| Author | Thread |
|
|
07/31/2005 10:04:57 AM · #1 |
Yes, despite my thread topic, this is another wedding question thread..
Hi, I've been asked to shoot my brother's wedding this fall. I've never done one before and I hopefully won't end up having to do this one (I'd like to some day but don't know if I'm ready yet). He isn't expecting professional results, but if I can't provide pro-calibur work, I won't be satisfied. My first question is, to those who have shot weddings, what gear would you consider essential?
My kit is as follows:
Nikon D70, Nikon 18-70 f/3.5-4.5, Nikon 50 f/1.8, Nikon 70-300 f/4.5-5.6G, SB-800, cheap but decent tripod, 1.5 gigs worth of CF cards.
I have absolutely no confidence in my 70-300 and will try to borrow an 80-200 f/2.8 zoom from my school newspaper. I'm thinking I should probably get another D70 battery, a diffuser/reflector (depending on where the photos will be taken) and maybe a flash bracket...any other ideas or tips?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
07/31/2005 10:08:33 AM · #2 |
You sound like you know what you need.
50 1.8 will be useful and the kit lens also...80-200 2.8 can definately get the job done in low light, just make sure you have something to brace your lens-holding elbow on.
I wouldn't even bring the tripod.
If it's darkly lit, expose off the background, get at least 1/60 second shutter speed -- by bumping ISO or opening your aperture, then turn your flash on, and use balanced fill flash. There's nothing worse than a picture of the B&G where you can't make out the background at all.
|
|
|
|
07/31/2005 10:10:34 AM · #3 |
Wide angle fast lens too - to complement the 80-200 2.8 which is a great idea. Something in the Tamron 28-75 2.8 range if they make similar for Nikon. Have 3 times the memory you think you need - at LEAST another gig. Definitely a 2nd battery - 3 is preferable. Inside or outside wedding? Inside, I'd consider practicing at the same church near the same time of day if you can - about a week beforehand - right now wouldnt help cuz it's bright summer nights. And practice allowing yourself ISO 800 and Neat Image. :)
M
|
|
|
|
07/31/2005 10:12:27 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by deapee:
I wouldn't even bring the tripod. |
Gotta disagree if it's inside. Without the tripod, you will shoot EVERYTHING either ISO 1600 or blurry in most churches I've been in. The processional is 50mm 1.8 time ABSOLUTELY. If you have AI Servo or equivalent - practice with it, then use it for processional/recessional.
Basically, if you know your equipment and have the best stuff you can get by then, you'll be ok. But bring the tripod.
|
|
|
|
07/31/2005 11:27:44 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by mavrik:
Gotta disagree if it's inside. Without the tripod, you will shoot EVERYTHING either ISO 1600 or blurry in most churches I've been in. The processional is 50mm 1.8 time ABSOLUTELY. If you have AI Servo or equivalent - practice with it, then use it for processional/recessional.
Basically, if you know your equipment and have the best stuff you can get by then, you'll be ok. But bring the tripod. |
Got to disagree with your disagreement. Maybe I'm old school, but clients generally just want clean, sharp and well focused images
(Especially the older clients who are usually paying the bill and placing reorders). This is best obtained with flash. I'm a bit more flexible, but I've known wedding photographers who set their cameras at f8 and on the maximum flash sync and never change the settings.
The only ambient light I use in wedding photography (indoors) are candles or the occasional wide angle shot from the balcony (in which case I usually find a handrail or something to steady the camera). Artsy stuff looks good in a portfolio, but those are never the images that bring you the best sales.
Fast lens do help with focusing in really dim places, but I wouldn't use them wide open.
That being said I almost never take a personal image without the camera being on a tripod. In fact looking at my DPC portfolio the only image taken without a tripod was taken underwater;-).
|
|
|
|
07/31/2005 01:43:54 PM · #6 |
The Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 (about $300) is an excellent lens and what I primarily use all through the wedding. A second battery would be good. I would also highly suggest having a backup body with you. Find someone to borrow from, or see if you can rent one for your local shop.
Should probably look at getting yourself a flash bracket. I've got the Stoboframe Pro T and really like it.
If you are going to do a lot of posed shots, use a tripod. It a lot more convenient, especially if you are going to be going back and forth getting people posed. You'll also be able to slow the shutter down, so you don't have to use such a high ISO on the formals. ISO 800 on the D70 is as high as you want to go.
Shooting a super high ISO and then running everything through NeatImage will kill you in post-processing. Do it right to begin with, so you don't kill yourself in post. ISO 800 on the D70 is really the absolute highest you want to go, and I try to stay as far away from it as possible.
|
|
|
|
07/31/2005 02:44:51 PM · #7 |
Cebeller is right. ISO 800 is has far has you want to go. But again is preferrable to use ISO 1600 than getting a blurry image.
