Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:11 am
I shoot wedding.
I use 4 lenses only
For the ceremony I am with my 70-200 f2.8, so don’t need to stand close to the wedding party. Use flash as fill in or get one of those diffuser / reflector.
The rest of the time I am with my 24-105 with my flash.
I also use my 50mm 1.4 in low light.
And a macro for shooting the rings, but a crop on the 5D do well to.
Bring a lot of memory (I have 6x 2Gig Ultra II)
Note ask if the priest mind you using your flash, get a 550ex or 580ex
Get a second body, some store rent some for like 100$ a day, at the same time rent a 24-70 F2.8. Note this all depend on how much they are willing to pay. If you do it for free sue what you got.
The second body is really important so if you get a problem with you main you can still keep shooting, spare batteries (body's and flash's)
I recommend you do yourself a list of important shot and strike them out when you got them (take 2 of each even if you’re shooting in raw (SHOOT IN RAW!!!!)). Talk to the groom and bride before the ceremony and have signal that are simple like if you see the palm of my and stop and keep what you were doing, like for the sinning of the legal document, walking down, the first kiss........
Do a look out of the wedding place, take note of the direction of the sun at the time of the weeding, were would be the best place for the group shot (may not be on the stairs), were could you go and take artistic photos (park, fountain....) Ask the city if you need a license to shoot in public place and park...... (I know I got a fine last year for that (you need one in the city of Montréal))
What about the Bride and Groom shots: Depend some time they are before and some time they are after (don’t forget the photo in the car/limo (ask if you can ride with them to the after ceremony location) you can offer them to do a shoot in studio day before or after or same day to.
As well as the Wedding Party? I usually do them after the wedding and before the party.
Ask if they have traditions, these are good photos to grab. (Cufflinks, cigar with dad, braking of glass….)
The last thing they need to keep time for the photo in the planning of the day.
The first one is the hardest one.
Alexandre
Ps Shooting weeding is my side line (started for a friend 3 year ago)