Wedding Photography

Jim Pennington · May 30, 2003

I am not a professional photographer, but a friend asked me to photograph her wedding. I have shot weddings in the past with my Bronica and had good results, but I am interested in using my Canon G2. Has anyone used the G2 for any wedding photography?
--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn

Leonard Richmond · May 30, 2003

Don't laugh, but I've even done a couple of weddings with my S30 (in spite of having a ton of 35mm equipment and having done occasional weddings with it all before) Turned out great!

At the first one, I was the father of the groom. No, I wasn't the official photographer. There were 2, 1 with a Hassablad and 1 with a DSLR. I would pop up next to them, pull out my little S30 and snap a shot along with them. Hey, anything that fit in your shirtpocket couldn't possibly intimidate them, so everyone was cool with it. Being seated front & center, I got the best shots of the actual ceremony. The next day I had my shots all on CD for them, then got them printed pronto, weeks ahead of the official photographers.

How good were the shots? Good enough that my niece, after seeing them, asked me to do her wedding. Even did a 16x20 formal bridal portrait, which looked marvelous.

Good enough that a fellow I work with, after seeing the shots and the 16x20 asked me to shoot his daughter's wedding & formal bridal portrait. I declined, too busy to do anything except family, but I mentored him on getting the best enlargement possible from his S30. He printed an 18x24, which turned out wonderful.

Of course, to do it that big, you need to do it right. See "Anyone printed 18x24 from S30?" topic I submitted earlier this afternoon to find out how (at http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=5233827 ).

So is a G2 good enough? You bet! The only question left is ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH?

Micman · May 30, 2003

Did a wedding few months ago with G3. Worked fine, they liked the fact that I could take lots of "continuous " shots, and when put into a slideshow, shows movements in a kind of artistic way.

The only problem I have about using digital for wedding shots is the flesh tones. Theystill somehow comeout a little on the magenta side. This was a big problem with G1 cos it did not have a hot mirror to filter out IR rays. Not so much with the G2/3 but some color correction was still needed.

Having said that, most of my digital shots were just kept on a CD or slideshow, and the flesh tones came up oK there.

Mic

Leonard Richmond said:
Don't laugh, but I've even done a couple of weddings with my S30
(in spite of having a ton of 35mm equipment and having done
occasional weddings with it all before) Turned out great!

At the first one, I was the father of the groom. No, I wasn't the
official photographer. There were 2, 1 with a Hassablad and 1 with
a DSLR. I would pop up next to them, pull out my little S30 and
snap a shot along with them. Hey, anything that fit in your
shirtpocket couldn't possibly intimidate them, so everyone was cool
with it. Being seated front & center, I got the best shots of the
actual ceremony. The next day I had my shots all on CD for them,
then got them printed pronto, weeks ahead of the official
photographers.

How good were the shots? Good enough that my niece, after seeing
them, asked me to do her wedding. Even did a 16x20 formal bridal
portrait, which looked marvelous.

Good enough that a fellow I work with, after seeing the shots and
the 16x20 asked me to shoot his daughter's wedding & formal bridal
portrait. I declined, too busy to do anything except family, but I
mentored him on getting the best enlargement possible from his S30.
He printed an 18x24, which turned out wonderful.

Of course, to do it that big, you need to do it right. See "Anyone
printed 18x24 from S30?" topic I submitted earlier this afternoon
to find out how (at
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=5233827 ).

So is a G2 good enough? You bet! The only question left is ARE
YOU GOOD ENOUGH?

Ian Johnston · May 30, 2003

Jim Pennington said:
I am not a professional photographer, but a friend asked me to
photograph her wedding. I have shot weddings in the past with my
Bronica and had good results, but I am interested in using my Canon
G2. Has anyone used the G2 for any wedding photography?
--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn

Hi,

I took along my G3 to my cousin's wedding for some night before, wedding & evening shots.

http://www.ianjohnston.com/2003_HeatherMark/index.htm

Web resolution doesn't do them justice, they print out real well at A4.

Ian.

pete_f69 · May 30, 2003

These shots came out great. Do you mind sharing the settings you used for the indoor flash shots - ie. type of flash, diffusers, slow synchro, etc.??

Ian Johnston said:
Hi,

I took along my G3 to my cousin's wedding for some night before,
wedding & evening shots.

http://www.ianjohnston.com/2003_HeatherMark/index.htm

Web resolution doesn't do them justice, they print out real well at
A4.

Ian.

--
Peter Flor
Canon G3
http://www.pbase.com/allegro917

jason Langadakis · May 31, 2003

I'm a digital photography lover and I can say I'm very good at it.

I always carry my G2 or 717 in various events and I get great pictures that sometimes are better than the average profesional photographer.

Everyone ask me to be their event photographer and they are willing to pay me for it. If they can afford to get a photographer i ALWAYS RECOMMEND it.

G2 or any prosumer camera is not ment for a main event like wedding.