And about the tripod: My gess is that you'll be so worried to catch everything that you'll forget to use it.
Know jus the way I like to do it:
I like to do a mixture of tradicional poses and a kind of jornalistic aproach. What does this means? You will have to do poses from bride and groom, alone and toguether, and with family (the ones who want). When there's some spare time, like waiting in the reception or wile wainting for the bride to get in church (if you arive before) I switch to my 70-300mm (but I've got the D ED version), and a bit far from the gests withought beeing noticed I try to take candids out of everyone (be very carefull about light and shutter speed, because this way you can't use flash - and the shadows of the midday sun). This gets relaxed and natural candid portratis with very isolation o the subject from the background. From my experience this are the photo's that I sell more.
Get to see the church in advance. Take someone with you and put him/her neat the place where things will happen and metter the light. see if the church has windows that let the light in. This way you will plan in advance and you will see if the 50mm f1.8 will get enough light to be used. You can also play a bit woth the tripod and the sb800. Try the slow sincronyzation flash with rear curtain. This can do nice photos. This and this are examples of it with 1/2 sec and 1/5 sec exposure with slow sinc rear curtain flash. Don't go much above half second because you can get them too blurry. This where taken with the kit lens handheld.
A tip for low light exposures withought flash: put in to shutter priority, set the shutter speed to match the need of the lens and go for it. It's preferable to get a slight underexpose photo than a motion blurred one.
Just my thoughts.
EDIT: about battery: if you have a spare it's better. But probably if you charge it in the day before and it's fresh you don't get them dead untill the next week after the wedding. I shoot about 950 photos in the wedding from the images posted here and I still did a friend birthday party untill drain it completly out. Know about th extra AA batterys for the sb800 that's another story... It feeds a lot on the batteries... I always use the atatchment for the 5th one and I got to use the spare ones on almoust every wedding. But again I use fill in flash for almoust every outdoor portrait (Ilove my sb800! - most of the tims with -1EV compensation, just to minor the shadows caused by the sun in the face)
Message edited by author 2005-07-31 14:51:58.
|
|
|
|
07/31/2005 02:45:00 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by cbeller:
Should probably look at getting yourself a flash bracket. I've got the Stoboframe Pro T and really like it.
|
Flash bracket is a must to get the flash as far away from the lens as possible to reduce red eye and for more flattering light. I currently have one on ebay if anyone is interested. |
|
|
|
07/31/2005 03:38:20 PM · #9 |
| My advice is to take lots and lots of images no matter what take lots of images. |
|
|
|
07/31/2005 10:30:25 PM · #10 |
Thanks for the advice guys, ordered a lightsphere II today. Unfortunately a new lens is out of my budget (and I'd rather fill out a few other focal lengths before I overshadow the 18-70 too much). I will definitely stock up on AAs for the SB-800. I'll have access to my parents laptop, so I can clear out my memory when it gets too full. Practice a week before sounds like a good idea as well.
Question for D70 users w/SB-800 or 600, do you typically rely on iTTL wireless shooting using the D70 as a master or is a cable a necessity? Also, for the brackets mentioned, how quick are they to readjust the flash orientation when rotating the camera into portrait/landscape orientation? Do they flip on a hinge or is there a bolt that must be removed?
Thanks again,
|
|
|
|
07/31/2005 11:14:16 PM · #11 |
I find the iTTL pretty unreliable, so I shoot with a wireless radio system. The flash brackets flip on a hinge so you can flip it on the fly.
|
|
|
|
07/31/2005 11:19:18 PM · #12 |
talk with the church or wedding planner to find out when and where you can shoot. I just shot my 3rd wedding yesterday and the church has a NO flash policy during the cerimony. they told me I could use the flash as they came down the asile and then again when leaving. They said I could stand out of site to the side of the alter, but during the rehersal I found out i could ONLY see the back of the grooms men. so I opted to just go up to the balcony and shoot some wide angle (no flash) shots during the cerimony. then it was a MAD dash back down stairs to catch the bride and groom coming back down the asile.
I did get some ok shots, but could have been better if they let me use my flash.
James |
|
|
|
07/31/2005 11:20:10 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Maverick:
Question for D70 users w/SB-800 or 600, do you typically rely on iTTL wireless shooting using the D70 as a master or is a cable a necessity? Also, for the brackets mentioned, how quick are they to readjust the flash orientation when rotating the camera into portrait/landscape orientation? Do they flip on a hinge or is there a bolt that must be removed?
Thanks again, |
I would suggest you get the SC-17 or sc-28 cord. Even if you insist that no other photography occurs while your shooting, some aunt or cousin think they can get a shots as you do. Their flashes and/or preflashes can really confuse your ittl wireless. A cord connection is the only insurance that this will not occur.
The brackets just hinge. It takes just mere seconds. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/12/2025 01:30:35 PM EDT.
