How to start into wedding photography ?

 >this is
 >very easy with digital. In fact just about everything is much easier
 >with digital, and you'll get better results, too!! (let the flames
 >begin...)

No flames here. I went all digital last year with my Mamiya and Kodak 645M and
love it. I also went Fuji S2 and Nikon D2H and they have improved my game
considerably for sports and photojournalism. The Medium format 16 megapixel
Kodak does a great portrait job. I was curious how the 14N was working in that
department.

On the whole aspect of shooting weddings for some cash, but not to sure about
shooting people...
If I had a buck for all the people that want to kill the wedding photographer
for poor lighting etc...
Pre-plan by visiting the site...finding out what the couple wants.
Get some friends, relatives to help you test your lighting setup and practice
your people skills.
Dress up to their level and wear a happy face. Try to plan photo windows in
the schedule and get the formal bride shots out of the way before the ceremony.
They should be your first shots of the day...tell her how pretty she is and
have fun...(and don't drink until you're done...I have my wedding pictures as
examples.)
Vince
 >> Stay informed about: How to start into wedding photography ? 

 > On the whole aspect of shooting weddings for some cash, but not to sure about
 > shooting people...
 > If I had a buck for all the people that want to kill the wedding photographer
 > for poor lighting etc...
 > Pre-plan by visiting the site...finding out what the couple wants.
 > Get some friends, relatives to help you test your lighting setup and practice
 > your people skills.
 > Dress up to their level and wear a happy face. Try to plan photo windows in
 > the schedule and get the formal bride shots out of the way before the
 > ceremony.
 > They should be your first shots of the day...tell her how pretty she is and
 > have fun...(and don't drink until you're done...I have my wedding pictures as
 > examples.)

By all means...suit and tie no exceptions (unless maybe it's a nudist
wedding). Formals done before the ceremony no exceptions. Use more
than one light. Don't eat or drink at the reception.
 >> Stay informed about: How to start into wedding photography ? 

"SoarHead" wrote in message

  > >this is
  > >very easy with digital. In fact just about everything is much easier
  > >with digital, and you'll get better results, too!! (let the flames
  > >begin...)
 >
 > No flames here. I went all digital last year with my Mamiya and Kodak
645M and
 > love it. I also went Fuji S2 and Nikon D2H and they have improved my game
 > considerably for sports and photojournalism. The Medium format 16
megapixel
 > Kodak does a great portrait job. I was curious how the 14N was working in
that
 > department.
 >
 > On the whole aspect of shooting weddings for some cash, but not to sure
about
 > shooting people...
 > If I had a buck for all the people that want to kill the wedding
photographer
 > for poor lighting etc...
 > Pre-plan by visiting the site...finding out what the couple wants.
 > Get some friends, relatives to help you test your lighting setup and
practice
 > your people skills.
 > Dress up to their level and wear a happy face. Try to plan photo windows
in
 > the schedule and get the formal bride shots out of the way before the
ceremony.
 > They should be your first shots of the day...tell her how pretty she is
and
 > have fun...(and don't drink until you're done...I have my wedding pictures
as
 > examples.)
 > Vince

Again No flames. I believe any wedding pro who is not using digital has
missed the boat. I fact if he has not been using digital in some way for at
least a couple of years he will find himself on very difficult learning
curve in order to try and catch up.
 >> Stay informed about: How to start into wedding photography ? 

On 04 Feb 2004 22:26:48 GMT, soarhead.TakeThisOut@aol.com (SoarHead) wrote:

  >>this is
  >>very easy with digital. In fact just about everything is much easier
  >>with digital, and you'll get better results, too!! (let the flames
  >>begin...)
 >
 >No flames here. I went all digital last year with my Mamiya and Kodak 645M and
 >love it. I also went Fuji S2 and Nikon D2H and they have improved my game
 >considerably for sports and photojournalism. The Medium format 16 megapixel
 >Kodak does a great portrait job. I was curious how the 14N was working in that
 >department.
 >
It seems to me that the CCD for the 14n must be similar in behavior to
that of the 645, except for being 4536 X 3024 instead of 4080 X 4080.
My understanding is that these backs have a 150% lens factor, so the
physical sensor size must be somewhat similar. You appear to have
made intelligent choices for your specific applications; I certainly
wouldn't favor using the 14n for applications outside the studio or in
situations where I couldn't control the lighting adequately. I'm
still trying to work around the well-known problems with shadow noise,
and am also experiencing some peculiar artifacting with highlights.
The oddest thing--sometimes overexposed skies contain areas that
appear to be filled with some sort of PC layout pattern, possibly an
image of the CCD die itself...do you ever see this or are my eyeballs
going? I love having the extra resolution to permit cropping, and RAW
imaging to help control exposure & color problems.

