serious question about weddings..

lodi781 · 08-29-2008, 09:58 AM

So, my friend is getting married soon, and although they have a pro photog, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to take some shots and experiment. I'm going to give them an album that I made by hand with pics from the wedding as part of there wedding gift. My question is this. .........

being new to all this, my lenses might not be the right ones for the job,here is what I have in my bag, and maybe if I could get some input on which would be best from some people, my little project for my friend might come out a little better...

k10d, d fa 100mm macro, da 12-24, da 10-17 fisheye and the kit lens 18-55. which might be the best to take with me?? Oh, I have a good tripod as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated....chris

ghost · 08-29-2008, 10:19 AM

the wide angles might get some really interesting photos, but the kit lens might not cut it. I resently went to a wedding and used my 135mm f2.8 a lot! So the 100mm might work out very well. I didn't have my fifty on me but it would have been used a lot as well. good luck!!!

*egordon99* · 08-29-2008, 11:17 AM

FLASH FLASH FLASH

Learning how to properly make use of a hotshoe flash (specifically bouncing it) will make a much bigger difference in your photos than buying a new lens.

kenyee · 08-29-2008, 11:27 AM

and the tripod will get in the way...people don't stay in one place so if you need a tripod from slow shutter speeds, the background will be sharp and everyone will look blurred out ;-)
I have my own wedding hell this weekend...brother asked me to take photos at parts of the wedding that aren't covered by their paid photog (8hrs) and I was hoping to try creative stuff during the time the paid photog is there, so it'll be a long day for me....and getting 3 bad Tamron 28-75 lenses in a row has taken the wind out of my sails :-P
Ditto on the flash though. And see if you can check out the venues and do some test shots. My brother's church has really dark ceilings so bounce is useless and you're stuck doing basically fancy P&S pics w/ one light source...the reception is much easier because of the white relatively low ceilings.

MJB DIGITAL · 08-29-2008, 11:55 AM

I would suggest taking the 100mm only.

This will leave you farther back from the action and let the pro do his/her work. It is very important as a guest photographer at a wedding to not get in the way of the working photographer.
Also, the 100mm will be a great portrait lens, albeit a little long for that.

Show up early at the ceremony and get into contact with the photographer and introduce yourself. Let the pro know what you are doing and have a small talk with him. The photog may be pressed for time, so forgive him if he can't talk and has to run.

While you are shooting during the day, make sure you have an eye on the photographer and make sure that you arent in his shots (dont get between him and the subject, and also dont stand oposite the subject from him, shooting into his lens). The pro is going to be shooting dead on all day long, and already has angles ready to go so watch out. A wedding day can be up to 12hrs for a photographer and it can get really stressfull at times. Also, the pro photographer has a contract that says he is going to get the shots he needs.

I have no problems if any guest wants to shoot during a wedding that I am working as long as they hang out and be cool if ya know what I mean.

During the formals after the ceremony on the altar, I can almost guarantee that the photographer will want you to not shoot any of that. You might be able to get away with it, but I'll tell ya from experience that it can get dang annoying having other cameras over your shoulder distracting the subjects.
So that reminds me to tell you not to shoot over any shoulders....

One last note.
It will be a major point of courtesy to the professional that you delay your delivery to the bride and groom until after the pro has delivered the package. It is a very nice gesture to turn in some stuff to the bride and groom, however, the pro's shots are likely shots that have been practiced and refined.....
If/when you deliver those shots, and they decide to just use them instead of getting them from their photographer, you have hurt the business of the photographer, and also you may have just put photos of a lesser quality into the bride and grooms wedding album.
(unless you shoot better than the pro of course.)

Other pro photos I know even go so far as to say that you should leave your cam at home, but I'm not like that.

Now, I hope I have said everything in good taste. I really dont want to come off as rude...

but check this out:
Uncle Bob strikes again! - FM Forums

to get an idea of why you need to have manners (and I'm sure you do), the link points out a bad case of what pro wedding photogs call "Uncle Bob"

Good Luck on your wedding and have fun! 8)

*bigben91682* · 08-29-2008, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by MJB DIGITAL

I would suggest taking the 100mm only.

This will leave you farther back from the action and let the pro do his/her work. It is very important as a guest photographer at a wedding to not get in the way of the working photographer.
Also, the 100mm will be a great portrait lens, albeit a little long for that.

Show up early at the ceremony and get into contact with the photographer and introduce yourself. Let the pro know what you are doing and have a small talk with him. The photog may be pressed for time, so forgive him if he can't talk and has to run.

While you are shooting during the day, make sure you have an eye on the photographer and make sure that you arent in his shots (dont get between him and the subject, and also dont stand oposite the subject from him, shooting into his lens). The pro is going to be shooting dead on all day long, and already has angles ready to go so watch out. A wedding day can be up to 12hrs for a photographer and it can get really stressfull at times. Also, the pro photographer has a contract that says he is going to get the shots he needs.

I have no problems if any guest wants to shoot during a wedding that I am working as long as they hang out and be cool if ya know what I mean.

During the formals after the ceremony on the altar, I can almost guarantee that the photographer will want you to not shoot any of that. You might be able to get away with it, but I'll tell ya from experience that it can get dang annoying having other cameras over your shoulder distracting the subjects.
So that reminds me to tell you not to shoot over any shoulders....

