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05/25/2005 11:35:08 AM · #1 |
A friend of mine has a friend that is getting married this saturday.... she scheduled a photographer months ago.... when calling him this week to touch bases with him... he told her that she didnt give him a courtesy call soon enoungh, doesnt have the right flash, and cant possibly do it...
She has now asked me to shoot the wedding.... I told her that I have no experience but am willing to do it. I am not charging for it, make no guarentees how the photos will turn out, and will give her a disk and she can print her own photos. I will still retain the rights to the photos and can use them for my purposes....
Here is my pickle... the wedding is outside in the evening... I have my on camera flash.... I am able to buy a flash for the occasion but am looking for suggestions on which to buy and is there a type of bracket for the flash so that when shooting in portrait to properly position the flash.... any input appreciated!!
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05/25/2005 11:39:47 AM · #2 |
This is the one I use, and I love it.
//www.qtm.com/flash/qft4d.php
The bracket will depend on your camera, you should get one that will flip so you can do verticle as well. I use the Strobeoframe Pro-RL Flash Bracket. At Calumet Photographic it is $134.99. |
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05/25/2005 11:53:24 AM · #3 |
| It doesn't matter how many times you tell your friends that you are not experienced, they'll be disappointed. Avoid it like the plague. |
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05/25/2005 11:54:43 AM · #4 |
Sunniee...
I'd strongly recommend the 580EX if you can afford it (Beach Camera had it for like $369 a while back). And DEFINITELY get Fong's "Lightsphere" (there was a thread prior on it).
I bought one and it's amazed. I'd feel so nervous doing a wedding without it. It seems to both even out and brighten the light. (Think putting a lampshade on a lightbulb. You wouldn't think covering a light would brighten a room but it does because it defuses the light more evenly.
:) |
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05/25/2005 11:55:02 AM · #5 |
I've used different flashes (540EX, 550EX, etc) and now own the Quantum T4D...and wouldn't recommend the latter to a newbie on such short notice. It's pretty big and cumbersome fo sho.
You could rent a 580EX for fairly cheap..and it's fully automatic so even if you don't have the time or knowledge to mess around with it .. the results are still vastly superior to an onboard flash. |
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05/25/2005 11:56:32 AM · #6 |
I don't understand how a professional photographer that she booked months ago could back out at the last minute because he says he doesn't have the right type of flash?
This doesn't make sense to me, did she pay any form of a deposit? isn't there legal action that she could take against him? I know when I hired the photographer for our wedding we had to make a deposit to hold him for that day, I couldn't imagine what I would have done if he had back out only days before the wedding! |
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05/25/2005 12:00:08 PM · #7 |
if he "doesn't have the right flash," it sounds like you wouldn't want this particular person doing the wedding anyway.
while i am going back and forth on this "would i shoot a friend's wedding?" issue in my head, i would still recommend that your friend (or you) find someone else that can work in tandem WITH you for the day.
maybe then you can use it as a learning opportunity, and then your friend will have two sets of shots to select from.
if she's not paying you (although i would think that she could spring for a flash for you if you're doing this pro bono and she's screwed), then she wouldn't be out any money to get a 2nd person there.
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05/25/2005 12:05:57 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by gwphoto:
This is the one I use, and I love it.
//www.qtm.com/flash/qft4d.php
The bracket will depend on your camera, you should get one that will flip so you can do verticle as well. I use the Strobeoframe Pro-RL Flash Bracket. At Calumet Photographic it is $134.99. |
If I can ask a dumb question--how do you connect the flash to the camera when using the bracket (especially if the camera is a Digital Rebel?)
Message edited by author 2005-05-25 12:07:56. |
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05/25/2005 12:07:33 PM · #9 |
Thanks everyone for the wonderful input... great suggestions.... armed with this info I will go down to the local camera store and see what they have.... wish I had more time to buy online...
I'll let ya know how it goes.... any additional input/suggestions welcome!
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05/25/2005 12:36:22 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by hankk:
If I can ask a dumb question--how do you connect the flash to the camera when using the bracket (especially if the camera is a Digital Rebel?) |
It's not dumb. The T4D comes with a cable attached that plugs into an external battery and a cable that plugs into the side of your camera (not sure if the 300D has that capability, tho).