You will get a lot of out-of-focus shots unless you shoot with wide depth of field.

Unless you are an expert you most likely not going to get consistent results and your portraits are going to be very unprofessional.

Also when you take on the responsibility of a wedding always have a backup camera, extra memory card because hopefully they will only get married once.

Do yourself a favor and tell your friend you'll be the second photographer or invest in about 6000 equipment (on the cheap side) and get some books about wedding photography.

Wedding photographers are not going out of business anytime soon.

David Miller · Jun 1, 2003

They are great pictures.

I also have questions about the inside shots.

Was there an external flash or added lens?

Settings would be nice as well.

Peter Flor said:
Ian Johnston said:

Hi,

I took along my G3 to my cousin's wedding for some night before,
wedding & evening shots.

http://www.ianjohnston.com/2003_HeatherMark/index.htm

Web resolution doesn't do them justice, they print out real well at
A4.

Ian.

Click to expand...

--
Peter Flor
Canon G3
http://www.pbase.com/allegro917

--
Thanks

Dave

Ian Johnston · Jun 1, 2003

Peter Flor said:
These shots came out great. Do you mind sharing the settings you
used for the indoor flash shots - ie. type of flash, diffusers,
slow synchro, etc.??

For the entire wedding I used full AUTO mode, no additional lens and simply the built-in flash.

This is probably the one and only time I have ever used this mode....but I was a guest at the party and decided to mix with the family rather than play the photo geek.

I've had an S10, D30 and IxusV......the G3 is definitely the best 'balance' camera for all the disciplines I take photos.

Ian.

For more photos (motorsport and concert pics):-
http://www.ianjohnston.com

Paul Grupp · Jun 1, 2003

While a G2 COULD produce inconsistent results in the hands of an inexperienced photographer, so could a Hasselblad 500C, or a Mamiya 645, or a Bronica. . . you get the point.

If the photographer knows what he is doing with the G2, I see no reason why it couldn't produce consistent, competent wedding pix -- particularly of the formals. No, it's not the ideal camera for this application, but I don't think he's doomed to failure either.

I think the point a lot of wedding photogs are missing is that these days, not everybody wants those traditional stiff, formal pictures everybody used to take. Don't get me wrong -- I understand that MANY people still do want them -- and if they do, only an experienced shooter is going to get the results they want.

But if you have a couple interested in a more photojournalistic approach, there's no reason an advanced amateur equipped with a G2 and an external flash can't tackle the job with real success.

Regards,
Paul

jason Langadakis said:
I'm a digital photography lover and I can say I'm very good at it.

I always carry my G2 or 717 in various events and I get great
pictures that sometimes are better than the average profesional
photographer.

Everyone ask me to be their event photographer and they are willing
to pay me for it. If they can afford to get a photographer i ALWAYS
RECOMMEND it.

G2 or any prosumer camera is not ment for a main event like wedding.

You will get a lot of out-of-focus shots unless you shoot with wide
depth of field.

Unless you are an expert you most likely not going to get
consistent results and your portraits are going to be very
unprofessional.

Also when you take on the responsibility of a wedding always have a
backup camera, extra memory card because hopefully they will only
get married once.

Do yourself a favor and tell your friend you'll be the second
photographer or invest in about 6000 equipment (on the cheap side)
and get some books about wedding photography.

Wedding photographers are not going out of business anytime soon.

Steven Yau · Jun 2, 2003

Jim, I had done a few weddings with a G2 and a 420EX with great results. http://www.pbase.com/steveyau/wedding_photos

Like many had said already, it is not an ideal camera for wedding. The shutter lag is a problem but prefocusing helps. The 420EX is essential for indoor photos. The small size of the grip is a problem but since then I got a Stroboframe. I plan to get a 10D in a not distant future and my G2 will become a backup.

--
Steve
http://www.pbase.com/steveyau/

Jim Pennington said:
I am not a professional photographer, but a friend asked me to
photograph her wedding. I have shot weddings in the past with my
Bronica and had good results, but I am interested in using my Canon
G2. Has anyone used the G2 for any wedding photography?
--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn

Jim Pennington · Jun 2, 2003

Thanks everyone for the input. I have upgraded some and purchased the speedlite 420EX and a smaller stroboframe. I have been happy with the resulting light quality when bouncing the flash. I will have to make sure that I do not miss any of the action photos because of shutter lag.

The wedding is still a few months away, but I will post the pics once all said and done.

Thanks again!!

Steven Yau said:
Like many had said already, it is not an ideal camera for wedding.
The shutter lag is a problem but prefocusing helps. The 420EX is
essential for indoor photos. The small size of the grip is a
problem but since then I got a Stroboframe. I plan to get a 10D in
a not distant future and my G2 will become a backup.

--
Steve
http://www.pbase.com/steveyau/

Jim Pennington said:

I am not a professional photographer, but a friend asked me to
photograph her wedding. I have shot weddings in the past with my
Bronica and had good results, but I am interested in using my Canon
G2. Has anyone used the G2 for any wedding photography?
--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn

Click to expand...

