Is Canon EOS 400D a presentable tool for a freelance wedding photographer?

[lightning]

Don't turn to photography because you have no other job to do. Chances are you will not be very successful, cos the drive may not be there(mental state of "if I fail I will try some other thing"). If you are currently drawing a 5 Digit pay, and you quit to do photography, then chances of you succeding is higher, cos your drive to want to make it a success is much higher, and more thought process has gone into it.

Seen so many photographer wannbe failed, and wasted tons of money on gears....

 

[hobbit6003]

Haha, I've just exprienced the "Equipment maketh a pro photographer" syndrome.

Just a few days ago, I brought my gear to shoot my son at his kindergarten's graduation concert. Many parents did the same, only that they brought along their PnS, while I brought along my 30D with grip, with a 70-200mm f4L fixed onto it.

At first i was hesitant in bringing out my camera, as I wasn't sure if it was allowed. However, after seeing parents around me activatng their cameras, I decided to whip out mine to shoot.

Straight away, a steward came at me and told me to stop, telling me that I cant shoot as I was not their enagaged photographer!;( When I asked him how come he allowed the others to shoot, he replied that theirs are just amateur cameras and their small flashes wouldn't pose any interference to their videography. Man, I was shooting w/o my flash on!!!;(

Sheesh, should have shown him my shots to convince him that I'm just an amateur la.

Kenny

 

[red_snapper]

Not with 18-55mm kit lens. At least get a 17-55mm F/2.8 EF-S

 

[wanzw]

Haha, I've just exprienced the "Equipment maketh a pro photographer" syndrome.

Just a few days ago, I brought my gear to shoot my son at his kindergarten's graduation concert. Many parents did the same, only that they brought along their PnS, while I brought along my 30D with grip, with a 70-200mm f4L fixed onto it.

At first i was hesitant in bringing out my camera, as I wasn't sure if it was allowed. However, after seeing parents around me activatng their cameras, I decided to whip out mine to shoot.

Straight away, a steward came at me and told me to stop, telling me that I cant shoot as I was not their enagaged photographer!;( When parents whatsoever. we just want to capture the fine moments of your child in action.I asked him how come he allowed the others to shoot, he replied that theirs are just amateur cameras and their small flashes wouldn't pose any interference to their videography. Man, I was shooting w/o my flash on!!!;(

Sheesh, should have shown him my shots to convince him that I'm just an amateur la.

Kenny

i experienced the same thing as well. so what if your camera is bigger? cannot shoot ar. not as if we are going to sell the prints to other

i am speaking from a POV as a brother. my sister had a choral night concert. i brought in my system and it yielded stares, when the stares came from parents with PnS as well. they even brought their tripods. i made it a point not to obstruct their view and only moved during intervals. scene changes, or emcees speaking. still :dunno:

coming friday want to cover my younger sister's graduation shoot, kindergarten as well. i wonder if i am getting the same kind of treatment. they are going to have video as well.

man i am using a 2.8 lens. do we really need flash? :sweatsm:

 

[madmacs]

Haha, I've just exprienced the "Equipment maketh a pro photographer" syndrome.

Just a few days ago, I brought my gear to shoot my son at his kindergarten's graduation concert. Many parents did the same, only that they brought along their PnS, while I brought along my 30D with grip, with a 70-200mm f4L fixed onto it.

At first i was hesitant in bringing out my camera, as I wasn't sure if it was allowed. However, after seeing parents around me activatng their cameras, I decided to whip out mine to shoot.

Straight away, a steward came at me and told me to stop, telling me that I cant shoot as I was not their enagaged photographer!;( When I asked him how come he allowed the others to shoot, he replied that theirs are just amateur cameras and their small flashes wouldn't pose any interference to their videography. Man, I was shooting w/o my flash on!!!;(

Sheesh, should have shown him my shots to convince him that I'm just an amateur la.

Kenny

sounds quite common. thats why i always carry a pns as well :bsmilie:

 

[hobbit6003]

i experienced the same thing as well. so what if your camera is bigger? cannot shoot ar. not as if we are going to sell the prints to other

i am speaking from a POV as a brother. my sister had a choral night concert. i brought in my system and it yielded stares, when the stares came from parents with PnS as well. they even brought their tripods. i made it a point not to obstruct their view and only moved during intervals. scene changes, or emcees speaking. still :dunno:

coming friday want to cover my younger sister's graduation shoot, kindergarten as well. i wonder if i am getting the same kind of treatment. they are going to have video as well.

man i am using a 2.8 lens. do we really need flash? :sweatsm:

And the best part is, trying to be considerate, I didn't even budge from my seat while some parents even ventured to the aisle to shoot.

Sigh, what to do, i eventually ended up with some shots with some parents' head 'framing' them.

To avoid flash, I shot them in higher ISO 800-1600.

 

[hobbit6003]

sounds quite common. thats why i always carry a pns as well :bsmilie:

Yeah, wanted too, but my IXUS is away on loan.

Then again I did thought of not shooting at all. However, his teacher told me that there's no official photographer on the actual day, and the pics on sale was taken during their full dress rehearsal, which my son missed as he was on quarantine for coming down with HFMD.

 

[bigu2fan]

Haha, I've just exprienced the "Equipment maketh a pro photographer" syndrome.

Just a few days ago, I brought my gear to shoot my son at his kindergarten's graduation concert. Many parents did the same, only that they brought along their PnS, while I brought along my 30D with grip, with a 70-200mm f4L fixed onto it.

