help with wedding

I am an amatuer and have been hired to do a friend's wedding. I need help choosing a versatile lens that will assit me in a "low lit" church. What do you recommend? I have a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT camera.

Give you friend a present for life. Hire him a pro to do the shoot.

He will thank you afterwards.

Dan
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(a) f/2.8 zoom: such as EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM or Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 XR Di II

(b) f/2.8 or faster prime lenses, such as EF 28 f/1.8 USM, EF 35 f/2, EF 50 f/1.8 II

baseballmom said:

I am an amatuer and have been hired to do a friend's wedding. I
need help choosing a versatile lens that will assit me in a "low
lit" church. What do you recommend? I have a Canon EOS Digital
Rebel XT camera.

Click to expand...

I would recommend the Sigma 18-50 f2.8 or the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 and if you have unlimited funds forget the first two and buy the Canon 17-55 IS. I own the Tamron and have been pleased with the results both with flash and outdoors. The fast f stop will help with lower light that weddings/receptions offer. You will probably need to use ISO200/400 and will need an additional flash that you can bounce off walls/ceilings at the reception. In the church, most likely the ceiling will be too high to use bounce flash, so some use a diffuser on the flash to soften the harshness of direct flash. You can take advantage of the 2.8 f stop on these lenses by using a tripod and taking shots at back of the church/site with no flash since you do not want to fire off flashes during the ceremony. Here are a couple of shots with the Tamron from a recent wedding this summer. Have fun and good luck....robby

Do make sure that they understand you are not a professional wedding photographer (I am assuming you priced the job at a very low price and that they could not afford a professional photographer). I have the 17-55 f2.8 IS and also use the 85mm f1.8 to cover what I need. A flash is a definite must (use only with permission during the ceremony). ISO 200 & 400 will be very good with that camera. If possible borrow or rent a second body - even an original Digital Rebel - for both backup and to have a second lens mounted. Finally, try to simulate the lighting where the wedding is taking place and snap a group of pictures at different settings to find out what works best ahead of time, rather than waiting until the day of the wedding. If I shoot the rehearsal I ask the lighting to be set as for the ceremony and then I can get the adjustment settings I need.
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(See profile for equipment)

The words "amateur," "hired," "friend," and "wedding" do NOT belong in the same sentence, unless you are prepared to later use the phrase "former friend."

If you want to take some "snapshots," swell. But unless you are experienced at shooting weddings, know the list of specific required shots to take, know how pose familial groups for formal portraits, understand how to shoot the ceremony without flash, have command of natural lighting and depth of field, and more, you have no business being the primary photographer.

Nothing personal against you, but this is a job only for someone with experience.

You should decline the offer and your friendship will remain strong.

--
When I ask which Canon lenses are best,
people tell me to 'go to L.'

Weddings are the last thing on my list of jobs I do
Yes I do them but they are very stressfull at times
Tell your friend to hire a pro and you buy the beer

MY last wedding the first thing tht broke was my new deticated flash of two weeks so out came a spare
have two of everthing on that day

Look,

I don't know you, but your post indicates you're letting your ego get in the way of your friendship.

Why do I say this?

You agreed to get paid for something you're not qualified to do.

You also agreed to do so with the most important photos in a couple's life.

I know it's very flattering to be asked, even begged, to be a photographer for a wedding. I've been there. Do your friend a favor, check your ego and tell them you're not qualified. If your friend absolutley cannot afford an experienced pro, agree to do the shoot for FREE - and I say this only because you already dug your hole by agreeing to do the job.

If you have to ask the question: "what lens do I need" the answer is obvious - you don't have the experience to be the primary photographer.

So, check your ego and do what is RIGHT for your friend not what makes you feel good as a photographer.

There will always be a "this is my first wedding" post and comments like "hire a pro" or "don't do it, it'll end your friendship" will make the task seem more daunting than it really is.

Being a friend will help them be more acceptable of the pictures but will not really help if you mess up totally. It will also make them feel more relaxed which will yield better pictures.

There is some good advice in this thread about 2 of everything and the type of lens to use.

I use a 24-105L(albeit on a ff body) and although I've taken along my 20mm and my 50mm they've never been out of my bag.

I would suggest renting a 17-40 (or 17-55) and one other longer focal length, perhaps a 70-200 if you want to shoot candids too but I would think that candids will not be a priority as so much of your time will be used shooting the formal shots.

Just relax, enjoy shooting people who are willing to stand there for you but most importantly, take command of the situation, don't be afraid to tell people where to stand etc. You are in charge. Use that to your advantage.

--
It's an L of a life, this photography lark

http://gordon-walker.fotopic.net/

I do agree that you have to learn sometime also. The lighting is the worse thing to deal with. Digital is narrow in forgiveness and you can blow out the highlights of a dress very easy. you may have to bracket and sandwich shots to get a good dress and good skin tone on the bride. Always shoot the flowers seperate in case you have to patch them in.

I was not kidding on two of everything I have two cameras three flashs and a 24- 105, 100 - 400, and a 100 macro. Home made flash deflectors because they worlk better and are cheap to make.

If you really want to do weddings just follow the photographer and watch, do not even take your camera with you

I started with five weddings just helping with set up, then a year with the boss next to me. I have yet to do a wedding that I did not find something I should have done better even when the client does not see it or know what is wrong.

Wedding are not easy at times and then some are heaven The last one I did the bride was like having a pro model posing. She ended up guiding me because she was so sure of ever shot and how it was to look. It was a fun wedding and I got perfect shots

I hope you're just the backup photographer, otherwise it's a risky
adventure you entered, i'm afraid.
I wouldn't want to know how many pro's have had arguments with their
clients for not gotten some 'crucial moment' right. And of course, the
missed moment turns out to be of high emotional value.

