I would consider myself a fairly serious amateur photographer and have mainly shot landscapes. My friend saw some photos that I had taken and asked if I could take her wedding pictures. I told her that I was in no way a professional and that I could not guarantee the "perfect" wedding portraits. She said that she knew that and wanted me to take them anyway. Now I am wondering what type of lighting and lenses would best suit wedding photography. I can probably think of some things but I just thought I would ask so that I don't miss anything that would make my pictures better than they would be otherwise. Thank you for your help.
2007-02-25 14:55:34 · 11 answers · asked by k_hamblen 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
Wedding photography tutorials: http://www.net-art.it/photomonitor/html/teoria_tecnica/ripresa-tecniche/matrimonio-cerimonia-e.shtml
2007-02-25 20:51:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Camera - one you are familiar with. A wedding is not the time to be trying to learn the settings on a new camera (don't laugh, I've seen people do this!) A back up camera (just in case) is also a good idea if you can swing it.
Lots and lots of batteries, more then you think you'll need! For the camera as well as the flash/
Either lots of film or extra memory cards, I personally think its better to shoot lots and sort them out later then to miss a good shot because your out of film.
A zoom lens is a good thing to have, no one wants to see the photographer moving around during the ceremony. A zoom lens lets you find a spot either along the side or towards the back of the ceremony to shoot un-noticed.
Go to the areas that the wedding and the reception will be before hand and try to go during the time you'll be shooting. This will let you see what the lighting will be like so you can avoid shooting into any windows with direct sun coming through them.
A time line of everything that is happening at the wedding. If the bride wants getting ready pictures, you'll need to know who's getting ready where and when they want you there. It also usually helps to have a family member from each side to help point out the important family members.
And lastly.. a contract. After you figure out the arrangements, get it in writing. If the bride and groom are going to cover the cost of the film and the printing, put that down. Decide whether you will give her the negatives and be done with it, of if you'd like to keep them to include images in your portfolio and include this information in the contract. Its very easy to say, but she's my friend.. she would never screw me over. Its easier to get everything in writing so that there's no confusion when everything is said and done. Believe me I speak from experience.
2007-02-26 11:05:43 · answer #2 · answered by Vickie R 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've done a few weddings from pretty well the same boat - coming from nature photography and doing them for friends. I also didn't have a lot of pro lighting.
I would suggest doing as many shoots outside as possible. It allows you to use less lighting equipment. Shooting in the shade provides nice even light, but be sure your white balance is set to manage the excess blue tones. If you're in the sun, be sure to fill the shadows somehow to deal with the contrasty light. Clouds are pretty well the same as shade with a little less blue.
Use at least a small flash for every photo. The resulting 'catchlight' in your subject's eyes is very attractive. Use whatever you have - flashes, reflectors, nearby objects - to get even, soft, flattering light. The more sources the better. If you're inside, try bouncing your flash off a ceiling or a wall or covering it with a diffuser to soften it.
Lenses - long zooms for the ceremony, normal to wide for large group shots, and at least one fast (fast) medium telephoto for portraits. A good portrait lens should totally blur the background - think 80f1.2 or 100f2. If you're stuck a 200f2.8 or something will work too. Try to stick to the physically smallest lens possible to avoid intimidating people.
Use equipment that you can operate in your sleep. Weddings can be stressful. Make sure that you're shooting with a body that can handle the largest print they'll want. Keep your ISO at the lowest that the situation can handle.
Don't try to take portraits with a wide angle lens - it makes people's noses look big. Always focus on people's eyes. Choose a flattering, simple background - plan ahead for this. And always tell the bride if she has something stuck in her teeth.
Good luck!
2007-02-26 16:08:52 · answer #3 · answered by Mark M 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Go to www.photo.net. Go to the wedding forum and search the beginner's questions section. That will be a week's worth of browsing.
As for lenses and lighting, use what you have, unless you are planning to invest for your own reasons or in hopes of a wedding photography career. What you need will depend on the venue, time of day, amount of people involved, etc etc. Count on a fast lens, a decent flash and a diffuser or bracket and at least one backup camera body, digital or film.
Really, shooting weddings ain't brain surgery, but people get emotional about their wedding day. Make sure your friendship can stand the fallout if your effort doesn't turn out to be good enough, after all.
2007-02-27 11:47:31 · answer #4 · answered by Ara57 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Bare bones wedding equipment to bring with your camera:
1) a zoom with a large aperture opening (f2.8). A lot of churches/chapels discourage flash photography so you need a lens with a large aperture and to set the camera to a high ISO to get a good shutter speed indoors.
2) Set your camera to mutiple exposure. Because you may end up having a slow shutter speed indoors, the first shot will surely be blurry because of camera shake from you pressing the shutter, but the next shots should be okay. Just in case, use a monopod to reduce camera shake.
3) External flash, but use the bounce technique. Direct flash will make the background dark. Remind the subjects to stay perfectly still. But a lens with a large aperture and a high ISO setting should allow you to take fotos without flash.
4) Lastly, if the lighting permits, if you are getting a shutter speed of more than 1/125, crank down the ISO until you get 1/125 to avoid getting too grainy photos.
5) Bring a back-up camera, extra batteries.
2007-02-26 18:38:15 · answer #5 · answered by nonoy 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
buy several books on the subject and study them like it's your job. Also, volunteer with wedding studio(s) as a second shooter and see how it's done. you may discover that you reallllly don't want to be a wedding photographer, even once. I love shooting weddings, but most of my pro-photographer friends think I'm crazy, and they wouldn't shoot a wedding if they were starving.
The most important equipment you can bring doesn't go in your camera bag. it's balanced between your shoulders.
2007-02-27 02:52:38 · answer #6 · answered by double-plus-good_thoughtcrime 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
basic equipment needed wedding photography
2016-02-01 01:36:29 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course, a camera!! What type of camera is the next question. Get or rent the very best digital camera you can afford, with the biggest hard drive on it possible, and a good zoom lens. Take as many photographs as you can, make sure you have plenty of spare batteries, too. The more photographs you take the more good ones you will get, it is a rule.
2007-02-25 15:04:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i shot a wedding with a D70, a speedlight (nikon flash), and a zoom lens that i almost never zoom. i have a macro lens that use occasionally for texture.
the most important thing is that you have a good eye. most wedding photography i see is plain bad. and i'm sure shot with expensive gear.
2007-02-25 15:36:27 · answer #9 · answered by blusanders 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Off camera flash with diffuser and bracket. Telephoto and wide angle lenses are a good choice... but make sure they're fast too!
2016-03-16 00:59:24 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