Help needed. Failed at an attempt recently ):

[kaylan2000]

Hi..do u think 17-55 will be able to do a gd job in wedding event? I just got my set last Sat and tried some indoor shots..seems gd...

Yes, your is a cropped body. 17-55 on cropped body is 27-88 on FF, sounds similar to 24-70?

TS is having a 5D II, thats why I suggested 24-70. For 50D it will be 17-55. For events, from my experience two things are the most important, range and f number. and ofcourse a good flash with great synchronisation and recharge time.

 

[mimik07]

Hi guys,

i've been trying very hard to get those professional feel for wedding photos but i cant seem to get it. My exposure is out, the bokeh is not there etc etc.

unfortunately i am unable to show you the pics due to the couple's requests.

i am extremely distraught now and would like the advice of some experts here.

what are your settings for wedding shots? how do you achieve those damn nice bokeh? i cant seem to get much bokeh. and do you always change your focal point? or do you just recompose with just 1 focal point?

my gear fyi:
5dm2
24-105 f4L

I have never done wedding photography before but I guess its the photographer's ability to capture the key moments that adds to the 'professional feel' and not about having 'damn nice bokeh'.

The 24-105 is no doubt a great travel lens, but not ideal for wedding shoots IMO. I would suggest using faster primes like the 35 f/1.4, 85 f/1.8 or 135 f/2 if you want smoother bokeh. Like what night86mare mentioned, don't expect too much bokeh out of f/4....unless you shoot at 105 f/4 :dunno:

If you're shooting outdoors, perhaps you can use Av mode to minimise your exposure issue.

Don't be too stressed dude.

 

[sherchoo]

I think the key here is finding a fast lens will help heaps. A flash IMO, is necessary.

 

[wildcat]

In addition, if the problem is not the photographer (with a 5DMkII, I am not going to blame camera), then there's always the option of renting lenses. This is just an add on to all the great ideas already posted above.

Also, without seeing your photos, we won't know whether post-processing is the missing link. The goat was mentioned earlier; having learnt a bit of his workflow from various CS threads, I realize that his photographs are so good because his PP is as good, if not better, than his photography skills.

 

[Hewland]

Hi..do u think 17-55 will be able to do a gd job in wedding event? I just got my set last Sat and tried some indoor shots..seems gd...

raccoon80,

If you need affirmation, go out and shoot both indoors and outdoors and _you_ decide if it's good. Shoot all kinds of pictures, angles and subjects. There's really no point asking.

 

[daredevil123]

i've stuck to 24-105 cos its a damn good travel lens. but i found it to be very limited when i wanna take portraits or events. yup, i'm still new to events and i cant seem to get that feel i want, esp that of a wedding photog.

will try your suggestion

Having done one wedding as the only official photographer myself, as a favor to the couple. I can tell you that it is hard work. I did mention my inadequacy in skills and experience to my friends prior to the event, but they insisted. I already have respect for wedding photographers and after my experience, I have even more. As a wedding photographer, you cannot be passive. You have to be the first to run from one place to another, you have to anticipate what is going to happen and when it does, you have to be there and already ready to grab that moment. You have a very good camera but, in all honesty, you are lacking either a flash or a faster lens setup. I went in with a flash, fast primes, a F2.8 zoom and a semi pro body. And still I felt my shots are not up to par. I also felt I can do a lot better with a 2nd body with either a fast prime mounted for ambient light shots.

Question now is, are you going to do this wedding thingy as a professional? Or if this is just a hobbyist's curiosity? If the former, you need to invest in good glass like F2.8 zoom(s) and maybe some fast primes and some flash guns. And you probably need an additional camera body (as backup, or mounted with another lens). You cannot say things like you are "stuck with an F4 lens because it is a good travel lens". If you want to get serious to make this a money making venture, you need to have the tools (and of course the skills) that help you deliver.

If you are just a curious hobbyist, disregard all I have said and just get a cheap flash gun to shoot the occasional event.

PS. you can block out the couple's faces and post some pictures up here so people here can give more constructive advice.

 

[aspenx]

Even though I have fast lens, I'd still shoot them at f/4 or smaller (most of the time) for a wedding. :dunno:

Your gear sounds good enough already. Good luck trying again with proper technique and flash.

 

[jeff7id]

Thin DoF is not necessary a good thing. Look at my recent failed attempt due to thin DoF...

Shot at F2.8

Second that, Bro

DoF is good thing if u know when u should use it.

 

[daredevil123]

Second that, Bro

DoF is good thing if u know when u should use it.

Yup. I was lucky the couple loved that shot despite the slight OOF on the bride's face. They say it looks cool and natural...

 

[JC1808]

Sorry TS, just OT abit...

After read all bros reply to TS, I am thinking what will happen for my this weekend helping friend shoot on her wedding day @ Malaysia....this my first time shooting wedding photos and I only have a 50mm f/1.8, 18-55mm kit lens & 1 external flash SB28...and my D90. Is a diffiuser a must? I had a DIY diffiuser which I used for my macro shooting ...:sweatsm: will be shooting outdoor and some dinner shots. Not sure with only a 50mm is it enough.....

I am not the wedding photographer of the day, I am just helping her shooting some casual/candits photos~ only just to have fun~ but still, I am worry for the output.....:sweat:

 

[Scoop]

Well, I just recently helped a friend out as a secondary photographer for their wedding and I can safely tell you that the 24-105 or 24-70 is really just a small part of the equation. What you really want is some fast primes which might give you the bokeh you're looking for.

I shot with a 24-105, 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 on 2 bodies and even at 2.8 it was still tough shooting in low light. That's where the fast primes come in. The issue is knowing when and where to utilise the equipment you have. That said, you really do need a flash if you want to start taking wedding photography seriously.

Don't belittle the 24-105 though, as f4 at the right shooting distance will still give you very pleasing bokeh.

 

[sinned79]

time for u to invest in some primes.

for me i prefer 35 over 50 and 135 over 85, i think its the perfect combination for me.

if u have tight budget...

there is 35mm f2 or 50mm f1.4 or f1.8 and 85 f1.8. All these lens below $600 each.

 

[nixontkl]

Don't belittle the 24-105 though, as f4 at the right shooting distance will still give you very pleasing bokeh.

Second that, F4 at 105mm will give u good bokeh, you just need to know how the F number and distance and your focal length work together to get bokeh.

70-300 F 4.5-5.6 lens can give good bokeh, dont need a F2.8. If u dont have the F number use your tele and move back abit.

go study your lens, find out what is its focusing range? from ie. 50cm to 3m then infinity? your lens bokeh effect is greatest if you keep your subject within the focusing range of your lens. go try it if u dont believe.

moi 2 cents