What did I do!!!!!!!

[Nickcanada]

I said I would shoot a wedding for my fiance's aunt! I'm not getting paid for it so there is no pressure, except what I put on my self!

I'm going to get a 430 flash and maybe a lens or two. I'm thinking a 85mm 1.8 and a sigma 18-50mm 2.8. I know the 85 is well respected here but what about the sigma?? any other lens suggestions? any advice or reading matterial you could point me to would be much appreciated! Thanks guys.

P.S. the canon 16-35mm 2.8L is 380 bucks off plus the rebate..... what do you think?

[Rhys]

Your 28-135 isn't too shabby.

The Canon 24-70L is about the best. Next best woutld be the Tamron 28-75. Having said that Jamison started with his 18-55 kit lens.

[noyjimi]

Unless you're averse to the EF-S platform, get the 17-55 instead of the 16-35. It has a much more useful range and IS to boot.

You won't need the 85 per se but it's better than the 50 1.8. You could also consider the 50 1.4 or 28 1.8.

[Nickcanada]

Ok so I bought the 430 on the way home today. I think I will wait for the lens and just use what I got. This flash kicks butt! Now all I need to do is learn how to use it!!! Here are a few sample pics.

1/10 F7.1 ISO100 bounced off the ceiling. camera in manual mode

[Nickcanada]

1/60 F7.1 Iso 100

[Nickcanada]

one more 1/60 F7.1 ISO 100

[sunnythepsychocat]

Ok so I bought the 430 on the way home today. I think I will wait for the lens and just use what I got. This flash kicks butt! Now all I need to do is learn how to use it!!! Here are a few sample pics.

1/10 F7.1 ISO100 bounced off the ceiling. camera in manual mode

I feel all the photos are underexposed. Try change your ISO to 400, which I think typically it is a good ISO for night. Also, try to change your flash compensation on your XT (I don't know if it has one). I would definately adjust for at least +1 stop or more during the low light since I have a 24-105/f4, so you may want to go up more if your f-stop is even larger.

16-35/f2.8 is a very good wide angle zoon lens. But, there are only few occasions you will take scenic photos under ambient light like sunrises or sunsets, and even then you still have a lot of lights, so I think 17-40/f4 would be a better deal, and you really don't miss much.

[cwphoto]

My flash does that in Evaluative Flash Metering mode. I find Average works best but not sure which cameras support this.:confused:

[timmciglobal]

Rent some good glass for the wedding is most realistic idea if you have local place that rents.

24-70 F2.8L, 35 1.4L or 135 f2L are all nice choices.

Use raw (please god use raw) and remember compose a bit wider so you can crop for various size prints.

Tim

[Nickcanada]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions guys. I've got a lot to think about and not a lot of time to do it! There aren't any rental places I know of around me but it's something worth loooking into. I was going to use this as an excuse to get a lens I've had my eye on but it just doesn't make sense for me right now.

Here is a sample with my 50mm 1.8 1/25 F2.8 ISO 100 bounce flash the same as the others.

[Rhys]

My flash does that in Evaluative Flash Metering mode. I find Average works best but not sure which cameras support this.:confused:

Really? I always use evaluative and have no problems with under exposure on my 420EX + XT. Your (and the OP's) solution could well be to dial in some positive FEC.

[adam75south]

Rent some good glass for the wedding is most realistic idea if you have local place that rents.

24-70 F2.8L, 35 1.4L or 135 f2L are all nice choices.

Use raw (please god use raw) and remember compose a bit wider so you can crop for various size prints.

Tim

great advice...that is exactly what i was about to suggest....well, the crop part. the 24-70 is a beast. once you put that one on your camera, you will not want to take it off. sooooo versatile. and i'm not sure about your 430, but my 580 does an awesome job of focusing with low light.

one more thing, get a sto-fen omni bounce or a lightsphere diffuser for your flash.

[Nickcanada]

So picked up an ATP 4GB 150x card and a sto-fen diffuser. So my kit now includes:
Rebel XT
battery grip
2x batteries
1x 1GB extrem 3
1x 4GB ATP
1x 512MB
430 EX with sto-fen diffuser
50mm 1.8
28-135mm IS
a CHEEP tripod

So am I missing anything important??? I'm planing on bringing my laptop to transfer files so I don't run out of space on my cards. I'll shoot in RAW, and compose my shots wider than I usualy do. I think I might get another battery or two. Anything else?

