Ideal Kit for Weddings?

AliB said:
Marks book should be essential reading for anyone interested in shooting weddings so blooming well done for grabbing a copy. :)

I do take a tripod even on a hot sunny day for a couple of reasons. One is to actually shoot from. Sometimes for a long shot from the rear of a church I need that extra stability. The second is for doing group shots. It's actually quite a good prop to stick the camera on the tripod in that it marks your territory as the pro and stops "Uncle with camera" intruding too much. You can then shepherd and arrange the groups without losing your shooting position even by accident. The third is to pop a flash on top of it rather than lugging a lighting stand too. I can use a radio trigger and use some remote flash. So yes it can be useful but I do also use a monopod and a video light when I'm shooting with colleagues. :) The video light can be very effective and I'll try to get some shots of that in use up later.

Also makes it harder to nick if you turn your back for a nanosecond.
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thanks, or maybe I will get one - been wanting one for ages anyway, :lol:
 
Cor Blimey Guys!

Anyway let you tell me my experience of a wedding for the first time. I was contacted by me dad, he was getting married and it was either me or the FiL who had a tiny compact camera and a limp ;S

I had my K10d which i was very familiar with, and unlike these same priced N and C's, doesnt break into sharing of plastic crapness as soon as you look at it.

So yeah i was familiar with my kit, i took a nifty 50 and my usual lenses and went for it.

The pictures came out really, really nice they enjoyed having me there, i enjoyed being there and it was a great experience - i certainly didnt need 2x £2000 cameras and all the trimmings, yeah if your doing weddings every week maybe thats necessary, as it is for portrait photographers i am sure, and editorial photographers and sport photographers etc...

My point is this, in ALL forms of professional photography you are going to need back-up, but it doesnt stop people going out and getting fantastic results without the uber kit and the copies of everything.

it is possible to wing it and get fantastic results, i just think you need to KNOW your kit basically, wether its a k1000, a Mamiya or a Digital SLR, you have to know what your doing because DSLRs take a minute to get your head round (and in that minute you take crap shots) and afterwards they far surpass anything you could take on another camera.

my advice to the OP, dont listen to the self-righteous togs who live in a world where the amount of cameras round your neck determines wether you are a good photographer or not, there are thousands of great photographers there who use pin hole cameras, large format cameras, point and shoot cameras!! The only thing they have on you is creativity (and everyones got a bit of that :) ) and knowledge of their own kit.

I would rent the kit a week before the wedding and get to know it, or go see a friend with a good camera and then hire the same camera, just to get you used to it :)

but above all else, Dont Listen To These *removed*, you'll be fine and groovy.
 
AliB said:
I do also use a monopod and a video light when I'm shooting with colleagues. :) The video light can be very effective and I'll try to get some shots of that in use up later.
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Would be very interested to see that Ali

Hugh
 
I'm on it guys!

Having to do editing on my laptop while waiting for my new PC to be delivered. So yes even that had to have a backup so I can keep working when my PC died! :)
 
boyfalldown said:
thanks for the constructive comments :cuckoo::cuckoo:
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now now, read the whole post :gag::thinking:

basically i was nervous enough when i did me first wedding, i certainly wouldnt have managed the day if when i spoke to me wedding tog mate, she told me i would never be able to do it and needed to lug about a million quids worth of kit!

its nervewracking enough without listening to all that :)
 
feeb said:
my advice to the OP, dont listen to the self-righteous togs who live in a world where the amount of cameras round your neck determines wether you are a good photographer or not, there are thousands of great photographers there who use pin hole cameras, large format cameras, point and shoot cameras!!
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Glad you winged it and got away with it.

Yes you can take great pictures with a variety of kit .... but some is suitable for weddings and some not.

No one has said that you are judged on the amount of kit you have - just that you have adequate for the job at hand.

feeb said:
but above all else, Dont Listen To These *removed*, you'll be fine and groovy.
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Very constructive ..... and really very ill informed
 
AliB said:
I'm on it guys!

Having to do editing on my laptop while waiting for my new PC to be delivered. So yes even that had to have a backup so I can keep working when my PC died! :)
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SLOW, you have had an hour already :D

SPXXX comments were cool and i dont think the negatives in this thread were aiming at you mate. I think it was general comments to the forum.

I think people should do the courses and read as much as possible and know their stuff inside out before they do a wedding, i dont think you NEED the top end kit to do it.
Im sure if give a good photographer an average camera the results will still be good. And thats what i want to add, its really about your skill more than the kit, the kit helps and lets you bring out the best but is it VITAL??? no. (but your kit should be half decent). but thats just my opinion :)
 
psenior 1.
sounds like you have much more of a grasp than the OP.
good luck to you.
if a pro can be happy enough with the quality of your work, to shoot his wedding, obviously you must have it about right.
just do plenty of research, and take advice form the people on here, or elsewhere that are happy to provide it.
incidentaly , we have seldom used a tripod at a wedding.
a pain to cart around and still be mobile.
think the only time weve used one was when shooting from the back of a very dark, and very big church.
with a 300mm lens.
and wifey was at the front with her 24-105.
 
In my other post i mentioned how my sister in laws photographer produced absolutely stunning shots with a canon 30d and a 28-105 non is canon lens and a canon flashgun.

Believe me when i say they are STUNNING! Just goes to show you dont necessarily need all the latest and greatest nikon d3x and canon 1ds mkIII etc etc
 
Hello guys, Thanks a lot for all of the useful feedback. Suffice to say, I'm by no means a professional yet and my prices reflect that - everyone that even talks to me about paying for my work knows that as it's one of the first subjects I will bring up. I am constantly learning and adapting, trying new techniques and trying to find that special niche that makes truly great shots.
This is a wedding of a friend who wanted to avoid the huge fees normally associated with togs in my area and I just wanted to provide some decent shots for them, on a very small budget.

