Thank you for coming in and hopefully I can get some much needed advise from the old birds of wedding photography. Special mention of Melvin Ho here whose works are one of my favourites.
The day has come ... I got my first official AD wedding shoot as a main Photog. Well I have been a "kay-po" wedding photog at times (without blocking main photog), attended Canon workshop, read books on wedding photograhy and browse many inspiring albums on CS. But it will never feel right without some good experience in the bag.
A friend's photographer pulled out last minute and the wedding is less than a month away. Thus, I am asked to do it. So I hope to get some comments from here first as I prepare. :sweat:
My humble Setup:
Camera 1 (mine):
Canon 400D-Tamron 17-50mm f2.8- Canon 430EX- Demb Jumbo
Camera 2 (borrowed from cousin):
Canon 450D - Canon 50mm f1.8 - Nissin Di 622
Questions:
1. Is my lens set up adequate? I am thinking of getting a 85mm f1.8 for better quality pics for portraits and maybe some candid close up. Heard good reviews for this.
The Tamron should cover the table and group shots at f5-5.6.
2. For the 2nd camera where I prefer a prime lens, is flash necessary? since at f1.8 natural lighting should be adequate.
I must admit that I neglected my Primes most of the time.
3. Av mode v.s. Manual Mode. Usually I shoot in Av mode, but I find it not good as the shutter speed can be slow. I was advised to go Manual, set shutter to 1 of 100, aperture of between 2.8-8 according to the effect i want, and lastly and most importantly adjust my flash compensation acccordingly to get the best exposure.
Any advise on this?
4. How to politely let people know you are the main photograpgher and that they better not block you if they wanna do justice to the wedded couple? Carry bigger cameras, photog vest? Post signs on my shirt? Stare? :dunno:
The most challenging part to me is when the couple march in ..... as I try to shoot down the "Lane of bliss" .... friends and family crowd in the lane and snap snap snap.
Off the note, I'll ask the couple to take their own sweet time to walk down this lane and enjoy the scene, the musics and the well wishes. And in return I'll get more shooting time. I have seen some couples walk very very fast and don't even take time to look slowly look at the faces of friends and family members here to share their joy.
5. Is JPEG sufficient? I usually only do very basic PP on color, brightness, cropping and saturation tweaking. So I am probably going to shoot in JPEg only. I know RAW is better, but honestly, I have never adjusted white balance in PP.
Any photog uses only JPEG and managed to give high quality work as well? If time permits, perhaps I can quickly go learn :dunno:
Well I know there are many threads on wedding but I hope to start one to get opinions on questions bursting in me.
Thanks in advance for reading even if you have no comments for now.
Looking forward to anyone!!
CHeers!!!!
The day has come ... I got my first official AD wedding shoot as a main Photog. Well I have been a "kay-po" wedding photog at times (without blocking main photog), attended Canon workshop, read books on wedding photograhy and browse many inspiring albums on CS. But it will never feel right without some good experience in the bag.
A friend's photographer pulled out last minute and the wedding is less than a month away. Thus, I am asked to do it. So I hope to get some comments from here first as I prepare. :sweat:
My humble Setup:
Camera 1 (mine):
Canon 400D-Tamron 17-50mm f2.8- Canon 430EX- Demb Jumbo
Camera 2 (borrowed from cousin):
Canon 450D - Canon 50mm f1.8 - Nissin Di 622
Questions:
1. Is my lens set up adequate? I am thinking of getting a 85mm f1.8 for better quality pics for portraits and maybe some candid close up. Heard good reviews for this.
The Tamron should cover the table and group shots at f5-5.6.
2. For the 2nd camera where I prefer a prime lens, is flash necessary? since at f1.8 natural lighting should be adequate.
I must admit that I neglected my Primes most of the time.
3. Av mode v.s. Manual Mode. Usually I shoot in Av mode, but I find it not good as the shutter speed can be slow. I was advised to go Manual, set shutter to 1 of 100, aperture of between 2.8-8 according to the effect i want, and lastly and most importantly adjust my flash compensation acccordingly to get the best exposure.
Any advise on this?
4. How to politely let people know you are the main photograpgher and that they better not block you if they wanna do justice to the wedded couple? Carry bigger cameras, photog vest? Post signs on my shirt? Stare? :dunno:
The most challenging part to me is when the couple march in ..... as I try to shoot down the "Lane of bliss" .... friends and family crowd in the lane and snap snap snap.
Off the note, I'll ask the couple to take their own sweet time to walk down this lane and enjoy the scene, the musics and the well wishes. And in return I'll get more shooting time. I have seen some couples walk very very fast and don't even take time to look slowly look at the faces of friends and family members here to share their joy.
5. Is JPEG sufficient? I usually only do very basic PP on color, brightness, cropping and saturation tweaking. So I am probably going to shoot in JPEg only. I know RAW is better, but honestly, I have never adjusted white balance in PP.
Any photog uses only JPEG and managed to give high quality work as well? If time permits, perhaps I can quickly go learn :dunno:
Well I know there are many threads on wedding but I hope to start one to get opinions on questions bursting in me.
Thanks in advance for reading even if you have no comments for now.
Looking forward to anyone!!
CHeers!!!!