what lens to use

[jks]

hello just learning,


from what i gleaned from your thread you really don't have to buy anything. Thekit lens that came with you camera if indeed it was kit lens will suffice.You already have everything you need. I believe you also have a 430ex flash. you are all set equipment wise.


I say this becausei'm thinking,you or your daughter didn't hire are pro because you or she might be thinking of saving herself or you a little money and you going out and buying a new lens just defeats that overall thought of "saving".


Now others say a pro will do a better job. there is always that possibility especially since you yourself say you have little expertise. But then again that works two ways. A person who doesn't know much about photography could care less if pictures were taken with a point and shoot camera. these people only care to see faces and places clearly in every shoot. These people are not nit pickers. Just as long as the pictures are clear and sharp and with vibrant colors it will be okay to them and you have the equipment to give them those kind of pictures. Sure pros will take a better angle on the shot and better lighting etc. but then will it really matter to the people looking at the pictures??? Also just think of how proud you daughter will be showing off herwedding photos that her FATHER took.


Maybe later if and when you seriously getinto all this photgraphy stuff that you will notice faults [if any] with the pictures you took. Sure there won't be any re doing of the pictures but then again that's part of the learning curve. I have been there. People i take pictures of, never reaLLY CARED on what equipment i use or the style used so that photo will come out looking good. what matters to themis it looks good. Believe me you already have the needed equipment to shoot you daughter's wedding. As long as you do your part that is to look into the viewfinder and focus, the camera will take care of the rest. That's part of the beauty of digital cameras unlike in the old days when film was used you really have to have an undrstanding of photography to be able to take pictures.


Just go there have fun take pictures am sure everything will turn out great. I'm sure you will make your daughter proud of the pictures you took.[]

[Lars]

Hello.


I just want to share some experience. I have been asked a few times by friends to be the photographer during weddings and other festivities. Once, I never got any feedback on the pictures, in fact I haven't yet seen them (I gave my friend the un-developed film), and am pretty sure it was no success. It is quite a responsibility to be the "official" photographer during a wedding. The last wedding I attended, the couple had hired a professional photographer, while I could shoot without the stress of delivering memorable pictures. What a relief, and in fact the pictures turned out so good that I am making a photobook for the couple to give at their 1st anniversary. If someone ask me to be the wedding photographer again, I would say no, recommend a professional and rather enjoy the wedding. However, I would make sure that I was still allowed to shoot pictures for my own sake, and rather surprise the couple with the nice pictures of situations that professionals never pick up. If you want an excuse to buy new lenses, I am sure something else will come up pretty soon.

[MikeWhy]

jks, I don't know how to say this gently. It decidedly is not a question of the equipment, but of putting together an album for the bride and groom. Maybe I'm being a bit glum, but I think the odds of ending with a pile of unusably harsh sunlit or unusably dark backlit snaps seems pretty high right now based on the OP's description. Blowing sunshine at him with your well meaning thoughts is just crazy.


All that aside, the father of the bride has plenty of responsibility to family and guests that day already. I don't know for sure, but I suspect a pro, someone who does this for others daily, would have to demur at his own daughter's wedding. He has to be a father and host first.

[neuroanatomist]

All that aside, the father of the bride has plenty of responsibility to family and guests that day already. I don't know for sure, but I suspect a pro, someone who does this for others daily, would have to demur at his own daughter's wedding. He has to be a father and host first.

Bingo. I have two friends who are pro photographers, and also friends with each other. In both cases, when their kids got married, they hired a respected 3rd pro to shoot their kids' weddings. They didn't even consider shooting it themselves, nor hiring their pro-photographer friend to do it. There are lots of reasons for that, primarily because they wanted to enjoy the weddings, but also for other, practical reasons. For example, if you're at a wedding where you know some guests and don't know others, you're more likely to capture shots of people you know - that's human nature. But everyone was invited - with the obvious caveat that those in the wedding party should have photos taken throughout the event (including the reception), all the guests should be represented in the photo set somewhere, if possible. As I alluded to above, if something goes wrong, it's better to be able to 'blame' someone else, rather than ruining a personal relationship.


One other comment of jks's that I'll disagree with is, "A person who doesn't know much about photography could care less if pictures were taken with a point and shoot camera. these people only care to see faces and places clearly in every shoot." People who come into my office and see shots of daughter on my computer desktop often ask if those are professional shots. I'm certainly not a pro, but what they're reacting to is the out-of-focus background blur that can only be readily achieved with the larger sensors and wider apertures of an SLR/dSLR, not with a point-and-shoot. The 'clear faces' in shots that are isolated from a distracting background make a bigger visual impact.


To just learning, to reiterate the advice from many people above, I really think you'll be doing your daughter a big disservice by taking this on yourself. Mostly due to the fact that to do it right, you'll need to abdicate what should be your main responsibilities as her father during the day. Many people skip hiring a pro photographer to save money on wedding costs, and have an amateur with decent equipment do the job. In fact, for many amateurs, having a dSLR, especially with a big white Canon lens on it, is a surefire way to get asked to shoot a friend's wedding! But in those cases, the well-meaning amateur is not a member of the immediate family/wedding party (and also in many cases, that well-meaning amateur finds him/herself way out of their depth!).

[jks]

People who come into my office and see shots of daughter on my computer desktop often ask if those are professional shots. I'm certainly not a pro, but what they're reacting to is the out-of-focus background blur that can only be readily achieved with the larger sensors and wider apertures of an SLR/dSLR, not with a point-and-shoot. The 'clear faces' in shots that are isolated from a distracting background make a bigger visual impact.

I guess I made a mistake by assuming that people who are not into photography are the same wherever they may be. But what I said holds true for my experience in my part of the world. There was even one person who asked "why is the background blurred??" upon seeing one of the pictures displayed in my photo lab.

[Colin]

If you don't have particular expertise, I don't see the point of you doing it. I mean, really, some other guest could use your camera, and then you could be in the wedding, and your daughter would probably like to have evidence that you were part of it, no?


I mean, aside from other photographers, who really cares about how great the photographer was. They care about the pictures, but they're not paying attention to how good the pictures are (albeit the quality of the pictures will shape what they see and how they remember it), they're paying attention to those involved and what happened.


If it's a matter of saving money, ask that everybody who takes pictures (and lots of people will) provide the pictures to you, leave a few disposable cameras at every table with explicit notes that they are to be returned to you at the end of the wedding, not taken as souvenirs. A whole lot of amateur photographers will likely do better than a single photographer who's distracted with being part of the wedding. Plus, then you can be in the wedding, soaking in the day, etc., because it's going to be a blur in your head as it is, and no matter how good you are, looking at a picture is nothing like experiencing it.


Do what you think is right, but in my opinion, if you opt to be the photographer, it takes away from being the father, and you're cheating yourself out of one the most significant experiences in your life. Doesn't mean you can't take pictures, just don't be THE guy who has to do it.


Good luck either way.