At first i was hesitant in bringing out my camera, as I wasn't sure if it was allowed. However, after seeing parents around me activatng their cameras, I decided to whip out mine to shoot.

Straight away, a steward came at me and told me to stop, telling me that I cant shoot as I was not their enagaged photographer!;( When I asked him how come he allowed the others to shoot, he replied that theirs are just amateur cameras and their small flashes wouldn't pose any interference to their videography. Man, I was shooting w/o my flash on!!!;(

Sheesh, should have shown him my shots to convince him that I'm just an amateur la.

Kenny

Yep I know what you mean, just got a dslr recently. The first time people stared at me I felt quite good actually, in a humorous way. Here I am not knowing what shutter speed and aperture does and everyone thinks I am a pro because of that long white thing. Then it got sometimes inconvenient and even irritating cos people will always telling me not to shoot. Now I am slowly learning the 'rules of engagement' when shooting with a DSLR.

As for the 400D, I have known pros who use the battery grip on the 350D to make their cameras bigger to look like the bigger ones. In the image conscious Singapore, I think bigger does make you look better, until the prints come out hehe.

 

[wanzw]

iso 800 to 1600 on canon bodies won't show noise even at 8R. tried and tested. quite happy with results too.

sometimes cannot be too considerate. might as well get a 300mm 2.8 IS and stand behind to shoot. :bsmile:

shoot first, ask questions later. haha. -deadpoet

 

[wanzw]

yup, when i was carrying around my 400D set up with the 2.8L, it garnered a lot of uneccessary attention.

rules of engagement definitely. there is also a twinge of jealously. "your camera so big pics confirm nice de la"

 

[Snowcrash]

You are talking about someone starting out without anything to show :think:

I think you should ask the for a poll/vote on "WHO will hire a Actual Day photographer" who do not have any portfolio to show?

I see some Fulltime/Freelance photographer who posted in this thread caution the TS on getting a portfolio as well as his skill up to par first and worry less about which DSLR to use.

You seems to point him to getting a "pro/big" camera and go get some clients by showing the gear:think:

 

[calebk]

Why SPH don't just give their photographer a 400D or 350D for their assignment?:think:

Cos of the abuse their equipment goes through.The 350D/400D would probably not stand up to it. Remember the scene outside the courtroom, where an old man threw a handphone at the photographer? :bsmilie:

 

[gryphon]

Straight away, a steward came at me and told me to stop, telling me that I cant shoot as I was not their enagaged photographer!;( When I asked him how come he allowed the others to shoot, he replied that theirs are just amateur cameras and their small flashes wouldn't pose any interference to their videography. Man, I was shooting w/o my flash on!!!;(

Sheesh, should have shown him my shots to convince him that I'm just an amateur la.

Kenny

Why dun u explain you will not be using flash & shoot at your seat.
If he says cannot... then say: "would you rather i use a P&S keep flashing & even run close to the stage & shoot?"

 

[hobbit6003]

Why dun u explain you will not be using flash & shoot at your seat.
If he says cannot... then say: "would you rather i use a P&S keep flashing & even run close to the stage & shoot?"

In fact, I was just sitting at my seat all night and didn't use my 580EX at all! My wife was commenting that most of my shots came from the same viewing angle and I also had to content with getting parts of the audience head into the bottom of some of my pics.

Anway, I told him that I'm not a professional photographer, just a rich amateur, that's all!

Some of my shots are in this thread http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=234579 ;p

Kenny

 

[Bluezonescuba]

Personally I dont like the attention from a big camera.... The stares is just annoying... I use to get distracted by the stares but over years I have learn to get over it.

I realised also one thing.... big camera is ok.... but once the 70-200mm is out then comes the stares...

 

[Moonstone]

The EOS 400D is good enough for I've seen photographers using Canon G5 with 550EX flash to do actual day wedding.

 

[hobbit6003]

Personally I dont like the attention from a big camera.... The stares is just annoying... I use to get distracted by the stares but over years I have learn to get over it.

I realised also one thing.... big camera is ok.... but once the 70-200mm is out then comes the stares...

Unfortunately, I tend to agree with you. I'd prefer my L lens to be black like that of the smaller zooms 17-40 f4L.

Kenny

 

[lightning]

I think you should ask the for a poll/vote on "WHO will hire a Actual Day photographer" who do not have any portfolio to show?

I see some Fulltime/Freelance photographer who posted in this thread caution the TS on getting a portfolio as well as his skill up to par first and worry less about which DSLR to use.

You seems to point him to getting a "pro/big" camera and go get some clients by showing the gear:think:

I find the price diff between the 400D and 30D a small gap if you are serious about photography. Firstly it is now about $500 diff, more presentable, faster fps, better handling, better build (more resistant to abuse). $500 is a small sum compare to the lens you will be investing for a wedding. I don't understand why people are advising the TS to get 400D? Don't make sense at all.

 

[ConnorMcLeod]

Anway, I told him that I'm not a professional photographer, just a rich amateur, that's all!

I like ur reply

Why can't you shoot for ur kid even if u r a pro, in this context u r the parent.

I find it irritating to hear comments like "pro" when ppl use (D)SLR.
There is no rule saying only pro can buy EOS1D or D2X.
Maybe they'll think whoever drives a WRX STI is a F1 driver. :dunno:

 

[katty]

You can shoot a wedding beautifully with a decent pointNshoot, if you put your mind to it. Anything else is just excuses and bullSh1t.