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Forum: Photographic Industry and Professionals
03-08-2015, 06:45 PM
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Ok, aside from all the post practically everywhere that are around advising first timers to stay away from shooting weddings. I took the dive! Here's my break down of the day and the peculiarities I faced with the intertwining relation between me and the wedding party. I will say firstly- The best and worst aspect came in dealing with my extended family. It wasn't bad just very interesting. I will explain further below. Below the post I have included a few of my favorite/best shots from the event. The last is my two kids and my cousin's family dog.
The event came about when my cousin asked that my two children be in his wedding- my son as ring bearer and my daughter as flower girl. This was about 3 months prior to the event date. My wife and I were happy to include them. 2-3 weeks pass and they ask if I'd do the photography also. After mulling it over I agreed. This is when all the details started pouring in, some lack there of.
This was to be a 2nd wedding by an older cousin whom I more resonated as an uncle. No bridal party, just my kids and the bride and groom (with mother of bride and groom). The wedding would be about 2 hours away from where I lived. I would not be a part of the rehearsal and couldn't visit venue. Luckily I had previously been to it for a different event years back. Ceremony and reception at same location.
I did the usual prep that most would do: research shots and posing, the particular photo techniques that work best- basically the dos and don't. I took the event seriously and knew it would be tough but great practice. I looked at Heie's post here on pentaxforums as well as this amazingly good (in my eyes) post for new wedding photogs: How to shoot a wedding - Lesson 1
My wedding photo gear consisted of the following:
Camera bodies
Pentax k5 & kr (though I really hoped I wouldn't have to use kr backup with its limitations in comparison)
Lenses
Sigma 10-20 f3.5-5.6
Tamron 17-50 f2.8**
Pentax A 50 f1.2
Pentax FA 28-70 f4
Pentax DA* 50-135 f2.8
[**Received credit from my broken one and brought it new so I would not have to rent DA* 16-50 as I asked here: ]
Flashes
Photozuela Montana c600 with soft diffuser (Manual)
Bower SFD926P with demb reflector card (P-TTL)++
++[Brought this on impulse knowing I needed a P-TTL. Probably the most inexpensive one with P-TTL.]
Stability
Manfrotto compact tripod
Batteries
3 DLI90 (k5), 3 DLI190 (kr), AA adapter (kr)
20 chargeable enloops AAs
HC Memory cards
2- 32gb, 3- 16gb, 1- 8gb
And my other Misc. Stuff...
The initial plan was 4 hrs of ceremony and 1 hr of photos prior to ceremony. Well the day came and it started chaotic. To shorten the day I'll just list the events:
Got lost trying to get to the bride's location
Make up artist was 2 hours late
Bride didn't not want any preparation photos
20min to shoot bride before escaping to venue
Horrible lighting at venue
No rehearsal was done with anyone involved!
No one kept to a slow pace walk; they all ran in except the bride (thank God!)
Family took over family group shots (Iphonography)
WHAT I LEARNED
In the end I did have a great time shooting. And it was a great learning experience. Though I am hard on myself, some shots came out well but I'd say I did decent. Certainly not great. They were not expecting anything spectacular but just a record of events. I really did the best I could with the information I was given, the gear I had on hand and the experience I had built the last few years. The difficulty of the venue lighting would have required an off camera setup to be the most viable. Please check out all of the finished shots here: Selina & Michael by J.W. Smith Photography
Camera Gear related:
1. As for my gear the K5 handled things superbly though I wish the higher ISO didn't show as much (but then again I'm not use to editing out noise). Shot most of the night at 1600 and even 3200 (which was pretty heavy).
2. Flash didn't seem fast or powerful enough (but then again this was my first time shooting with P-TTL). HSS would be a must plus as I said an off-camera setup would have been best for this venue.
3. I didn't have the time nor did the chaotic disorganization of the ceremony allow me much time or advanced knowledge of events coming to switch lenses. I used k5 and Tamron 17-50 with Bower flash the whole event. For the ceremony I definitely should have switched to the 50-135 but in reception 17-50 was fine.
4. Tamron 17-50 f2.8- didn't seem to focus fast enough. Not sure if it was the lens or body. Miss some shots on this.
My solutions:
Get a better schedule of ceremonies (though this was somewhat of pandemonium haha)
Take control of shots
Give necessary instruction to wedding party (Ex: slow entry for guests, etc.)
Long(er) lens for ceremony (??)
HSS flash is a must
Father and Photog
And lastly my unique twist on this event was my children were a part of the event and ultimately I had a few instances were I had to do father duty while shooting (which I would not recommend). My son (2 yrs) being very interested in photography (See Photo Below!) just wanted to stand by my side. So a few (gladly it wasn't many) ceremony shots, he was standing at my side looking on. Was just part of the day and my duties.
(Yes I am trying to teach him how to hold it, put in this case the flash weighed it down a lot.)
I am open to constructive criticism and your thoughts on this all. I won't say that I'll be doing any more wedding head on but would be more apt to be a second shooter for a few before taking it on again as lead. Thanks in advance.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
01-18-2014, 02:43 PM
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Being an architect (finishing up my license exams as we speak), photography is only second to architecture as my passion. I am all around it daily and live in the perfect location for it: New York City. Most of what others have said are true about the distortion and converging lines. It's hard to control and leaving lots of space around main focus of image is a must.
Honestly I am just now seriously (hobbist & some documentary work for my firm) getting into architectural photography. You can see my sig for the lenses I have. Have not really tested and fully shot the k 28mm shift since I got it a few months ago. Looking forward to doing so next month or so. Just ordered a da* 50-135. Will utilize this for details and partial shots. Sold my Tamron 10-24. Will get a sigma UWA soon.
A poor attempt was this set. Was definitely learning and used my kit 18-55mm lens at the time. Needs to be edited and straightened:
Landmark Estates - a set on Flickr
A more recent attempt came out better but I am still very critical of myself and look to improve. Distortion got the best of me on bldg sides and had to stretch a lot to straighten lines. Final images weren't what I wanted.
907 Broadway - a set on Flickr
I also posted about it here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/232285-test...ext-steps.html |
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Forum: Pentax K-r
10-12-2012, 10:59 AM
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I have to say I surprised myself with my newest lens acquisition. I always knew I'd need/want a "fast fifty" for it's stellar performance for such a minimal price. Just last week I took the dive, apprehensively but enthusiastically. I ended up with a M 50mm f1.4. I was very skeptical about the manual focus. I had never tried this and thought of it as massively difficult. Ironically, I had never even tried putting my AF lenses into MF. Well I am happy to say I enjoy the challenge and my test shots weren't all that bad. This new found appreciation is going to hurt my pocket with LBA.. ::sighs::
Here are a few samples (both wide open):
First is of my son
Second is just a test in middle of my living room.
Any tips or comments are welcome. Thanks!
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