Is Canon EOS 400D a presentable tool for a freelance wedding photographer?

[mrfranklee]

Dear All,
I'm in a dilemna now as to which model to choose from - EOS 400D or 30D? The main reason is the cost of course. I plan to work as a free lance wedding photographer soon, and am thinking of getting a camera for this purpose. I have scanned through the specs sheets of both models and find 400D rather competent as a photography tool. However, I wonder if my potential clients might not be very impressed with it when I fish it out from my camera bag on their big day. I appeal to all the freelancers out there with more experiences to share your thoughts on this. Could you all also recommend me some good useful lenses for wedding photography. I hope to provide my clients the best pictorial memories for their once-in-a lifetime event, so I hope the lenses I own could serve well in capturing the sharpest moments. Please feel free to advise. Thanks All.
Frank

[kross]

result speaks....not size or cost of equipment...

cheers...

[leumas01]

I am using 350D for event photography as well as food photography in restaurants. I don't see a problem if you can deliver. Actually clients don't know how much your camera cost or the model of the latest cameras. They just know that you need to give them the photos...

[jsbn]

Originally Posted by mrfranklee Dear All, I'm in a dilemna now as to which model to choose from - EOS 400D or 30D? The main reason is the cost of course. I plan to work as a free lance wedding photographer soon, and am thinking of getting a camera for this purpose. I have scanned through the specs sheets of both models and find 400D rather competent as a photography tool. However, I wonder if my potential clients might not be very impressed with it when I fish it out from my camera bag on their big day. I appeal to all the freelancers out there with more experiences to share your thoughts on this. Could you all also recommend me some good useful lenses for wedding photography. I hope to provide my clients the best pictorial memories for their once-in-a lifetime event, so I hope the lenses I own could serve well in capturing the sharpest moments. Please feel free to advise. Thanks All. Frank

1) Be prepared to lose money big time unless u demonstrate some mean skill with composition.

2) Yes, we all see its so easy. Fire away, offer a 'unlimited coverage' package, 1000 shots u can get approximately 30% right and that's enough to satisfy your client. Anyway, CF cards are so cheap, practically every shot is free! Not happy delete. i can tell u safely that with each shot, ur camera's lifespan drops by a single shutter life and u can machine gun away and see your camera die much faster than its supposed to last.

3) How much do you know about weddings in-depth and what to shoot, what not to shoot? The last thing full-time Wedding Photographers need is another stain on their entire line of business where some freelancer newbie posing as a 'professional' screws up a couple's big day?

4) How much do you know about photography?

Finally, if u are worrying what kind of camera 'looks professional and presentable' I suggest you don't get it at all since it seems that you are worrying more on your camera and what kinda gear you are carrying rather than what kind of photos u'd churn out.

[wanzw]

i say save the money by buying the 400D and get some decent lens. composition of subjects are important! so does lens.

[jsbn]

It seems our friend here is worrying what type of gear to carry and buy to 'look presentable' rather than worrying on his next shot.

Technically whatever u guys say would be useless.

And of cos, my true advice to Mr Frank Lee for his choice of camera. And no, I'm not joking about it:
- 1DsMkII AND EOS 5D
- 1x 16-35 f/2.8L
- 1x 24-70 f/2.8L
- 1x 50mm f/1.2L
- 1x 85mm f/1.2L
- 2x Speedlight 580EX w/battery pack

These shld be enough to get u started as well as impress your client.

