shot my first wedding ;-) - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/05/2005 08:57:35 PM · #1

what a trip...here are some of my faves from the shoot.

all in all, i shot over 750 images, and quickly weeded out 40. then i got serious, and weeded them down to about 250. from those, i ended up delivering nearly 170.

i shot almost all of these with my 16-35mm super wide-angle. most shooters prefer the 24-70 as a working lens, but i find the 16-35 more versatile for photojournalistic/candid situations. i think the 24-70 is better for portraits, but find it somewhat limiting when you only have one camera body and there's other stuff going on.

as to lighting, i'm usually bouncing the flash off the ceiling or shooting without flash (the 20D is a very noiseless camera). another benefit to the 16-35 is that at 16mm, i can handhold down to 1/15 and get fairly sharp images (not that i like doing that, but i like the fact that i can when i have to. it's nice when you have a subject that's not in motion). the one thing i regret is not having a light sphere (google it up to find out more about it). it really looks like a useful tool. i did see where people have made them out of plastic bottles--might be something to experiment with.

the only other advice i could give anyone is to shoot like mad! shoot to capture moments, and shoot for experience. try all the different settings--automatic, av priority, shutter priority, and full manual. try EVERYTHING in order to have a complete set of images to compare so that you learn what works and what doesn't. shoot EVERYBODY, and don't be hesitant to yell, 'HEY, look HERE and give a SMILE'. it's nice to have pure candids, but it's better to have a good collection of people smiling and having fun. and, if you want a particular shot, ask for it. i really wish i had been yelling at the wedding party when they were coming out of the church instead of documenting the fact that they were leaving the church; i would have wound up with shots of them smiling at me rather than looking down at the steps. also, when you check your LCD after a shot, the first thing to look for is the faces--can you see the faces? for the most part you want people's faces--not the backs of their heads. also, try to include hands as much as possible--hands together, hands on shoulders, holding hands, hands up to faces, etc. if you have an opportunity to shoot and none of the pressure of having to shoot something to deliver, then absolutely make the most of it! what an incredible experience to have. can't wait for the next one!

~skip

Message edited by author 2006-02-24 11:18:39.

Bebe

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/05/2005 09:05:04 PM · #2

I love these images. My favorites are the mirror, the kid trying to get into the church, the cell phone (absolutely classic) and the laughing with the cake. You did a terrific job & I'm sure the clients will love it.

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/05/2005 09:17:11 PM · #3

Cool Skip! I don't think I could ever handle the pressure of shooting weddings. I think it's a wonderful job to be able to capture that day for people, but I'd be so afraid of missing "That" shot. Guess I'm just a big chicken. You sure are putting your toes in alot of water. Way to go! :-) I love the one of the little boy running towards the door.

eostyles

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

09/05/2005 09:55:42 PM · #4

Here are pics from my first wedding shoot for a friend...

//www.eostyles.com/jbs_index.asp

Nice job on yours...

09/05/2005 09:58:19 PM · #5

thanks, ya'll!

Originally posted by jenesis:

it's a blast! and it does take a lot of practice, shooting, getting to know your equipment. but the more ya shoot, the less likely you are to miss something ;-)

Originally posted by jenesis:

You sure are putting your toes in alot of water. Way to go! :-)

somebody asked me last week what i liked to shoot. my answer was, 'whatever is in front of my camera.'

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/05/2005 11:43:54 PM · #6

here's one more that gave me a smile...

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

09/05/2005 11:48:49 PM · #7

Good job skip! Keep em coming!

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

09/06/2005 05:15:16 AM · #8

thanks, matt!

lentil

Canon EOS-5D

09/06/2005 05:22:40 AM · #9

left a couple of comments skip :)
Great job

mystical_princess

Canon EOS-5D

09/06/2005 06:42:56 AM · #10

Great job! I'd say I like them all except for the 1st one. I'm sure they are going to be very happy with your work, keep it up!

dassilem

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

09/06/2005 07:44:54 AM · #11

great job skip. I shot my first and last wedding in May. I did well with the photos but did not enjoy the fear of 'missing THAT picture'. Wedding party were very hard to work with. (Best man felt that if he wasn't in the photo he needed to remove his jacket,tie,unbutton shirt. Then if he was in the next posed shot, unless I directed him to get redressed he got in the shot like that!!!!!)

