Canon Wedding Photographers...or anyone I guess...

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

03/15/2005 08:27:47 AM · #1

What do you have in your bag?

What is the best/most used lens for wedding photography?

I presently own a 300D, Kit lens and a 50mm 1.8 and am going to get into some wedding photography. I am picking up the Canon 580EX flash soon.

Was wondering what path I should take in the lens department...I was told the 17-85 is a good lens for these type of shots, but how much would that lens differ from the kit lens....

Any help would be awesome! And it would be cool to get a list of what everyone has in the wedding day bag!

Thanks in advance!

K-Rob

Canon EOS-20D

03/15/2005 08:35:33 AM · #2

I am interested in this information myself. I've heard that a 24-70 is best for all around shots and a 70-200 for portaits.

I currently have:
28-135 IS - Could this take the place of the 24-70?
100 2.8 Macro - It seems like a good portrait lens.
50mm 1.8 for Low Light
Sigma 330 Flash

How is this for a starting wedding set up?

lwkimages

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/15/2005 08:38:14 AM · #3

I find a flash bracket to be indispensible. Mine is a Custom Brackets brand. It helps eliminate red eye and allows me to keep the flash above the camera, whether taking vertical or horizontal shots.

The flash you've chosen is a good one. I'd also suggest an omnibounce or diffuser to soften the light.

Considering that most wedding festivities are indoors, you should have in your bag one or two fast lenses (at least 2.8) for available light shots. The 50 1.8 will fill that bill. Another option is the Canon 70-200 f2.8. Used w/o flash it would let you get up close without getting up close ;-)

Nuno

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/15/2005 09:04:23 AM · #4

I'm going to start doing wedding photography and in my bag (lowepro stealth reporter 200 aw)there is:

- Nikon D70
- 18-70 kit lens
- 50mm f1.8
- I'm waiting for the Nikon 70-300mm to arrive
- flash SB800 (that I love!!)

I love the 50mm f1.8 for the low light and to control the dof. Although the low price the images aer very clear and nice.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/15/2005 09:12:17 AM · #5

I agree, the 50mm in low light is unreal...I'm soooo happy with that lens.

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

03/15/2005 09:17:56 AM · #6

I agree, the 50 1.8 works!

Nuno

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/15/2005 09:23:55 AM · #7

IÂ´vetaken photos with it at iso 1600 in very low light sittuations and after a bit of Neat Image it looks amasingly good.

My eyes where on the f1.4 version but the price scarred me off. I don't think it justify the difference.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

03/15/2005 09:25:12 AM · #8

So what is the Canon 70-200 f2.8 worth?

mrorange002

Canon EOS-5D

03/15/2005 09:26:49 AM · #9

Nikon D100
Nikon D70
2 SB80dx flashes
80-200 2.8
20-35 2.8
35-70 2.8
50 1.8
and a 16mm fisheye

I keep the cameras around my neck, and usually keep the 80-200 on one camera, and the 20-35 on another. Both cameras with flash attached at all times. I personally do not like the flash brackets, they can get really bulky. I find the pop up reflector card on the flashes seems to work perfectly well in most cases.

You can see some photos from this setup here

Prof_Fate

03/15/2005 11:17:26 AM · #10

I too am preparing to get into wedding photography...depending on the wedding a 28-80 or so should be enough on an APS sized camera (80 is 128mm equivalent...)
The Tamron 28-75 2.8 is probably a good choice. The 50 1.8 is a great lens, but a 1.8 the DOF is mighty small... Since you will have little time to change lenses, pick one that covers the range and then stick with that. A second body is a MUST - even if it is a film body. Borrow a freinds, bring an assistant and have him bring his camera.

Memory cards...RAW or JPG? I plan on shooting the ceremony and returns in RAW, the reception in JPG. Assuming you need space for 400 images, i'd like to have 3gb of storage, probably on 512 cards. Same cost for 2 512s or 1 1gb, slightly more hassle swapping them, but less chance of a much up that destroys 1gb of photos! (not that losing 512 would be cool either)

Flash...you'll need it. THe 'pros' tell me a Quantum flash and battery pack is extremely helpful (not cheap though...) A battery pack for your flash would be helpful in keping it alive longer and more importantly, faster recycle. A friend that shoots film replaces his alakaline AA every other roll of film - as they get used recycle time drops and he figures batteries are cheap. I have 6 sets of Nimh...call me an environmentalist.

