Wedding Gear

Thecageyone

It shouldn't be a big problem to borrow a body for the day. Maybe an 85mm or 105mm w/macro on one, and the 17-50 on the other? Tonnes of batteries and a flash for each? Sounds very doable.

DO you set up a light stand in church ever? Or only use it outside for the group shot? and then at reception? set up near the floor maybe?

oshead

I've assisted Keith on a couple of occasions and I have to say, watching him work, you realize it's not that easy. It was a pleasure to watch him work and made me realize how much I need to learn if I want to get into weddings. Particularly shooting and thinking on the go. I got the sense that he always knew what was gonna happen next. That's very important IMO, cos if you don't have lens and camera set correctly you'll miss some very important moments and on a wedding day thats a real no no.

Thecageyone

I might sneak into a few weddings beforehand and watch the photographer at work

I know just by how Keith talks about his work, on here and in person, that he is confident and capable. he might be sorry he started this thread because I may have a million questions before the time comes

Borderfox

Thecageyone wrote: »

It shouldn't be a big problem to borrow a body for the day. Maybe an 85mm or 105mm w/macro on one, and the 17-50 on the other? Tonnes of batteries and a flash for each? Sounds very doable.

DO you set up a light stand in church ever? Or only use it outside for the group shot? and then at reception? set up near the floor maybe?

Focus on the macro is very slow so avoid, I have set up the lightstand on occasions depending on the size of the church and I usually have it half set up before the ceremony and stuffed into a corner.

Happy to asnwer questions, I wouldnt have started the thread otherwise

Thecageyone

Hmmm, I thought if I got something like the 60mm macro it would double for portrait/candids and for close ups of rings/flowers/etc. fast primes are a better idea then?

Borderfox

Yeah the canon 85 f1.8 has really fast af, 50 f.14 not so fast. The macro has a lot of ground to cover from 1:1 to infinity to takes its time, some have a focus limiter on them and this hels

Thecageyone

85mm f/1.8 sounds a good option. It would be perfect on the DX body for me to keep a bit of distance and still get close in shots. Best get saving!

smelltheglove

Thats some amount of shots Border, how many would you actually use of those? At a wedding of the length of this one I would prob take 7-900 images and use 80-90% of those.

Thecageyone

How many processed images do you guys offer to the couple on DVD/printed or in a book? I take it the amount of shots you take is to cover you, make sure you nailed them. A lot of them probably rapid fire?

smelltheglove

I dont rapid fire at all, all of my shots are composed first and yes there will be a succession of some images, often it is because I want a succession, say for album layout.

I would use all images I deem successful and give those to the bride and groom, The album could have 60+ images in it, really depends on the wedding.

Thecageyone

60 sounds a lot more like it, you okay select the best to process? I've done shoots where I took about 200 or more shots but only used about 20. A wedding of course, is a different ball game.

daycent

I don't rapid fire as such, but I do take multiple shots of the same formal set-ups. The reasons for this are people closing their eyes, looking away, pulling faces (some people are worse than others for this!) etc. Often, maybe only every fourth shot is usable. The more people in a group, the harder it gets. Sometimes, I combine group shots in Photoshop if I have to.

smelltheglove

Thecageyone wrote: »

60 sounds a lot more like it, you okay select the best to process? I've done shoots where I took about 200 or more shots but only used about 20. A wedding of course, is a different ball game.

When I say 60 I mean in the album, 60 or more but usually 400+ on disc depending on the weddings, i.e. civil or church, number of guests, size of bridal party and specified coverage.

Borderfox

smelltheglove wrote: »

Thats some amount of shots Border, how many would you actually use of those? At a wedding of the length of this one I would prob take 7-900 images and use 80-90% of those.

I take as many shots to get the job done, I usually edit down to 300-350 and then process them. I am very particular about candid shots and like them to be perfect from my point of view and if that needs multiple shots to get that so be it..

Thecageyone

Ah righty. 60 prints then? With up to 400 on disc processed?

I can probably get away with a lot less as it's a gift, saving the bride [My sister] a bundle on hiring a pro. But I will of course want it to be right, and do as good a job as possible, as it could lead to future work. It'll be nice to have a wedding under the belt, in the portfolio. I was thinking of an album with about 20 of the best shots, and all the rest on a DVD.

I don't think there's anything wrong with rapid firing? Especially for the groups, with blinking/bad expressions etc as mentioned. Once you don't mind going through those shots and just keep the best ones.

Borderfox

Thecageyone wrote: »

How many processed images do you guys offer to the couple on DVD/printed or in a book? I take it the amount of shots you take is to cover you, make sure you nailed them. A lot of them probably rapid fire?

As Brian says bigger group shots and some staged shots require multiple amounts shots, large groups I wouldnt hesistate shooting ten shots because I dont want to end up combining shots in ps. Depends on the book Keith. I shot a couple who wanted to jump up and down on the bed in the honeymoon suite and that took a huge amount of shots to get it just right

Thecageyone

I just wondered as you see some wedding photographers running backwards up the aisle firing off a rapid succession of shots on just the couple alone [with rapid flash]. In that case I reckon quick composure each shot would be better. For group, some rapid firing for the reasons stated and as you say, for specific shots like jumping in the air.

smelltheglove

Thecageyone wrote: »

Ah righty. 60 prints then? With up to 400 on disc processed?


I don't think there's anything wrong with rapid firing? Especially for the groups, with blinking/bad expressions etc as mentioned. Once you don't mind going through those shots and just keep the best ones.

