Need advice for very first wedding photo shoot.

[kaungkin]

Hello Dear members,
Recently I was requested by my friend to shoot photos for her wedding. Actually I just started to learn photography last year and of course not a pro. I own Nikon D200 & 18-70mm kit lens. I won't be main photographer for that event. What i worry is my camera's low light performance not so wonderful, I think. So, should I get flash or fast lens for better low light situation? And now I am doing my homework for wedding photography. Any one can share good wedding photography site so that I can learn? Or if there is aldy some thread in this forum, kindly provide the links.
P.S: I m just shooting that event free of charge.
Thanks in advance.....

 

[eleveninth]

Wah its the season. Suddenly so many similiar threads.

Are you the main?

Does she have a paid photog?

U have confidence to shoot? And nt miss any crucial parts?

 

[weelian]

Since you are not the main, I suggest you get a fast 85 prime, stand far behind and pray you get a nice shot.

You don't block anyone and provide a unique point of view. Everybody wins.

The prime would allow you to shoot without flash too.

 

[kaungkin]

Wah its the season. Suddenly so many similiar threads.

Are you the main?

Does she have a paid photog?

U have confidence to shoot? And nt miss any crucial parts?

Hi dear senior member
Sorry to bother u in early morning.
It is my apology.
I'm not main photog and she aldy have paid one. I do believe that I can do my part well as I m quite familiar with wedding photography and I wanted to shoot if I got a chance. Anyway, thanks for your reply and kindly take me to some other similar thread to get some idea.
Thanks again.
Cheers

 

[kaungkin]

Since you are not the main, I suggest you get a fast 85 prime, stand far behind and pray you get a nice shot.

You don't block anyone and provide a unique point of view. Everybody wins.

The prime would allow you to shoot without flash too.

Great advice.
I thought so but what ever the advices I've read is to got the flash.
Any other recommanded lenses other than 85mm as I might need to take group shot?
Sorry if I m asking too many questions?
Cheers....

 

[brapodam]

Hello Dear members,
Recently I was requested by my friend to shoot photos for her wedding. Actually I just started to learn photography last year and of course not a pro. I own Nikon D200 & 18-70mm kit lens. I won't be main photographer for that event. What i worry is my camera's low light performance not so wonderful, I think. So, should I get flash or fast lens for better low light situation? And now I am doing my homework for wedding photography. Any one can share good wedding photography site so that I can learn? Or if there is aldy some thread in this forum, kindly provide the links.
P.S: I m just shooting that event free of charge.
Thanks in advance.....

I think fast lens, since it would not only enable you to shoot in low light, it's also able to produce photos with shallow DOF. Also, flash will not look nice if you do not know how to control it. It's not only about putting it on TTL and bouncing off your flash from the ceiling, there's a bit of thinking involved if you want to make full use of your flash.

Also, don't get in the way of the paid photographer, ever. Don't get too excited to get that action shot and run in front of the paid photographer, but also don't hang back too much and get the boring shots.

Take my advice with a pinch of salt though, as I'm not a wedding photographer.

 

[scrambyjess]

I think you have to take into consideration the environment you will be shooting in. Might help if you can do a site recce as well, provided you have the time, that case you can roughly have an idea on lighting level and what settings you can use during the actual shoot, so you won't waste much time configuring your cam there on the actual day. I prefer to use a flashlight indoor as well as outdoor, it will make a great deal compare with no flash. Use a diffuser if you have, or can try off camera flash if you want to get more creative since you are not the main, take it as a learning opportunity. Lens wise will depends on your budget, usually I would rent those I need, ultra wide if outside building shots, 17-55 f2.8 for portraits. once again that depending on the location. Can also consider the number of people present as well.

Just my suggestions, I'm no pro myself

 

[spree86]

Agree with what brapodam said. Never get in the way of the main photographer and do not shoot while he was shooting group photos.

I have done actual day wedding before and I can tell you nothing is more irritating than an overenthusiastic relative with a camera. If there is more than one person taking a group portrait at one time, chances are that not everyone is looking at the main photographer.

 

[brapodam]

I think you have to take into consideration the environment you will be shooting in. Might help if you can do a site recce as well, provided you have the time, that case you can roughly have an idea on lighting level and what settings you can use during the actual shoot, so you won't waste much time configuring your cam there on the actual day. I prefer to use a flashlight indoor as well as outdoor, it will make a great deal compare with no flash. Use a diffuser if you have, or can try off camera flash if you want to get more creative since you are not the main, take it as a learning opportunity. Lens wise will depends on your budget, usually I would rent those I need, ultra wide if outside building shots, 17-55 f2.8 for portraits. once again that depending on the location. Can also consider the number of people present as well.