To make it even worse you're a beginner and photograph for a friend?
Good luck.

In Flemish we say:
"met familie en vrienden moet je wandelen,
niet handelen"
Which means sth like:
'With family and friends you can go for a walk,
but don't go into business"

Being second photographer, next to a pro they hire seems like a better
plan in your situation.

Did that once for a friend, but on the condition they had a pro and me
just for candids and if things would turn out well maybe some really good
ones from me too.

Afterwards they were happy with the candids and they even prefered
some of my pictures of the important moments, but I'm very very happy
for them, myself and our friendship I was NOT the main photographer.

absolutely you have to start somewhere. It's called being an unofficial photographer. Preferably working with a pro to learn from them. If not, then taking photos on your own to augment what the pro does.

Accepting a paid contract - especially from a friend when you have no experience is just a bad idea. It's putting YOUR wants/desires as a photographer above your friendship and above the clients needs.

If it were a birthday party - no big deal.

Like any other type of photography, learning takes practice. Friends shouldn't have to suffer the consequences of our learning cuves as photographers.

What, exactly, do you suggest the OP do if the photos turn out not right? Suggest to their friend that they hold a new ceremony and reception so the OP can take another crack at it?

As I said, I've been in the situation before - I've also been unofficial photog at a few weddings. When asked by a friend to be the unofficial photog at her wedding I had to politely but firmly refuse. To me, the friendship is more important than my HOBBY as a photographer. I just can't agree with placing your HOBBY above your friendship. And, accepting payment on top of it. Part of being a good friend is checking your ego at the door and being honest and say - "I'm just not qualified to be the official photographe - I'll be glad to suplement the official photog's pictures with some of my own but I'd feel much mroe comfortable if you had someone with more experience". Or, at least having the character to not charge your friend money for work you're not qualified to do.

I'm not trying to be harsh. I'm just trying to provide good advice. And I think the best advice in this case is to not be the official photog.

And, just for gigles - let me throw out this question:

As a PAID photographer, do you have liability insurance?

what if a kid trips over your tripod? Or even over your bag. You're acting in a professional capacity so personal liability insurance doesn't cover accidents.

What are the odds? Oh, the odds are pretty long that something will happen - but think you can pay out $10,000 in a law suit if it happens?

Just another thing to think about now that you're a pro!

Assuming all the original poster wanted was a recommendation on a lens and not a life coach, the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L is reportedly the "bread and butter" of many indoor event photographers. See this review:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-24-70mm-f-2.8-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

However, with the Rebel XT body this lens may be too heavy/imbalanced. Also, it's expensive (about $1100 to $1200).

On the life coach stuff - - only you know your friends, what their expectations are, and whether you've got enough skill and competency to do a job you and your friends will be happy with. My sister took pictures at my very informal-style wedding (for free ) and we got great shots. We weren't expecting to be immortalized in a state of high society.

Good luck with however you choose to approach this!

--
Ruth Ann



http://ruth-ann.smugmug.com/

Well, thank you for slapping my hands Ruth Ann.

But, let's assume the poster wants GOOD advice on a lens. The answer on what lens depends on what type of shots you want. Remember, the OP said - in a church. How close will you be? What type of shots are you looking to get (remember a paid photographer has a list of shots they want to get). 70mm is not very long at all so if the intent is to get a good head shot of the bride it may not be enough. Which brings into play the size of the church and where the OP, as the photographer will be allowed to shoot from.

So, Ruth Ann, while you are quick to judge my advice I would just as quickly point out that your advice was not well thought out and MAY (note I say may here) be dangerous because that advice was given without concern to what photographic goals the wedding photographer wants to achieve.

This is NOT my first wedding. I just do not consider myself a perfessional because I don't do this for a living. THANK YOU!!

John and Ruth have both made good points. I think the OP may need to consider the ramifications of his relationship with the bride and groom if he does do the photography. That said the OP needs to do plenty of research. There have been plenty of posts in the past here on wedding photography and many of them point out things like ceiling height, lighting, etc., which can be of assistance in the OP's planning process. There have been many tips within those posts too. Also, a web search will produce a list of normal/expected shots for a wedding.

While many say to hire a professional, we do not know all the circumstances and are assuming that those paying for the wedding can afford the pro photographer and cost of prints. I would rather, that we assume the OP has read previous posts by others with that recommendation and, for whatever reasons, is still the photographer. I would prefer that the OP ask more specific questions, especially after reviewing the venue and knowing what distances he will be working at. However, I do not think an OP should expect the forum to layout everything, including the pro how-to's for all aspects as we have seen in the past.
--
(See profile for equipment)

then you shouldn't be the primary photographer now should you get paid.

If you have to know, my answer would be Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS and Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS with 2 bodies.

baseballmom said:

I am an amatuer and have been hired to do a friend's wedding. I
need help choosing a versatile lens that will assit me in a "low
lit" church. What do you recommend? I have a Canon EOS Digital
Rebel XT camera.

Click to expand...

soon you'll understand what he meant.

baseballmom said:

This is NOT my first wedding.

Click to expand...

So, in the previous weddings you'v shot, what setup did you use for the low light church shots?

Where did you find your current lenses to be lacking in the types of shots you wanted to get?

Giving us an idea of the types of shots you prefer to capture when you shoot a wedding and providing details regarding the specific venue and what access you will have will allow people to give better responses.

If you can post some of your church shots from your prior shoots, people can give you precise advice on what you need to do differently or what equipment is best suited to capture those types of shots.