How much do megapixels really matter?

Question

so i'm like really into photography and all that and i've read so much about it like OMG some of you guys on like no so much about cameras and stuff and like stuff that I really could never ever learn even if I lived to be like really old like 50 or something anyway so my friend looked at some of my photos and he was like wow ur really good so i'm thinking i could maybe take some more photos so anyway my question is like how much to megapixels really matter because my friend is gettingmarried tonite and so like i told him i would do his wedding for hime and that i'm really good and stuff and he's like wow i am spending like $6000 on photos and stuff so seeeing as he is a good friend and stuff i like said wow I can do it for like $5000 and he's really exited to be saving like a thousand dollars because it means we can all drink more at the wedding and i'm like wondering like how much do megapixels matter 'cos i have like a pda and if megapixels don't matter too much and stuff it has

like a 2 megapixel or something camera in it and I am thinking that seeing as megapixels don't really matter all that much that I might be able to use my pda to take the photos because it's really great and the photos look great because it has like a really large screen and the photos look really really good on the screen so i am thinking they must print well because they look so good on the screen and the best part is that i don't have to do all the stupid stuff like mess around with shutter speed and aperture and stuff because that is really hard and this pda is really really smart and it does all that stuff for me and i don't even have to use a flash and the pictures look really great so what do you guys think because you know so much about cameras and stuff and do you think the photos will be great? they should be because i took photos at my friends part so i have experience and stuff also do you think $5000 is ok or should i still charge $6000? please answer the wedding is tonight

Dr Sam! You got it - but then I knew you would :-)

Antony M, this question was inspired by you and posted in response to a question you asked.

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnV8hImKLwSBSuP0AV2VGaTh5gt.?qid=20070804235007AALtYo7

Answer 1

I'm afraid you may have stepped way out of your league. Photographing a wedding professionally, appropriately, and to actually please the bride and broom and their folks, you must have a lot of knowledge and experience about HOW to photograph a wedding, HOW to cover a wedding, HOW to get organized so that everyone involved in the photos knows where to be and when.

"Mega pixels" are important, as are many, many other facets of photography equipment. A wedding photographer must have dependable sufficient and efficient lighting and/or flash equipment, as well as workhorse cameras.

Yes, I said workhorse camera(S). In professional photography, the term "workhorse" is indicative of equipment that is tried and true, and has the features and ability to "work like a horse" -- because to do a good job photographing a wedding, that is YOU will do as well, "work like a horse". It's hard and it moves fast and strategically important photo moments happen in a heartbeat and are gone. Did you catch that once in a lifetime look on the bride's face, or how her dad looked at her just before they walked down the aisle? What about the expression on the groom's face when he first gets a good look at the bride coming down the aisle to him?
And Mom's tears?

THAT is the kind of stuff that makes a good wedding photographer. Of course, the photographer must have very good quality and dependable professional quality equipment, "megapixels" and all. Not only that, but a good photographer has all his equipment multiplied by 2, or even 3.
A professional photographer does not contract to photograph something as important as a wedding without having back up equipment, and back ups for his back ups. You do not charge a bride a few thousand to photograph her wedding, and then have the first little blurp in your "10 migapixel digital" camera leave you completely dead in the water. A real pro will hardly let the sudden death of a camera slow him down; he will barely say, "just a sec", and then he has another camera, etc. in his hands almost like nothing happened.

So, i'm like really into thinkin OMG, if you are like, really, like really, really for real, and you really are like, into photography and all that stuff, wow, you really want to learn stuff about cameras and stuff like that. And, i'm like, hey, GO FOR IT! Like read, read, read, and then go out and take lots and lots of like, you know, photos cause like ya know that's great experience and like OMG sooo much fun???

But, PLEASE, PLEASE - save your friendship and let him stay with his professional photographer. If you're going to the wedding, you could maybe unobtrusively observe the photographer for the entire time, and get a small taste of just what all it takes to professionally photograph a wedding.

But, I'm betting you are not for real, and just posted this question to get a rise out of a professional photographer. Huh?
Well, you did. ;-)

HAVE FUN!

Answer 2

Firstly, if you've committed to $5000, I would suggest not changing it otherwise you may lose credibility with your friend. It is a good amount.

Secondly, if you think you are that good, why not invest in a decent camera like a 5 or 7 megapixel Sony Cybershot. It won't cost you more than $250-300. You do need flash at times for dark shots and also you get some great night shots if used with a stand.

Lastly, I used to think megapixels mattered a lot so I went and bought a 5MP Sony. When I checked the manual it said the no. of megapixels you set your camera to was based on the size of photograph you wanted to print. For a normal photo they recommended 1 MP! So I take all pics using 1MP on a 5MP camera and I've been doing it for 5 years and I'm fine with it.

Considering your friend may want to enlarge some pics, you may want to keep your camera on max. resolution, i.e. 2MP.

Answer 3

I hate to tell ya but wedding photos should be taken by a pro, one who's done many. Putting a $10,000 camera in your hand won't give you any better photos than a $300 camera, it's the photographer. 4 to 6 megapixels is sufficient unless you crop a lot or enlarge more than 8X10.

Answer 4

Acctully i'm not a photographer, but i've good expriance w/ digital camera, megapexil is important but it's not enouph, the sensevity is so important also 2 get good quality, anyway.....if ur planing 2 get digital cam send me again, if u mave already nd u're not planing 2 get one, just adjust the resolution 2 the maximum.

Answer 5

You will need someone to hold up that flashlight thingie.

Can I be YouR AsSiStAnT??? PLeAsE???

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Antoni, teef is not serious. He just wants to join in the fun. He is a fine photographer who knows better than to ruin a friend's wedding.

Teef, anotoni is new here, but I think he lives a lot closer to you than he does to me. A LOT closer.

Answer 6

you are going to get drunk and ruin the images, go for it


his wedding shots arent important to him eh


i agree with Dr Sam who do you think your fooling?

go buy a hammer and start building houses


a

Answer 7

they don't really matter
find dr. sam on here
he has pictures on flickr
they are 2 mp
and they are awesome