Quote Originally Posted by shutterdown View Post
Denise, shooting skills aside, you're going to need an assistant. And, you're going to need strobes. On camera flash will not do it. Hauling this stuff around is hard work, and if you're doing it all by yourself, you'll soon realize that you're in over your head. Often, weddings begin in the early to mid mornings (preliminary shooting) and then get progressively more intense as the day wears on. It's all about lighting and composition, and if you are trying to lug equipment around an unfamiliar room or church, it will be very tough. Plus, rounding up all the relatives....whew, it's like herding cats! And, all the while the clock is ticking.

Lighting, lighting, lighting! Sean knows all about this, as do Mark and others who use strobes for this sort of thing.

Trust me, you'll be totally exhausted when it's all over, but I wish you well.
Thanks for the very truthful post and although she told me that they didn't want too many pre-ceremony shots and my daughter would be assisting throughout the day and evening, you are correct that I am over my head! I only have two speedlights, not a nice strobe set-up by any means. I had thought one speedlight on my flash bracket using either my omni-bounce, the ceiling, my small on-camera softbox or my flash bender would suffice for some of it. I could have also set up my larger softbox or umbrella on a stand with the other flash for portraits but maybe my entire thinking is wrong. For lenses, I thought I could use my Sigma 17-50mm & 50-150mm but also bring along my Canon 135mm and 50mm 1.8 II. I would buy some reflectors and an extra card. Rental would be a 7d and a 35mm possibly.

BUT ...yep, over my head indeed and I will be talking to her again later and declining the offer. I didn't go looking for this right off the bat, it just sort of fell in my lap and I guess I got caught up in it for awhile there.