Wedding and Portrait Photography
Kappanut
I would like to shoot wedding and portrait photos. My equipment includes
a Mamiya M645 Pro, an 80mm lens, 120 back, waist-level finder, and a
Sunpak 555 flash unit. I also have a Novatron 500 power pack and 1
umbrella light unit.
Can anyone offer suggestions as to additional equipment I will need and
moreso, any suggestions on camera settings and light positions.
Thanks for any help I can get.
HaroldB786
A second body, a 220 film back, a wide angle (50mm), a tele (150-200mm), a
prism finder, (you have a tripod, right), a second flash unit (backup),
maybe a quantum battery pack, soft focus filters...... the list is as
large as your bank account.
maybe use the novatron on a light stand with a reflectasol for the formal
shots-- consistant exposures and softer light. get in the habit of taking
the sunpak off the camera and having it up above the subject, better
shadows and not so stark.
I guess it depends on how many weddings you have shot.... Try to look
copies of The Rangefinder, Studio Photography, or even the brochures of
established wedding and portrait photographers..... anything for ideas...
imitation (sp?) is the sincerest form of flattery--- or something like
that.
any help?
harold
Tony
You'll need a wide angle lens for groups and a close focusing tele in the
portrait range...like 120 to 150mm with 1:4 reproduction for those "ring
shots". I used to do wedding for about 3 summers and I also used a 35mm
for candid shots during the reception. You need a quick handling camera
with a wide to tele zoom and a powerful flash (like your Sunpak) for the
reception. You can use medium format, but you should get a zoom and a
prism finder. Many of the best shots are the candid shots where bride and
groom are together or the bride and dad dance and groom and mom dance,
etc... The candids are much harder to get good, but they make the albumn.
Also, they are less intrusive. The wedding isn't about the photographer,
it's about the couple...so minimize your presence.
Tony Z.
Kappanut <kapp...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19970404095...@ladder01.news.aol.com>...
Bryant Wetzel
FIRST,,,,Get a real good handle on how to handle really bitchy WO-MANS.
Then get to know all the little tricks to make people do the right thing.
Then make sure that you get the money to cover ALL your expenses UP FRONT.
Find a good lab to do your work, and make sure to put together good albums
that anyone anywhere would want to buy.
Last but not least,,, Make sure that you have at least a years wages in the
bank, not to eat off of, but to pay off some bride when you get in a car
wreck and can't make the wedding....
GOOD LUCK
Allen Greenky
My overall workhorse lens is the 110mm for individuals, couples and even groups,
(it forces the other cameras to move back much farther with their point and shoot
wide angle lens.) The next most used lens is the 145mm soft focus. This lens,
which is recently discontinued but still available will make your images
wonderfully soft in the true old fashioned way, but will enlarge wonderfully
cause there is still a sharp image in there. Then my 55mm is used at wedding
receptions alot, I wish I had a 45mm. I happen to have a 24mm fisheye which I
make a point of using, often worthwhile but I believe that the 35mm is much more
useful and just as dramatic without all the distortion.
If you are going for portraits, then weddings, I would get the longer lens first,
then go for a wide. I wouldn't have wasted the money on the 80mm, although I did
use it alot when my 110 was in the shop and rather liked the 'challenge' but was
glad to get my 110 back.
A second back is handly, especially for weddings, but extra inserts are great.
Join a professional association, one of the PPA affliates and go to there
workshops and see what the top guns are doing and why.
gla...@powerweb.net
In article <19970404095...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
kapp...@aol.com (Kappanut) wrote:
>
> I would like to shoot wedding and portrait photos. My equipment includes
> a Mamiya M645 Pro, an 80mm lens, 120 back, waist-level finder, and a
> Sunpak 555 flash unit. I also have a Novatron 500 power pack and 1
> umbrella light unit.
>
> Can anyone offer suggestions as to additional equipment I will need and
> moreso, any suggestions on camera settings and light positions.
>
> Thanks for any help I can get.
Hi,
I've looked over the other responses posted and they all are correct.
I've been in the wedding biz for about 22 years. You can do a lot with a
single potato-masher type flash, providing you are mixing ambient light
with your flash exposures whenever possible. You then, in effect, have a
"two light" setup with minimum equipment.