To go on, you shld also get the following to assist you if ur clients want studio shots as well:
- Mamiya ZD
- 80mm f/2.8
- 150mm f/2.8
- 210mm f/2.8
- A couple of 1000watt studio flash
- 20ft muslin backdrop

That will get u started

[unseen]

Originally Posted by mrfranklee Dear All, I'm in a dilemna now as to which model to choose from - EOS 400D or 30D? The main reason is the cost of course. I plan to work as a free lance wedding photographer soon, and am thinking of getting a camera for this purpose. I have scanned through the specs sheets of both models and find 400D rather competent as a photography tool. However, I wonder if my potential clients might not be very impressed with it when I fish it out from my camera bag on their big day. I appeal to all the freelancers out there with more experiences to share your thoughts on this. Could you all also recommend me some good useful lenses for wedding photography. I hope to provide my clients the best pictorial memories for their once-in-a lifetime event, so I hope the lenses I own could serve well in capturing the sharpest moments. Please feel free to advise. Thanks All. Frank

I don't think you should even consider being any sort of paid photographer.
Without doubt you will NOT be able to capture the best memories, not only that without doubt you will screw up their once-in-a-lifetime event. My honest advice is to do the potential victims a favour, learn photography 1st.

[mrfranklee]

Hi All,
Thanks for all your comments thus far and I hope you people keep your comments coming. I do believe that it's the final product that will speak most, but was mainly concerned about the market practice nowadays. I do not consider myself a professional certainly, just an interested amateur, so I will not be charging at the professional rate. I also plan to show potential clients my portfolio to let them make their own assessment before deciding whether or not to engage me. I hope this will reduce if not, eliminate the chance of me adding on to the number of perpetrators tainting the industry image.

Yes, I do find 400D very reasonable because I could invest my money where it matters most - the lenses. I've owned a 70-300 before and find the imaging soft and highly susceptible to hand movement. I am thinking of a zoom lens that will cover the wide angles and an 85 to cover the portraiture aspects. Can the kind people out there please recommend some economical Canon 400D compatible lenses for these purposes? Can't wait to hear your advices!

[ConnorMcLeod]

Originally Posted by jsbn These shld be enough to get u started as well as impress your client.

I agree - one spent so much money on the gear and able to carry them

If one needs to ask what camera to use for his purpose, I would wonder if he had sufficient experience with photography and the subject at hand. Enough said.

[germ_boi]

i cover events with a 300D and a borrowed 28-70 f2.8.

is this enough for you to know that clients dont give 2 hoots about wht you carry as long as you can produce? and oh by the way, i count monash university and warner music under my list of current clients, dont worry too much about equipment la, jus shoot! =D

[Final_depth]

honestly... if u hav the skill and talent..
ani camera you pick up would give u good
result...
it doesnt matter how expensive it is...
yup..so its pretti much ur choice on how much u want to spend
just my 2cents

[madmacs]

impressions aside, i would suggest you try out the 400d and 30d before making your decision. i find the 400d a little too small to hold comfortably. so i were to choose i would pick the 30d.

[jsbn]

Originally Posted by mrfranklee Hi All, Thanks for all your comments thus far and I hope you people keep your comments coming. I do believe that it's the final product that will speak most, but was mainly concerned about the market practice nowadays. I do not consider myself a professional certainly, just an interested amateur, so I will not be charging at the professional rate. I also plan to show potential clients my portfolio to let them make their own assessment before deciding whether or not to engage me. I hope this will reduce if not, eliminate the chance of me adding on to the number of perpetrators tainting the industry image.

There's a long stretch of argument on the so-called 'charging Professional Rates' till I'm sure most are pretty sick of seeing such stuff. And to be extremely blunt and honest about it, its not a matter of 'charging professional rates' but its a simple matter of how much YOU VALUE YOUR OWN WORKS. If u're charging like $100 for ROM and $500 for Wedding cos u deem urself 'not professional enough', in simple terms u are not only cheapening your own works, you are cheapening your time, your camera and ultimately yourself.

Quote: Yes, I do find 400D very reasonable because I could invest my money where it matters most - the lenses. I've owned a 70-300 before and find the imaging soft and highly susceptible to hand movement. I am thinking of a zoom lens that will cover the wide angles and an 85 to cover the portraiture aspects. Can the kind people out there please recommend some economical Canon 400D compatible lenses for these purposes? Can't wait to hear your advices!

A question, do you know what caused the hand movement and how to solve it?

