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01/20/2006 09:56:02 PM · #1 |
Yes, that "dreaded"(?) question.
I am up for it, but I am curious to see what anyone's thoughts are regarding acquiring additional equipment for the event and what kind of settings I may want to use with my cameras...
Here's a big thing to keep in mind... The couple to be, are young and have very little money (from what I have been told). So, I do not want to price myself out of the picture and I don't want to take significant advantage of them either.
What I was thinking about doing is charging them a flat rate for time and post processing and then providing them with a CD-ROM of both the digital images and scans of the B&W negatives (If they want film shot too). So that they can print the sizes they want and perhaps even recoup some costs by charging and friends and family that want copies of the photos.
Here's what I have...
Canon EOS 300D
Canon EOS ELAN 7N 35mm Film Body (love it BTW)
Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Sigma EF-500 DG Super Flash
Here's what I am considering adding for the job...
Flash Bracket - Inexpensive but capable unit
Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2 (To keep the E-TTL II Support)
Extra Memory Cards
An extra battery or two for the 300D (Generic Brand)
I intend on handholding and wearing both cameras the entire time, so I won't be carrying my 'backpack of tricks' along with me, so I am thinking of doing this...
Putting the 50mm on the 300D and the 28-135 USM IS lense on the 7N and then going for broke.
I was thinking of shooting the primary photos in Manual, shooting most all of the film on an Automatic setting (So I only have to "mess" with one camera) and then switching to an Automatic while I make the rounds and snap some candid shots with the 300D
I know that the flash will literary swallow batteries like no tomorrow, so I am thinking about buying a mess of 4 packs of batteries to quickly swap into the Flash, unless there is a more affordable or better solution for the short term.
What do you think? |
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01/20/2006 10:31:11 PM · #2 |
| Just a thought - if you put 50mm on 300d and you plan on shooting candids with it, they won't be as candid as you will have to come close... you're better off with 135mm for candids. |
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01/20/2006 10:43:14 PM · #3 |
Sounds like you are good to go.
You need to get a list of the posed shots you are "supposed" to do. I haven't shot a wedding in a while (I hate them) but I'll see if I can dig up that list.
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01/20/2006 10:46:38 PM · #4 |
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01/20/2006 11:09:10 PM · #5 |
Hmm...
Perhaps I should put the 50mm on the Elan 7n and the 28-135 on the 300D.
Thanks for the listing of "must have" pics. |
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01/20/2006 11:24:46 PM · #6 |
Indoor or outdoor?
How good are you with the flash?
Your lenses are too slow for indoor work in a dark environment.
Get to know fill flash like your own pen@@. If you have to think about it, well, it's too late. I have a metz 54 and it has a great auto mode - so i run it in auto mode, the camera in manual 2 stops under the proper exposure according to the meter. Works well.
A and T mode work as fill flash modes, in theory. P mode assumes the flash is the only light source. Watch shutter speeds in A mode - they can go to 30 seconds. thirty seconds that is - camera shake here you come. T mode maybe, but slow lenses are not your friend. High ISO can be. Neat image IS your friend!
Flash - get a diffuser (Lightsphere works great, but anything is better than nothing).
Wait till the subject is close to you - as in walking down the aisle, when they enter the reception, etc. Too far away and 2 things happen - the flash is not enogh light and more importantly, it puts out a big blast of light and that mean a long recycle time - not good.
If the lighting is mixed, make sure the flash is lighting it all up or you will get WB issues that are very difficult to fix.
I'd put the 50 on elan, the 28-135 on the rebel. ISO 400 in the elan, and the rebel you can adjust as needed.
batteries - 2 options - get 3 or 4 sets of nimh or buy a box of 12 or so alkalines and change them every 75 shots. as they wear down the recycle time increases.
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01/21/2006 04:54:19 AM · #7 |
Whatever you do, work out your estimated costs (plus some for contingencies) and turn it into a quote. Type it up (with explanation of what is and isn't included) and give it to the couple for their consideration. Otherwise you might find that there is a significant mismatch between expectations and budget.
A couple of acquiantances asked me to shoot their wedding. They wanted the whole deal - bride getting ready, going to the church, off for some photos at a nice spot, the reception (which was going to be at the hall that was part of the church), mix of mono and B&W, scans onto CD for the overseas relatives that wouldn't be there, but I didn't have to worry about an album (thank goodness!). I worked out how much film I thought I'd need (no digital camera back then), researched pro labs and worked out the best price and presented a quote to them. My quote was for somewhere around A$600 which basically covered my actual outgoings and had a tiny contigency built in. Wasn't hiring any equipment or an assistant. Certainly nothing to cover my time or anything, this was mates rates not a profit job.
They were too embarrassed to say anything, but a mutual friend told me afterwards that their budget was basically zero; apart from their clothes, everything for the wedding and reception was being donated or done by friends. I knew they didn't have much money, but I didn't know that had that little.
So we came down to a new arrangement. I took just one camera, two or three rolls of colour film, only took photos at the church/reception, charged them nothing and gave them the undeveloped film so they could get them developed themselves. Covered the cost of the film myself, my gift to them. A far cry from their original expectations, but they were arrangements that we could both live with.
This is an extreme example, I know, but from what I've seen, most peoples' experience of photography is that you buy some film, shoot some shots, take it to the chemist and hope for the best. They seem to expect that if you're a half-decent photographer then you can just shoot in the same way and get great results. All the things about using pro film and services, shooting all the important shots multiple times (hey, there's your expenses doubling already!) so you've got portrait/landscape/correct exposure/everyone's eyes open, simply don't occur to them, they don't realise how much of a professional photographers' charges flow straight out again on expenses. So make sure you budget the job and agree on charges beforehand, otherwise you may end up burned, emotionally or financially.
Message edited by author 2006-01-21 05:03:13. |
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01/21/2006 09:47:49 AM · #8 |
Thanks.
I don't know what these kids do expect, I was just asked by my stepsister as they are friend's of hers. I will definately talk to them before going into what I can offer them and if they do want my services, regardless of the agreed price, I plan on scouting out the locations and taking some practice shot and notes.
I have little desire to give crap results, it's an important day for a couple and even if they are married in blue jeans and t-shirts, they should be able to look at the images and be happy with the results. |
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