wedding reception - help!

[sss809]

A friend is getting married in three weeks and asked me to take "snapshots" at the reception. I will not be the main photographer, thank God because I'm stressing about this! Almost all of my photography is done outdoors and I don't have to worry about light.

Please give me any advice you can. My only body is a 30D. I have the 85 1.8, and a 70-200 4/IS. The 85 should work, but I'm going to rent a zoom or two.

The reception will be at a hall with dinner and dancing, so I'm assuming light will be bad. Do I use flash? I'm worried about ISO, speed, aperture, etc.

Will the 30D do the job or should I rent a different body? Again, I'm not the main photog but obviously I want to do a good job.

Thanks!

[TheWengler]

Almost all of my photography is done outdoors and I don't have to worry about light.

You should worry about light outside too! I would rent a flash (if you don't have one) before I'd rent more lenses.

[faisal]

I agree with Lukas...Rent a flash....
I think you'll do fine with a 70-200f4 outdoors if you're just taking snapshots. If you want, you could rent a 18-55 IS(or even buy) for other shots if you want to keep the costs low or a Canon 24-70 or 17-55 of you don't mind spending a little more.

[tim11]

Get a flash. And I'd say the 18-## or 17-55 is a must. The 85 f/1.8 can be handy but it wouldn't the primary lens I'd use.

[Nickcanada]

You know you should really just have fun with this! Don't go crazy and buy stuff. Use the 85mm indoors, experiment with the on camera flash and dragging the shutter. Experiment with high ISO and the large aperture on your 85mm 1.8. That lens will be PERFECT for what you are doing indoors. It's small, inconspicuous, and it has reach that people wouldn't expect so you can be stealthy.

If you have cash and want to use this as an excuse to buy some stuff, then I'd suggest a flash. The body you have is good, the lenses you have are good.

I know what it feels like to think that if only had xyz lens or body that you would be able to take great pictures, and buddy I've got or have used the best there is and I'm tellin' ya it's all about the technique.

[TheObiJuan]

I'd go for the 24-70 since it gives the extra reach. A flash would certainly help!
You can always rent from lensrentals.com

[tim11]

.... That lens will be PERFECT for what you are doing indoors. It's small, inconspicuous, and it has reach that people wouldn't expect so you can be stealthy.
....

It has fixed LONGGG reach and that confines you to the back of everyone else who try to take their own snap shots. I agree it's handy for stealthy shots though.

________
EDIT: On second thought, I think 24-70 is better than my previous suggestion of 18-**. You still have decent reach and will not be in the way of the main photographer. It's harder for group shots but that's the main photog.'s job.

[cdifoto]

You know you should really just have fun with this! Don't go crazy and buy stuff. Use the 85mm indoors, experiment with the on camera flash and dragging the shutter. Experiment with high ISO and the large aperture on your 85mm 1.8. That lens will be PERFECT for what you are doing indoors. It's small, inconspicuous, and it has reach that people wouldn't expect so you can be stealthy.

If you have cash and want to use this as an excuse to buy some stuff, then I'd suggest a flash. The body you have is good, the lenses you have are good.

I know what it feels like to think that if only had xyz lens or body that you would be able to take great pictures, and buddy I've got or have used the best there is and I'm tellin' ya it's all about the technique.
I agree with this. There is such a thing as too much gear - and it's counter-productive.

You're not the main guy so you don't have to be prepared for anything in particular, let alone everything. Just take what you already own and play.

[SreckoA4]

Well flash is one thing that you have to have with you. You never know what day will be. Heavy clouds with rain and youll be lost with no light. And get your self something in range from 17-24 to 50-105 mm and youll have everything you need.
You have some options to choose from renting a lense or just geting a cheap new lense for that kind of situations. 18-55 etc...

But best for weddings I gues would be 24-70mm F2,8 lense...

Maybe even cheap Sigma 17-70 F2,8-4,5 would do the job quite well.

[adam75south]

receptions are tough. usually there's little to absolutely NO light. so i like to use flash with a fast wide angle. a 17-55 f/2.8 IS would be great or a 24mm f/1.4 would do the trick.

[Csae]

Only the 85 / 70-200 ?

Thats some reach but in a crowded place, it might shoot your own foot, like its been said you'll be in the back, since your not the main, i guess it wont matter too much, but you'll miss out on the opportunity to take some great shots without a wide angle.

People aren't animals that you have to stalk in secret, yeah you can get some cool candids, but you can also interact with people and take pictures of that :)

At over 100mm for both the 85 and the 70 (since your on a 1.6x crop) interactions in a crowded place will be difficult :( Mind you, im more a party photog, then weddings, so take what i said with a bit of salt.