It really seems that you don't know where u'd wanna go. U asked for economical, u wanted cheap (based on logic, recouping losses based on ur initial investment would take a shorter time), but the best part of it all since your first thread....

You never mentioned your expected budget and how much u are prepared to spend.

Like I'd said, go with all those equipment I'd suggested. You'd definitely won't go wrong with it.

[irrelevance]

Originally Posted by unseen I don't think you should even consider being any sort of paid photographer. Without doubt you will NOT be able to capture the best memories, not only that without doubt you will screw up their once-in-a-lifetime event. My honest advice is to do the potential victims a favour, learn photography 1st.

ease up on the guy mate

I reckon he's coming from a fairly reasonable angle - sort of like how you'll be fussin over whether to wear a $2 or a $20 tie to your first job interview, and stressing as you wonder whether they'll notice Doesn't really mean you can't do the job?

If I've NEVER EVER done any official shooting before, I reckon I'd be wetting my pants thinking "Oh no they might notice I have a 50mm f1.8 Mark ii - will they think im cheapskate?" too. But that's just me (and maybe the original poster as well :P)

But yea, as someone mentioned before, I doubt your organisers will know the difference between a 1DsM2 and a 300d. The only thing I'll worry about on this area is if one of the guests has a camera with so many gadgets attached to it that it makes your outfit seem pathetic :P

Cheers
Sing

[panzerpunk]

Originally Posted by unseen I don't think you should even consider being any sort of paid photographer. Without doubt you will NOT be able to capture the best memories, not only that without doubt you will screw up their once-in-a-lifetime event. My honest advice is to do the potential victims a favour, learn photography 1st.

I hope your family members aren't important enough to attract ST's attention But pls don't attack people until liddat
You should always exercise caution in your words and be sensitive to people. Well, if you disagree, whatever makes you happy then =)

[raincool2005]

hi ! if i am the wedding couple, i dun care what camera u used...

the results better be good and professional standards.. people pay money hor.

[cosycatus]

Originally Posted by mrfranklee Dear All, I'm in a dilemna now as to which model to choose from - EOS 400D or 30D? The main reason is the cost of course. I plan to work as a free lance wedding photographer soon, and am thinking of getting a camera for this purpose. I have scanned through the specs sheets of both models and find 400D rather competent as a photography tool. However, I wonder if my potential clients might not be very impressed with it when I fish it out from my camera bag on their big day. I appeal to all the freelancers out there with more experiences to share your thoughts on this. Could you all also recommend me some good useful lenses for wedding photography. I hope to provide my clients the best pictorial memories for their once-in-a lifetime event, so I hope the lenses I own could serve well in capturing the sharpest moments. Please feel free to advise. Thanks All. Frank

My experience is most client IF they ask about your gear is " how many megapixels?"
I think 10 mega will come across better than 8 mega.
I usually go on to tell them that megapixels is a marketing tool and not really an issue in SLRs compared to your point and shoot.

BUT frankly, learn how to shoot properly first before offering shooting services. Having a DSLR doesn't make u a photographer. From what i can see about you, you dun even have an idea of wat lens to use...

[madmacs]

Originally Posted by cosycatus My experience is most client IF they ask about your gear is " how many megapixels?" I think 10 mega will come across better than 8 mega. I usually go on to tell them that megapixels is a marketing tool and not really an issue in SLRs compared to your point and shoot. BUT frankly, learn how to shoot properly first before offering shooting services. Having a DSLR doesn't make u a photographer. From what i can see about you, you dun even have an idea of wat lens to use...

just tell them 10mp lor. those who ask probably dun know the diff anyway.

[irrelevance]

oh and if the clients CAN discern the difference between camera brands/models, then they'll probably also know that its the photographer that counts (and the lens, to a degree).

Cheers
Sing

[irrelevance]

On another note, do you already have a dSLR/SLR?

If not, it's probably better to pick one up (2nd hand maybe) and just go have some fun with it - you'll learn alot more that way

Cheers
SIng