I have a manual flash for now...I can make it work acceptable, but a Sigma EF500DG Super is on the list. I can always slave my current flash.

Some folks like battery grips others flash brackets... i lean toward the bracket idea.

The book i am reading on wedding photography (printed '96 so things change) strongly recommends 'studio flash' (aka Alien Bees or equaivalent) for the altar returns and formal portrait shots. a)better lighting control and quality (not so flat) and with a large group you'll just need more light.

My questions...
So, those of you out there working in this field - what do you do / use for the alter returns, flash wise?

Do you work alone or with an assistant?

Take a portable backdrop for formal shots?

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/15/2005 11:31:58 AM · #11

Great replys! Keep em' coming!

I am picking up the 580EX today....any tips or hints?

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

03/15/2005 11:41:01 AM · #12

I use an assistant, my wife, and it is invaluable. You don't have to worry about gathering the people for the next shot, and can concentrate on what you are doing (photos). I've done about 12 weddings, mostly for friends or friends of friends. It can be hectic. The shortest wedding was 8 1/2 minutes from entering the chapel to exiting the chapel.

Prof_Fate

03/15/2005 12:07:36 PM · #13

Originally posted by Dubsta:

Great replys! Keep em' coming!

I am picking up the 580EX today....any tips or hints?

Read the camera manual and the flash manual and GO TEST.
You need to be able to predict with 99.9% certainty that the pic you are taking will come out right (focus and lighting wise). The canon system will change what mode the flash is in depending on what mode the camera is in, and what all the sensors see (backlighting for example).

You need to know if you are getting main flash, fill flash or some other bizarre mode. You also need to watch your shutter speed - the canon system can change that on you! Your sync speed is 1/200 sec. (you can use P mode for faster shutter but it is not needed for weddings). You can set the shutter slower to allow for more ambient light to affect the photo. The flash will freeze the action, so as long as your lens and handholding are not too far off of normal you can shoot at 1/60 or 1/125 just fine and get more atmosphere in the pics.

I can get acceptabe results with my manual flash, well sorta manual. It has 2 auto settings where it reads the room light. If i set the camera aon ISO100, 1/125, F5.6 to F6.3 (camera on full manual) and the flash to the stronger auto setting I can bang out decent shots from about 4 feet to 20 feet. - no adjusting anything (adjusting can lead to errors)

Get a book on how to be a wedding photographer - the one i have is by
Hurth and has lots of good info, some i don't subscribe to and some info i need is not there in much detail.

The first few chapters will make wedding photography sound intimidating and overwhelming. As a guy i met, who did it for 12 years for a living described it "You know that feeling you get when you are 200 miles into a trip and realize you left something at home or the left dog outside? Well, imagine that feeling from when the wedding day starts until you get the prints back a week later".

ericsuth

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/15/2005 12:41:03 PM · #14

crazy business and a bit stressful, I'm interested in possibly doing for part-time income but I'm still trying to build up my experience. I shot one friends wedding for free, and as such I asked him to sign a waiver that basically said I'm not responsible for anything...I could've walked away without giving him a single image. I felt I needed the waiver more so he could understand my position and that I wanted my risk to equal his cost. We (me and another budding photographer) shot the rehearsal + dinner, bride and groom prepping, wedding event itself, and the reception with 2 canon 10d's, combining equipment we had 1x16-35mmL, 1x24-70mmL, 2x70-200mmL's, 1x420ex, 1x 550ex, and approximately 6 batteries. For storage we had approximately 6 gigs of memory and a laptop. I believe combined we shot over 2000 images. We processed them and pruned them down to about 400 shots which we burned to CD's and created a DVD slideshow for them. Overall it was great experience for us. What killed us though was the processing time involved (probably at least 4-6 solid 10-12 hour work days to do them all). If could've gone back and done it all over again the number one thing I would've changed would be to have taken test formal shots and do the real formals in RAW. Everything else was in Large JPG and worked out fine for the most part. I'm glad we had the laptop as it was extremely important to be able to store more as needed and we definitely found out it was needed. We're planning on trying to do more weddings this way for indigent families that wouldn't normally be able to hire a photographer and this way we figure we win and they win with relatively little risk on both our parts (they have little risk since we have 2 photographers and redundant equipment). Enjoy it, but it is stressful even if you have a waiver since your aim is probably to please and do as great of a job as possible. Our friends were though very happy with our work as was their family.