And about the pro photographer bailing, in my experience, there's always WAY more to the story than the disgruntled customer eludes to. We don't know what sort of deal they had or even if they had one at all...this girl might've called up a photog months ago, found out he was free, but never made a deposit - for instance. |
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05/25/2005 01:29:16 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
The T4D comes with a cable attached that plugs into an external battery and a cable that plugs into the side of your camera (not sure if the 300D has that capability, tho).
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The D Rebel doesn't have a port for that. Canon makes some hot shoe adapters, but there is some 'net discussion that you'll lose the automatic functions of the flash. The issue seems to be the pre-flash. Does anyone know for sure? (Or do those with flash brackets use the more "pro" bodies?)
Of course, I could use the ST-E2, but its a very expensive way to go. |
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05/25/2005 01:49:52 PM · #12 |
| Right you would need a hotshoe adapter from Quantum (not Canon)there's a full chart on Q's website telling you what equipment you need to run the flash on what body. I can't remember at the moment. Also, the T4D doesn't camera-mount...you can't use it without a bracket unless you plan on holding it up with your hand all day :-) |
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05/25/2005 02:18:52 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by RichPearse:
It doesn't matter how many times you tell your friends that you are not experienced, they'll be disappointed. Avoid it like the plague. |
Don't over look this advice. This is their only wedding and they are relying on you to take good photos. Make sure they understand that you are not promising good results and strongly reccomend they hire someone that has done it before. Their minds are mush right now after planning a wedding and everything that goes with it. They may be under the assumption that since you agreed to do it that you would be capable of doing it. Or, they may not realize how difficult shooting an evening wedding might be to someone that has never done it...
It's not worth losing a friendship over.
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05/25/2005 03:38:51 PM · #14 |
The first wedding (and only to date, except I have one scheduled for 6/4)that I did was in similar circumstances. It was Wednesday before the wedding on Saturday, they couldn't afford a photographer (none of them would touch it for less than $800), so they asked me.
It was on a December night, in a barn/stable (the horses were just down the way) and this was before I had bought a flash unit for my camera. Not a good situation. I warned them beforehand that I would do the best that I could, but that I really was not prepared in any way to do it.
Long story shortened only a bit. . .They seemed to really like the pictures. I only severely screwed up one or two important ones, but got some shots they were truly pleased with.
For the wedding coming up, I again told them that I was not really experienced, but, hey, I'm cheap, and they liked that. This time though, it is at noon in a church lined with windows. AND, my husband (nards656) will be helping me shoot.
I always said I would never, never, never, no matter what anybody said, do weddings.
Never say never.
Good luck |
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05/25/2005 04:48:21 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by karmat:
I always said I would never, never, never, no matter what anybody said, do weddings.
Never say never.
Good luck |
I always said that too... but I would hate that they didnt have any photos, let alone good ones...
Luckily they arent expecting much.... it just might turn out well for all!
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05/25/2005 04:53:27 PM · #16 |
just took a looksie at your pics and I think you'll do a great job. Take the 'job' & don't look back. You have told you friend you have no experience so you'll have no regrets. I doubt she will either. :0) |
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05/25/2005 05:08:52 PM · #17 |
| Michele, see if your local camera shop offers rentals- maybe you can rent a 550ex or 580ex for the event (ideally with some sort of bounce or diffuser). Make sure you have LOTS of Compactflash media and/or a laptop or something to offload the shots when your card is full, then shoot like crazy. Get to every location early and take some test shots to check the lighting. Ask the minister if he has any problems with where you stand or flashes going off during the ceremony. If you don't already have one, go out and buy the $70 Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens right now for low light work. Good luck! |
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05/26/2005 11:56:12 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by hankk:
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
The T4D comes with a cable attached that plugs into an external battery and a cable that plugs into the side of your camera (not sure if the 300D has that capability, tho).
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The D Rebel doesn't have a port for that. Canon makes some hot shoe adapters, but there is some 'net discussion that you'll lose the automatic functions of the flash. The issue seems to be the pre-flash. Does anyone know for sure? (Or do those with flash brackets use the more "pro" bodies?)
Of course, I could use the ST-E2, but its a very expensive way to go. |
The "Off camera shoe cord II" is what you want... Gives you a 1m extension lead for the hotshoe, and keeps ETTL and all the other auto-goodies working on your EOS camera..
Cheers, Me.
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