far from bedfordshire at all. Id also be really really grateful if you could give my 35mm f1.4 a go and see if you think theres anything wrong.

there was with my 120-300mm which makes me think it might all not be me!

Vertigo · 2 Mar 2015 at 21:23

Raymond Lin said:
Get yourself a Yongou 600EX-RT, it's £110 thereabouts, you will need it for the evening photo. That's ahout 20% of the day.

And practice with your 35mm. lots.

This. You need at least one flash or you'll be screwed in the evening.

Whilst a walkabout zoom like the 17-55 would be handy, you can shoot a wedding with what you've got, particularly the 35 and 100. My Sigma 35 is bolted to my camera most of the time, although I appreciate it gives a tighter framing on a crop.

413x · 2 Mar 2015 at 21:30

my 100mm is my best lens hands down (but 160mm effective on crop) but being macro i will definitely use it. seriously i cant get over how good my copy is! perfect focus when i tested it.

yep, flash is top priority it seems
and testing this damn 35mm.

Raymond Lin · 2 Mar 2015 at 21:33

You won't "need" the 100mm, especially on crop, unless you are stuck to the back of the room in reception. My 135mm is a lens that is used the least along with the 100mm macro.

Get practice with that 35mm, perhaps shoot with AF-on back button focus so you are effectively focus trapping every shot to help with accuracy.

413x · 2 Mar 2015 at 21:35

Raymond Lin said:
You won't "need" the 100mm, especially on crop, unless you are stuck to the back of the room in reception. My 135mm is a lens that is used the least along with the 100mm macro.

Get practice with that 35mm, perhaps shoot with AF-on back button focus so you are effectively focus trapping every shot to help with accuracy.

i switched to back button focus a while a go (think saw a thread on here)
im going to get the damn thing out now.
i had a look at some i took the other day - not really happy with any of them