03/15/2005 12:47:50 PM · #15

I shoot weddings and here's what's in my bag(s):

- Canon 10D body w/grip
- Quantum T4D flash
- Quantum Turbo battery pack
- 70-200 F2.8L
- 50mm F1.8
- 28-105mm F3.5-5.0
- Huge bracket (which I borrow)
- monopod (don't use much) need a tripod for low light
- 3 256 cards, 1 512

03/15/2005 12:48:52 PM · #16

Originally posted by Dubsta:

So what is the Canon 70-200 f2.8 worth?

I bought mine a month ago for $1800 CND.

Prof_Fate

03/15/2005 12:50:31 PM · #17

Originally posted by ericsuth:

We're planning on trying to do more weddings this way for indigent families that wouldn't normally be able to hire a photographer and this way we figure we win and they win with relatively little risk on both our parts (they have little risk since we have 2 photographers and redundant equipment). Enjoy it, but it is stressful even if you have a waiver since your aim is probably to please and do as great of a job as possible. Our friends were though very happy with our work as was their family.

Cool idea - you both win and you get to heaven a day earlier for the good deed!

How does one find indigient weddings? I ask this becuase i want some expereine ( and a portfolio) before i start marketing myself. I have 2 weddings lined up for me to shoot as backup/guest, but they are not until late august and september. Figuring most brides pick a photog a year ahead of time...i don't want to wait 2 years to make $$!

THe post processing time seems like it could be the killer...

03/15/2005 12:50:46 PM · #18

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Take a portable backdrop for formal shots?

No! What's the fun of shooting on location if you can't utilitize it? Sometimes you gotta break out the big lights if you're stuck indoors, but there's ALWAYS somewhere to shoot. I think using a backdrop would wreck a wedding, it makes it very 'blah' and standard instead of unique and individual.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/15/2005 01:04:09 PM · #19

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

Originally posted by Dubsta:
So what is the Canon 70-200 f2.8 worth?

I bought mine a month ago for $1800 CND.

Where did you pick it up? Was that with tax?

Mr Tee

Canon EOS-5D

03/15/2005 01:05:43 PM · #20

Having been a wedding and portrait photographer for nearly 30 years. What's in your bag is not as important as what's in your head.

Like every type of photography, the equipment will vary according to the situation. To say "I use this lens because I shoot weddings" doesn't work. Every job will be different.

Good luck tho'

gwphoto

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

03/15/2005 01:06:37 PM · #21

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

I am impressed. Most that I have seen here don't use a bracket and a T4D. I love mine.. Would love to see some of your work.

03/15/2005 01:12:29 PM · #22

Originally posted by Mr Tee:

I totally agree...but I was just wondering if any of the wedding photographers on here have an opinion on what they use most...the question was not about the type of shots...but what they have as their main equipment, or what they use most often...thanks though!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/15/2005 01:15:10 PM · #23

I only recently bought the T4D. I always used a 550EX but decided since I don't have studio lights that I'd need a bigger/better flash. Hence the Quantum. That being said, I haven't shot a wedding with the new unit yet. I'm doing a bunch of band shoots over the next week that I might break it out for, tho. I'll put some shots on my site when I have them.

ericsuth

Canon EOS-20D

03/15/2005 01:17:36 PM · #24

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

How does one find indigient weddings? I ask this becuase i want some expereine ( and a portfolio) before i start marketing myself. I have 2 weddings lined up for me to shoot as backup/guest, but they are not until late august and september. Figuring most brides pick a photog a year ahead of time...i don't want to wait 2 years to make $$!

THe post processing time seems like it could be the killer...

Talk to priest's/preacher's/churches in the area that you want to work in or even take an ad out in the local paper...word will travel fast if you live in a relatively small community. BTW, the post processing IS a killer!

also I forgot to mention, I almost always use a flash bracket to keep the flash higher and over the lens, also use a monopod or tripod for stabilization.