One last note.
It will be a major point of courtesy to the professional that you delay your delivery to the bride and groom until after the pro has delivered the package. It is a very nice gesture to turn in some stuff to the bride and groom, however, the pro's shots are likely shots that have been practiced and refined.....
If/when you deliver those shots, and they decide to just use them instead of getting them from their photographer, you have hurt the business of the photographer, and also you may have just put photos of a lesser quality into the bride and grooms wedding album.
(unless you shoot better than the pro of course.)

Other pro photos I know even go so far as to say that you should leave your cam at home, but I'm not like that.

Now, I hope I have said everything in good taste. I really dont want to come off as rude...

but check this out:
Uncle Bob strikes again! - FM Forums

to get an idea of why you need to have manners (and I'm sure you do), the link points out a bad case of what pro wedding photogs call "Uncle Bob"

Good Luck on your wedding and have fun! 8)

I agree with everything MJB has said. The pro is paid by the bride and groom to do a specific job, if you hinder that and he misses a shot as a result - that's not really a great gift you are giving the B&G who have most likely spent a substantial sum of money on a pro photographer.

Give him/her space, be aware of where they are and what they are shooting, and leave the tripod at home....my opinion at least...

If anything concentrate on small details the pro may not be able to capture, and grab a lot of candids of the guests. No sense reporducing the pro's shots, because they will get them because that's what they are paid to do.

*Ash* · 08-29-2008, 02:09 PM

Second the DFA 100 - great portrait lens.
In case you may need some wide angles, the DA 12-24 would be handy in your kit bag, but I'd leave the FE and kit lens behind.

And be sure not to get in the pro photog's way at those crucial moments!

*Ash* · 08-29-2008, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by bigben91682

I agree with everything MJB has said. The pro is paid by the bride and groom to do a specific job, if you hinder that and he misses a shot as a result - that's not really a great gift you are giving the B&G who have most likely spent a substantial sum of money on a pro photographer.

Give him/her space, be aware of where they are and what they are shooting, and leave the tripod at home....my opinion at least...

Bigben beat me to it...

*Clicker* · 08-29-2008, 02:41 PM

12-24 or 18-55 shoot the scene as it happens around you...stay out of the paid photographer's way, don't shoot from behind him a big no..no

shoot the guests as they're yapping, walk around with a sign saying something like Congrats XnY ahve them hold it up and pose for a silly candid

Most of all relax, be firm when asking but always *smile*

Look for relatives with tears of joy, hugs with the bride and groom, bride yapping with friends and relatives same with the groom.
If it makes you go "awww" shoot it.

*Damn Brit* · 08-29-2008, 02:52 PM

Take the Fish Eye, I wouldn't expect the paid photographer to use one so you may produce some artistic shots to present to the happy couple that are distinctly different from the official shots. This IMO would be a much better gift than just your similar shots to those of the official photographer.

silent_eyes · 08-29-2008, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by lodi781

So, my friend is getting married soon, and although they have a pro photog, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to take some shots and experiment. I'm going to give them an album that I made by hand with pics from the wedding as part of there wedding gift. My question is this. .........

being new to all this, my lenses might not be the right ones for the job,here is what I have in my bag, and maybe if I could get some input on which would be best from some people, my little project for my friend might come out a little better...

k10d, d fa 100mm macro, da 12-24, da 10-17 fisheye and the kit lens 18-55. which might be the best to take with me?? Oh, I have a good tripod as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated....chris

without any doubt - go with 10-17 fisheye. First of all, your shots will be completely different from those official wedding photos, try to blend in and take as many shots as possible from wierd angles, from ground, from above, really close to people, so you'll get that "funny fisheye look", almoust caricatures. It's great to go to the wedding as second or free-photographer, so you can enjoy and experiment... I'd take 100mm macro justi n case, if you get some nice opportunity for portrait or something.

lodi781 · 08-29-2008, 03:39 PM

First i'd like to thank all of you for the tips and advice. I planned on being very cognizant of the pro. I actually wanted to talk to him or her before the wedding to see if he\she minds me doing this, plus to reassure that i have no intention of trying to steal business in anyway, and that i understand they're concerns and will do my best to stay out of the way......I planned on bringing the 100mm, fisheye and 12-24. I will pretty much know everyone here( fire department wedding) so i'm really looking for the fun goofy stuff that my two friends can enjoy in there own album ( the stuff parents don't want to see( i.e drunken mishaps, stupid inside jokes and such) But thank you all for such great advice, I'm so new to this, that i wish i could offer more advice here, i just don't have it to give, so i'm still in the " ask alot of questions phase". thanks again.....

*Damn Brit* · 08-29-2008, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by lodi781

I'm so new to this, that i wish i could offer more advice here, i just don't have it to give, so i'm still in the " ask alot of questions phase". thanks again.....

We'll let you know if we need help with a fire.

little laker · 08-29-2008, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by lodi781

i'm really looking for the fun goofy stuff that my two friends can enjoy in there own album

As a wedding photographer from time to time I try getting at least one goofy shot per wedding.
And not just for the album, as a stress reliever for both the couple, and myself.
It's a hard day on everyone, and a good snicker helps get through it all

Originally Posted by Damn Brit

We'll let you know if we need help with a fire.

It might be too late then Gary

lodi781 · 08-29-2008, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Damn Brit

We'll let you know if we need help with a fire.

Cali, huh? I might get the guiness world record for longest response time