[adam75south]

good call on the laptop. you don't wanna have to start deleting. it gets really annoying.

other than all that....watch your gear!

[noyjimi]

You probably won't need your laptop as it looks like you have 6GB worth of memory, which is probably more than enough even shooting RAW. Bring a backup camera just in case.

[cdifoto]

I only used about 2 and a half, maybe 3GB at this last wedding (awhile ago actually). Sold dang near every photo taken.


It's easier to make each shot count as best as possible, than wade through and delete a bunch of junk later.

[Nickcanada]

I'm a little worried about figuring out my flash on the day so I'm sure I'm going to want to do some test shooting and maybe examine them on the laptop.... if I have time that is :D I'm sorta looking at this as an experiment. I want to see how I handle the situation and how flexable I can be. I also want to get some good shots but I'm not expecting much.

I've got a concert to shoot tonight so I'll have a bit more practice with my flash. It will be intresting.

[Nickcanada]

So the show was last night here is a sample. Now for the real test!!...... edit: is there an easy way to get rid of that bottle?
It really bugs me!

1/200 F2.8 ISO 800

[Bluedog]

Nice shot Nick _ I'd sharpen it just a touch to bring up the detail. Might try and Clone out the bottle but pay attention to the lighting so it looks natural.

[boog]

Nick, aside from lenses, my suggestion to you would be a good noise software. I don't know what time your wedding will be but chances are, you'll wind up at ISO 800 or 1600. I bought noise ninja and I believe Don uses neat image. These programs really save some shots. I also shot a family wedding for free and bought it after downloading about 800 shots with more that half being at ISO 1600. Definately shoot raw. If you haven't shot raw, start and develop a workflow for PP your pictures as it will save you a ton of time. Others may disagree but just my humble opinion as I have been in your shoes. My shooting the wedding was for free but it cost me to purchase a 20D, Canon 70-200 2.8 IS, Raw shooter premium and noise ninja. Hope this helps.

Also, do a search and check out Christian, Jamie and Don's wedding photos. Go to Fred Miranda or POTN to wedding sections and find shots you like and write them down(especially for your first time) and go with it. It sure beats trying to think of shots while your there. Take as many as yu can before wedding as everyone is waiting for B & G for reception. The most important thing is to have fun. You've posted some really good pictures and you'll do fine. You already have low light expierence with your concert shots. Post some shots when your done. Again, hope this helps and maybe someone with more experience will chime in.

[24Peter]

So the show was last night here is a sample. Now for the real test!!...... edit: is there an easy way to get rid of that bottle?
It really bugs me!

1/200 F2.8 ISO 800

Wow - nice shot Mr. Nick! :)

[Nickcanada]

Nice shot Nick _ I'd sharpen it just a touch to bring up the detail. Might try and Clone out the bottle but pay attention to the lighting so it looks natural.

Thanks I'll try that. I gave taking out the bottle a try, boy it's hard to get it to look right I'll give it another try later:D

[Nickcanada]

Nick, aside from lenses, my suggestion to you would be a good noise software. I don't know what time your wedding will be but chances are, you'll wind up at ISO 800 or 1600. I bought noise ninja and I believe Don uses neat image. These programs really save some shots. I also shot a family wedding for free and bought it after downloading about 800 shots with more that half being at ISO 1600. Definately shoot raw. If you haven't shot raw, start and develop a workflow for PP your pictures as it will save you a ton of time. Others may disagree but just my humble opinion as I have been in your shoes. My shooting the wedding was for free but it cost me to purchase a 20D, Canon 70-200 2.8 IS, Raw shooter premium and noise ninja. Hope this helps.

Also, do a search and check out Christian, Jamie and Don's wedding photos. Go to Fred Miranda or POTN to wedding sections and find shots you like and write them down(especially for your first time) and go with it. It sure beats trying to think of shots while your there. Take as many as yu can before wedding as everyone is waiting for B & G for reception. The most important thing is to have fun. You've posted some really good pictures and you'll do fine. You already have low light expierence with your concert shots. Post some shots when your done. Again, hope this helps and maybe someone with more experience will chime in.


Thanks boog! I acctually folowed all your advice:D you can check out some of the pics in my other thread. thanks!

[Nickcanada]

Wow - nice shot Mr. Nick! :)

Thanks Peter :D