They choose from give or take 400 shots yes.

there isnt anything wrong with rapid shooting but having said that I dont want the hassle of going through thousands of shots I am not going to use. Yes groups will have 3 or 4 shots and I will ensure I have a shot with all eyes open. A trick that works for my with serial closers are tellnig them I will count to 3 and I want them to blink on 2, I then click as soon as their eyes open and 9 times out of 10 it works.

Borderfox wrote: »

. I shot a couple who wanted to jump up and down on the bed in the honeymoon suite and that took a huge amount of shots to get it just right

Sounds like a cool shot, can you show us? Kicking myself I didnt think of that on Friday when I had seriously constrained shooting options. All couple shots were in the bedroom as use of the hotel was prohibited and not once did jumping on the bed enter my mind.

Borderfox

Here two examples Rachel, generally have two flashguns one on either side first shot is with a 17-40L and the second is a 15 fisheye both shot with the 1dmk3 with the iso raised up to at least 800 (gives the flash a better chance of continous shooting) main flash is on a battery pack. You have to excuse the pictures as they were resized by flickr and then downloaded and uploaded to pix.ie so compression is yuk. Shutter speed is 1/300th (max synch on the mark 3)

daycent

Borderfox wrote: »

Here two examples Rachel, generally have two flashguns one on either side first shot is with a 17-40L and the second is a 15 fisheye both shot with the 1dmk3 with the iso raised up to at least 800 (gives the flash a better chance of continous shooting) main flash is on a battery pack. You have to excuse the pictures as they were resized by flickr and then downloaded and uploaded to pix.ie so compression is yuk. Shutter speed is 1/300th (max synch on the mark 3)
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Very good execution of the shot Keith. What i don't understand; is why they wanted to jump on the bed in the first place!

These are probably the only 'bed' shots I have! This couple wanted some shots of the bridal suite, with the pop up TV being the main feature:

The TV was pretty much blown out here, so I (cheesily) photoshopped in a photo. Yes, it's E.T. (it was actually on at the time, it wasn't picked at random...)

Borderfox

I am there to make the fantasy a reality

Great shots Brian, lovin ET on the tv

smelltheglove

Great shots. Daycent the ones I have of beds are similar enough, I just never thought of jumping on the bed, its a good fun shot.
Facebook link so excuse the quality.

daycent

Cheers Keith. It was seriously dark in there though. I didn't use flash, just shot wide open with a really high ISO. Thank god for the 5D II's high ISO capabilities and LR3's noise reduction. Lens was a Sigma 12-24, shot at 12mm.

I didn't spend much time on the TV edit, but I needed something for context. It looks semi-realistic anyway!

Edit: Actually checked the ISO there and it was 1250. Thought it would be higher.

Borderfox

The first Bride has a shot in her head and that was what she wanted, second couple were up for it also (Station House bridal suite is tiny!!) I have had couples having pillow fights with Sue throwing handfuls of rose petals at them (the rose petals were on the bed)

I have picked a selection of shots and will have them up shortly

daycent

Rachel, out of curiosity, would you suggest a shot like jumping on the bed to clients, or only do it if it was their idea?

Just seems like something that most couples wouldn't go for. Or maybe the couples I work with are just very reserved!

The shots I have above were completely the couples idea. It can be so hard to judge what people are up for, or what they are into.

VisionaryP

daycent wrote: »

Very good execution of the shot Keith. What i don't understand; is why they wanted to jump on the bed in the first place!

These are probably the only 'bed' shots I have! This couple wanted some shots of the bridal suite, with the pop up TV being the main feature:

That's a fantastic shot.

Borderfox

daycent wrote: »

Rachel, out of curiosity, would you suggest a shot like jumping on the bed to clients, or only do it if it was their idea?

Just seems like something that most couples wouldn't go for. Or maybe the couples I work with are just very reserved!

The shots I have above were completely the couples idea. It can be so hard to judge what people are up for, or what they are into.

I know straight away when couples are up for it, videographer was good yesterday too. Had loads of ideas and we bounced them off each other. I have had couples that I wouldnt suggest it too.

Borderfox

Here we go, all shots are unedited. Just ran them through the raw converter for a quick sharpen. Exif is intact

The Competition


Last single hug


Quick check on the way


A lot going on


All the lads


More to come

Borderfox

The Golden room


Doorway backlit (bare flash 1/4 power behind the couple)


Bare flash balanced on a chair off the the left pointing up at 45 degrees


Setup shot on stairs, lastolite umbrella kit Canon 580exII 1/2 power pointed down


Group shot from above setup, Canon 17-40L

smelltheglove

daycent wrote: »

Rachel, out of curiosity, would you suggest a shot like jumping on the bed to clients, or only do it if it was their idea?

Just seems like something that most couples wouldn't go for. Or maybe the couples I work with are just very reserved!

Oh I would definitely suggest it but would use it for rainy weddings, when whether is bad I tend to go to the bedroom for couple shots, with good weather I go for more outdoors shots.

I meet wth my clients before agreeing a booking and I seem to attract like minded people, I promote myself as really loving weddings and wanting my clients to enjoy themselves and generally I get the kind of people I get along with and enjoy working with. A cousin of mine told me once that my website was too personal, that I would turn clients away, I said no, my website is just right because I get the kind of clients I want.

My favourite image is to get the bridal party racing, for this I line them up as I want them and then I say right girls get those shoes off we're going to have a race, the more uptight might whine for a moment until the lads convince them to do it for a laugh and off we go getting something like this

Borderfox wrote: »

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The third image there is most definitely in the top of wedding shots Ive seen in a while, absolutely love it.