--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn
http://www2.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=34692

mike savad · Jun 2, 2003

Jim Pennington said:
I am not a professional photographer, but a friend asked me to
photograph her wedding. I have shot weddings in the past with my
Bronica and had good results, but I am interested in using my Canon
G2. Has anyone used the G2 for any wedding photography?
--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn

i've said this to many people. if you are the only photographer shooting this. if you want to stay friends DO NOT SHOOT FOR THEM. a wedding photographer times the wedding, get's the shot's needed. the photo's are the most important, people look at these forever. it should not be cheaped out on.

you can do very limited things with a g2. it's good for a fast candid. make sure you only give them the best of the shots. as i took candids and made the mistake of giving them all to my aunt. instead of the 20 or so that came out the best. she found the 3 of her that were bad, and from that point on, i'm the worst photographer ever. anything i touch turns out bad. and she spread the word like a virus. so on the cruise a "special time" she and her brother, and my grandmother, and anyone else related to us, promptly placed their hand in front of their face (as if this was better). and it was all because of that one disc that i sent because i was nice, and made a copy of the shot's i did on her son's bar mitzvah. so now whenever i have the camera, i'll know that everyone will be ducking out of the way all because of that one innocent thing.

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=9050
http://www.artsig.com/go/users/view?id=52

mike savad · Jun 2, 2003

pgrupp said:
While a G2 COULD produce inconsistent results in the hands of an
inexperienced photographer, so could a Hasselblad 500C, or a Mamiya
645, or a Bronica. . . you get the point.

If the photographer knows what he is doing with the G2, I see no
reason why it couldn't produce consistent, competent wedding pix --
particularly of the formals. No, it's not the ideal camera for this
application, but I don't think he's doomed to failure either.

I think the point a lot of wedding photogs are missing is that
these days, not everybody wants those traditional stiff, formal
pictures everybody used to take. Don't get me wrong -- I understand
that MANY people still do want them -- and if they do, only an
experienced shooter is going to get the results they want.

But if you have a couple interested in a more photojournalistic
approach, there's no reason an advanced amateur equipped with a G2
and an external flash can't tackle the job with real success.

Regards,
Paul

if you want a snap shot wedding then it's fine to use a small g2. if you want pro results you need more pixels, a faster focus, and better range. you have to know how and when to use a flash. when to blur the background. and watch for many distracting elements. the photo's should capture a special day. not a vacation to guam.

i'm sure the g2 will take great looking pictures. but unless you are very detail oriented, many shot's will look no more then a basic vacation shot, with odd poses (unflattering unless you know how to pose them), bleached colors, poor shadow range, red eye, and a number of other things.

if the marriage is only going to last for a year, it's very economical this way.

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=9050
http://www.artsig.com/go/users/view?id=52

mike savad · Jun 2, 2003

the stroboframe you should get, the one i should have gotten - is the one with the quick flip bracket. i flips in about a second, and the flash stays in place.

---Mike Savad

Jim Pennington said:
The wedding is still a few months away, but I will post the pics
once all said and done.

Thanks again!!

Steven Yau said:

Like many had said already, it is not an ideal camera for wedding.
The shutter lag is a problem but prefocusing helps. The 420EX is
essential for indoor photos. The small size of the grip is a
problem but since then I got a Stroboframe. I plan to get a 10D in
a not distant future and my G2 will become a backup.

--
Steve
http://www.pbase.com/steveyau/

Jim Pennington said:

I am not a professional photographer, but a friend asked me to
photograph her wedding. I have shot weddings in the past with my
Bronica and had good results, but I am interested in using my Canon
G2. Has anyone used the G2 for any wedding photography?
--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn
http://www2.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=34692

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=9050
http://www.artsig.com/go/users/view?id=52

Jim Pennington · Jun 2, 2003

The flip bracket, I have a larger one for my medium format 645, but it was too big for the G2.

mike savad said:
---Mike Savad

Jim Pennington said:

The wedding is still a few months away, but I will post the pics
once all said and done.

Thanks again!!

Steven Yau said:

Like many had said already, it is not an ideal camera for wedding.
The shutter lag is a problem but prefocusing helps. The 420EX is
essential for indoor photos. The small size of the grip is a
problem but since then I got a Stroboframe. I plan to get a 10D in
a not distant future and my G2 will become a backup.

--
Steve
http://www.pbase.com/steveyau/

Jim Pennington said:

I am not a professional photographer, but a friend asked me to
photograph her wedding. I have shot weddings in the past with my
Bronica and had good results, but I am interested in using my Canon
G2. Has anyone used the G2 for any wedding photography?
--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn
http://www2.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=34692

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=9050
http://www.artsig.com/go/users/view?id=52

--
Jim Pennington
http://www.pbase.com/jpenn
http://www2.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=34692

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