 >On the whole aspect of shooting weddings for some cash, but not to sure about
 >shooting people...
 >If I had a buck for all the people that want to kill the wedding photographer
 >for poor lighting etc...
 >Pre-plan by visiting the site...finding out what the couple wants.
 >Get some friends, relatives to help you test your lighting setup and practice
 >your people skills.
 >Dress up to their level and wear a happy face. Try to plan photo windows in
 >the schedule and get the formal bride shots out of the way before the ceremony.
 > They should be your first shots of the day...tell her how pretty she is and
 >have fun...(and don't drink until you're done...I have my wedding pictures as
 >examples.)
 >Vince

Excellent suggestions all--common sense but often ignored or
forgotten. I'd only add that an extra set or two of batteries for the
flash, a backup camera, backup everything actually...you only have a
chance to get it right once. For many interior situations I like the
results I get using barebulb flash with a 400 W-S Quantum-X.
 >> Stay informed about: How to start into wedding photography ? 

"Randall Ainsworth" wrote in message

  > > I know it's heresy to say this (here), but I'd suggest going digital.
  > > Also no weddings until you have become quite familiar with using
  > > Photoshop and digital imaging processes and printing. I've had a 500C
  > > and SWC etc., but I consider them all to be collector items at this
  > > point. I now use a Kodak 14n and various flash systems including a
  > > modified Quantum 400 W-S, and carry a Nikon D100 for backup. Shoot in
  > > RAW mode and you can capture a latitude of 10 stops (try THAT with
  > > film). Nowdays it is also common to use bluescreen masking methods to
  > > position your subjects into surroundings of their choice, and this is
  > > very easy with digital. In fact just about everything is much easier
  > > with digital, and you'll get better results, too!! (let the flames
  > > begin...)
 >
 > I used Hasselblads exclusively for 20+ years but if I were to get back
 > into it again, I'd go digital.

A handy trick if you are any good with these digital things is to down load
onto a laptop and sell at the reception. Get'em while they are hot so to
speak. Myself I'm purely film but I can well see the advantages of digital
but don't sell yourself short with cheap bottom end equipment. Quality
costs although in fairness there be few who can tell after a few beers at
the reception.
 >> Stay informed about: How to start into wedding photography ? 

 > A handy trick if you are any good with these digital things is to down load
 > onto a laptop and sell at the reception. Get'em while they are hot so to
 > speak. Myself I'm purely film but I can well see the advantages of digital
 > but don't sell yourself short with cheap bottom end equipment. Quality
 > costs although in fairness there be few who can tell after a few beers at
 > the reception.

I have no intention of doing weddings again. I spent way too many
Saturday nights at somebody else's party. But I think the 10D would do
an admirable job.
 >> Stay informed about: How to start into wedding photography ? 

wrote in message

 > Was reading some posts here... hope I'm ok with my question.
 >
 > Am very interested in starting into Wedding Photography. Extra income
 > I guess being the main motivation... second to taking pictures.
 > (second only because "People" have never been my thing, am much more
 > into scenics,
 > anyway...
 >
 > If I wanted to get started... Things I know I need are this...
 > -Medium format camera (2 probably)
 > -Serious flash equipment
 > -Color darkroom equip
 >
 > With technology being so affordable these days... my questions are...
 >
 > 1) Do wedding photographers (for the most part) still just use film
 > and developing... or are they using digital technology?
 > (cameras/expensive printers)
 >
 > 2) Is digital technology near the same quality as print film ?


On a microscopic level, maybe not. But on a pure human-eye level, yes.



 >
 > 3) Of any of you that have done wedding photography, would love to
 > know how you broke into the field... even if sent via email.
 >
 > I'm a 35mm novice and I know it's going to be a big expense either
 > way.
 > Thank you all for reading and I look forward to some good advice.



Personally, I think doing weddings strictly "for the buck", is not going
to get you very far. I love shooting weddings, they are fast, demand from
you a lot, as a photographer, and challenging.

Every wedding is different in so many ways, though the ceremonial aspects
are similar.


Patrick
 >> Stay informed about: How to start into wedding photography ?