I never intended for this to be such a huge debacle, so apologies for setting off the powder keg!
 
mali84 said:
Hello guys, Thanks a lot for all of the useful feedback. Suffice to say, I'm by no means a professional yet and my prices reflect that - everyone that even talks to me about paying for my work knows that as it's one of the first subjects I will bring up. I am constantly learning and adapting, trying new techniques and trying to find that special niche that makes truly great shots.
This is a wedding of a friend who wanted to avoid the huge fees normally associated with togs in my area and I just wanted to provide some decent shots for them, on a very small budget.

I never intended for this to be such a huge debacle, so apologies for setting off the powder keg!
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While somewhat tongue firmly in cheek I still think my original post stands as a good reply to your question of 'What's ideal'

Nikon D3 x3
14-24mm
24-70mm
70-200mm
one on each body
3x SB900
one on each body
6x 8gb cards
Skyports or Pocket-wizards, stands and mounts

Should be okay as a start

2x the above as 'just in case' spares would be good too

2+ years experience of using the above at 30+ Weddings

Attendance on loads of course on Weddings too by top UK or International togs

Now of course you don't NEED all of that or an equivalent - but when you have all the gear you could possibly need you no longer have to think about gear at all - and can just get on with the artistic & fun aspects

I'm sure a 30D & 28-105 in the right hands will do most of the work most of the time, but you did ask for 'ideal' :)


One thing does puzzle me in your last post though... I'm by no means a professional yet and my prices reflect that

I'm sorry - but if you're charging at all, however little, than you are offering a Professional service and one that comes with all the liabilities, tax & insurance requirements charging always brings. If you are charging, then at the very least get some proper PI etc. and inform HMRC before someone does it for you :eek:

And good luck too in forging a career for yourself :thumbs:

DD
 
HI DD,
Yes your reply was very helpful.
My price is experience and use of pictures for a portfolio. Until I know what area i would like to pursue there is no need to go anyfurther.
Mali
 
mali84 said:
My price is experience and use of pictures for a portfolio. Until I know what area i would like to pursue there is no need to go anyfurther.
Mali
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Sounds like a good & safe 'pricing' to me

Good luck - whichever way you go

DD
 
psenior1 said:
I'd still make sure you have liabiliy insurance, even if you are shooting the wedding for free...
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Yes, you definitely need this. If you're being 'the photographer' and a guest trips over your equipment,for example, you need cover.

L
 
Check out photoguard and Aaduki - they are probably your best bet given that you aren't a working 'professional'. You'll be able to combine liability insurance with equipment cover if you don't already have it.
 
Hi mate, you state 3x d3, is the emphasis there on the number of bodies, or the model, or both.

I was wondering if you feel its vital to have a d3 or 1ds level camera, or could that just as well be 3xd90 or 3x40/50d etc.
Obviously it nicer to have the better cameras but do you feel its still ok with the semi pro, for weddings.

thanks

DiddyDave said:
While somewhat tongue firmly in cheek I still think my original post stands as a good reply to your question of 'What's ideal'

Nikon D3 x3
14-24mm
24-70mm
70-200mm
one on each body
3x SB900
one on each body
6x 8gb cards
Skyports or Pocket-wizards, stands and mounts

Should be okay as a start

2x the above as 'just in case' spares would be good too

2+ years experience of using the above at 30+ Weddings

Attendance on loads of course on Weddings too by top UK or International togs

Now of course you don't NEED all of that or an equivalent - but when you have all the gear you could possibly need you no longer have to think about gear at all - and can just get on with the artistic & fun aspects

I'm sure a 30D & 28-105 in the right hands will do most of the work most of the time, but you did ask for 'ideal' :)


One thing does puzzle me in your last post though... I'm by no means a professional yet and my prices reflect that

I'm sorry - but if you're charging at all, however little, than you are offering a Professional service and one that comes with all the liabilities, tax & insurance requirements charging always brings. If you are charging, then at the very least get some proper PI etc. and inform HMRC before someone does it for you :eek:

And good luck too in forging a career for yourself :thumbs:

DD
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the higher spec the camera,the more abuse you should be able to throw at it. no a d3 1disnt essential, but they are weatherproof, with long shutter life, large pixel counts, lots of buttons etc... the 40d is only partially weathertight, crop sensored(the ff seem to have better colours, lower noise etc) but will do the job. the 1d also have the fastest focusing out of the range. with the top end cameras your keeper ratio should increase and wont need replacing as often, plus they will service them quicker since it is the pro gear;)(perhaps only slightly)

as people say, give a proper pro a point and shoot and he would shame anything i get on my dslr every day of the week:)
 
mart77 said:
Hi mate, you state 3x d3, is the emphasis there on the number of bodies, or the model, or both.

I was wondering if you feel its vital to have a d3 or 1ds level camera, or could that just as well be 3xd90 or 3x40/50d etc.
Obviously it nicer to have the better cameras but do you feel its still ok with the semi pro, for weddings.

thanks
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I think DD was pointing out the "ideal", not saying that it was vital. It is ideal to have the best kit out there, but not vital. I've just shot a wedding with two Sony a700s and all was well, although I would have liked a third! :naughty:
 
Probably more important than the actual model of camera being used is having back-ups for everything, it's all to easy for something to pack up or get damaged. Without any back up your knackered.
 
speaking of which. canon have emailed me today.
my expired 18-85 IS is finally repaired.
it packed up half way through a wedding.
a rapid swap to the other body hanging off my shoulder, and no one was the wiser.
later swapped lenses in a quieter moment.
back to two cameras again.
oh the bill?
£180 . ouch.
 
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