Client was very happy with the shots but I felt like I was babysitting during the whole shoot.

You did wonderful with the pictures. I especially love the 'Dad' picture!

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

09/06/2005 09:28:36 AM · #12

Some great shots skip - Like the one with the dad as that will be me and my daughter in a couple of years. Although she has told me I am not allowed to bring my camera!

Mike

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

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

09/06/2005 09:41:09 AM · #13

Congratulations Skip. As usual, you are not only entertaining but informative! My fav is the one with the little boy and father in motion :)

It does look like you could have used a bit more fill flash in some. Do you have an omnibounce? It's a great way to bounce and also provide some direct lighting. And it's very inexpensive. I have several types: the one that fits over the flash head completely, and then another which attaches via a stuck on "slot" and is like a plastic card above the flash.

Stofen Omnibounce

Message edited by author 2005-09-06 11:18:59.

Makka

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/06/2005 10:00:25 AM · #14

Well done mate! Good stuff! The hardest bit I always find, as you mentioned, is trying to weed out photos to get the numbers down! The weddings that I have done I have averaged about 600-700 shots....the first few I handed over about 350 photos, but now I try and get it down to about 200 where I can!

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

09/06/2005 10:01:20 AM · #15

skip, nice job! I'd like to see all of the shots, even some of the more formal ones. Do you have a link?

How are you providing the shots to the couple? Proofs or cd or what? Just curious :) I did an outdoor wedding in July and they were very happy with the shots.

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

09/06/2005 10:33:55 AM · #16

thanks, all!

Originally posted by jpochard:

How are you providing the shots to the couple?

i set up an online gallery through photoreflect; it's not perfect, but it's sufficient

Originally posted by Makka:

The hardest bit I always find, as you mentioned, is trying to weed out photos to get the numbers down!

it's such a pain, isn't it? and it doesn't help when you are shooting on purpose, does it?! i mean, i had a reason to take the picture, and if it's presentable, i hate to think it won't see the light of day...oh well ;-)

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Do you have an omnibounce?

not yet, but THANKS for the link!!! definitely will be adding something along those lines before the next one!

Originally posted by MikeOwens:

me and my daughter...

me, too! honestly, sometimes it was tough to snap the shutter, the emotions were so strong. it was a very moving experience.

Originally posted by dassilem:

felt like I was babysitting

what a DRAG! there is a fine-line between documenting and choreographing, and sometimes you have to dance back and forth. i do think that if i find myself in the babysitter mode, i'd try to find someone (his mother? father? dare i say mother-in-law) and get them to tell him to 'grow up a bit, just for a few hours...' one thing i realized a while ago is that hardly anyone will buy a bad picture of themselves, or one that somebody else has ruined with a stupid pose or contorted face.

thanks again!

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

09/06/2005 11:51:06 AM · #17

Skip--I just looked up the lightsphere and I see you were already looking at similar products to the omnibounce. Actually, as bizarre as it looks, it looks like a good product (there's even a shot comparing it to an omnibounce, though I guess the comparison shots were not necessarily "objective".) The new LS2PJ looks even better as it's less "weird" looking. For those interested, the site is: here but note that the site features the LS2 and the newer LS2PJ does not appear to be readily available yet.

Anyone have one of these?

Matthew

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

09/06/2005 12:25:03 PM · #18

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Anyone have one of these?

Yup - was permanently attached to my camera for the last wedding that I shot. Fills in light very well without giving harsh tones. Makes me stand out as the "pro"! Creates nicely rounded catch lights.

But it is huge and barely fits into any sensible camera bag.