Just my suggestions, I'm no pro myself

Depending on when the wedding is, there may not be enough time for TS to learn about off camera flash. There's a crap load of things to learn about it, so it takes a lot of time.

 

[snipshot]

Hi! M not a pro too but just want to share to you my experience in wedding photoshoot.. My colleague ask me to help take photo for her daughter's wedding, told me that i will be the backup but on the day of wedding he told me
Main photographer didnt show up and got urgent matters dunno if true so i decided ok i will be the main coz im the only photographr left.. We started 730am doing the traditional chinese wedding, then go punggol park, botanical garden, esplanade, chinese garden, mbs photoshoot the wholeday then 7pm dinner. Im using D90-tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and flash nissin di622 mk2, i just notice that my flash is not consistent.. When i take few shots like 3-4 in a row(3secs interval) then i check the pics mostlikely 2pics are ok and the other are not lighted up or my flash didnt trigger.. I wonder if theres a compatibility issue between tamron and nissin or with my set-up. Nevertheless, the wedding went fine as well as the pics. My colleague was happy coz he save a lot( i didnt ask him to pay me) and the couples are very happy too.. So i suggest buy a reliable flash, i must say 17-50mm is good for both portrait and group pics!

 

[spree86]

Hi! M not a pro too but just want to share to you my experience in wedding photoshoot.. My colleague ask me to help take photo for her daughter's wedding, told me that i will be the backup but on the day of wedding he told me
Main photographer didnt show up and got urgent matters dunno if true so i decided ok i will be the main coz im the only photographr left.. We started 730am doing the traditional chinese wedding, then go punggol park, botanical garden, esplanade, chinese garden, mbs photoshoot the wholeday then 7pm dinner. Im using D90-tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and flash nissin di622 mk2, i just notice that my flash is not consistent.. When i take few shots like 3-4 in a row(3secs interval) then i check the pics mostlikely 2pics are ok and the other are not lighted up or my flash didnt trigger.. I wonder if theres a compatibility issue between tamron and nissin or with my set-up. Nevertheless, the wedding went fine as well as the pics. My colleague was happy coz he save a lot( i didnt ask him to pay me) and the couples are very happy too.. So i suggest buy a reliable flash, i must say 17-50mm is good for both portrait and group pics!

It's not a compatibility issue. From what I read, you are shooting continuously and there isn't enough recycle time for the camera, that's why the last few shots are weak or didn't trigger.

 

[weelian]

Great advice.
I thought so but what ever the advices I've read is to got the flash.
Any other recommanded lenses other than 85mm as I might need to take group shot?
Sorry if I m asking too many questions?
Cheers....

I suggested a long lens so that you can keep out of the way of the main.

For group shots? Just any reasonably wide lens with flash would do the job.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[joe]

How come always keep asking the same topic.Very sian

 

[donut88]

Get a 50mm f1.4. 85mm can be abit too long on APS-C cam.

With 50mm, it's just nice and u are not too near.

Since u r not the main guy, concentrate on candid shots, kids, best dressed guests, decor, unique angles.....

Leave the major shots to the main guy. Don't act smart.....

 

[Octarine]

Hello Dear members,
Recently I was requested by my friend to shoot photos for her wedding. Actually I just started to learn photography last year and of course not a pro.

Quick answer: this rules you out as main photographer, full stop. Leave the serious work to people who know what needs to be done. Feel free to use your cam for casual snaps and candids, don't get in the way of the hired photographer.
Regarding existing other threads (yeah, seems to be season.. newbies popping up all the way with the same funky idea): upper right hand is the Search function, just key in 'wedding' .. you will find fellow newbies with the same question. Have a look into the subforum 'Photo Biz' and read what it takes to be a wedding photographer. Think twice.

 

[kaungkin]

Seems I posted wrong thread. Thanks for all your replies and sorry to bother you all. I think I know what to do already. Thread close...

Cheers!!!!!!

 

[daredevil123]

There you go...

Wedding Photography – 21 Tips for Amateur Wedding Photographers

 

[Shahmatt]

Your D200 should do well coupled with a good 50mm lens. But if you can borrow a D300 body for this job. D300 dynamic range is superior and better to capture the white bride's dress and black groom's suit.

Survey the area and identify well lit spots. Then position and time yourself so that you can take a photo when the couple comes in range.

You only need one or two really good photos to make it all worthwhile.

Underexpose very slightly to get more details of the bride's white dress.

Shoot RAW and tweak later.