I would recommend 2 Quantum batteries with their 2 hour quick charger,
and a second body and flash with a 55mm lens as a minimum, along with
additional inserts.
Wedding photographers have a reputation for being high strung and cranky.
If you can work hard at being just the opposite... friendly, unassuming,
accomodating and still remain 100% professional, I can just about
guarantee you success (providing you consistantly produce good photos!!)
There is an art to working with people successfully -- most of which
revolves around courtesy and the "golden rule" -- never loose site of
that. And if you want folks to smile, smile at them first!
Best of luck!
Keith
--
Glasgow Photography
Phone/Fax (414) 887-8281
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
* visit our website at http://www.powerweb.net/glasgow/ *
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
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Ron K
> kapp...@aol.com (Kappanut) wrote:
>>
>> I would like to shoot wedding and portrait photos. My equipment includes
>> a Mamiya M645 Pro, an 80mm lens, 120 back, waist-level finder, and a
>> Sunpak 555 flash unit. I also have a Novatron 500 power pack and 1
>> umbrella light unit.
First - and to be HONEST - if you need to ask about such things your
not ready to photograph weddings. (once in a life time events that can
not be re-captured). You can start by playing with portraiture and
evolve when you have a decent grasp at that. As these blown shots
won't matter as much - and you probably won't get sued.
>> Can anyone offer suggestions as to additional equipment I will need and
>> moreso, any suggestions on camera settings and light positions.
Again - it is experience and knowledge (what you need) rather then
equipment. I can shoot a wedding with instamatic... You make it sound
like when you have the right equipment - your ready to go to work!!!!
This insults photographers who have spent years howning their skills
in posing and lighting for all sorts of situations. I personally did
college, apprentised for two studios (2 years each) then started my
own in 1980 and though very successful... I'm still learning.
Also your question makes it seem that someone can reply to you in a
message or two - to give you "THE ANSWER" Your question is far to
vague. "camera settings and light positions?" light positions for
what? fill light? double lighting? broad lighting? butterfly
lighting? narrow lighting? hair lighting? background lighting? key or
seperation lighting? Light positions for portraits? for groups? for
candids? Camera settings? for fill? or outdoor? for indoor? for
strobe? for ambient light ceremony exposures? Settings for focal plane
shutters? leaf shutters? for flash sync? for available light? shooting
what film speed? sunny or cloudy? Need I say more?
Go to your local camera store or library and get some books on
portraits and lighting. Experiment... learn, re-shoot - learn some
more... spend a few thousand on film and processing, spend a few years
learning... and then MAYBE you will be ready to shoot weddings and or
professional level portrait work.
_________________________________________________
Ron:
STUDIO site: http://www.houseofphotography.com
Personal site: http://www.iserv.net/~rojoyinc
_________________________________________________
David Halliday Millstone
> First - and to be HONEST - if you need to ask about such things your
> not ready to photograph weddings. (once in a life time events that can
> not be re-captured). You can start by playing with portraiture and
> evolve when you have a decent grasp at that. As these blown shots
> won't matter as much - and you probably won't get sued.
> This insults photographers who have spent years howning their skills
> in posing and lighting for all sorts of situations. I personally did
> college, apprentised for two studios (2 years each) then started my
> own in 1980 and though very successful... I'm still learning.
>
The above advice about one's readiness to shoot 'once in a life time
events' is good, I believe; but,to further say that any question "insults
photographers" is not merely haughty and supercilious, but insulting in
itself. Questions may be smart or silly, but very rarely are they out of
place.
If one feels insulted by what appears to be a naive question, then perhaps
one is feeling a wee insecure about his/her own work. A serious craftsman
does not feel insulted by apprentices in the field, regardless of what
s/he may believe about proper preparation or dues-paying.
Also, the 'beginner' to whom this response was posted may very well have
the talent and craft not only to shoot weddings, but out perform the
so-called expert, here.... Training and apprenticeships are important,
but they do not assure that one will acquire an artist's eye or a
craftsman's patience and care.
What Susan Sontag said about postmodernism may apply to the advice an
'expert' artist gives to a young, but brilliant, beginner: "[it] is
intelligence's revenge on genius."
Kyle Capizzi
On Mon, 14 Apr 1997, Ron K wrote:
>
> > kapp...@aol.com (Kappanut) wrote:
> >>
> >> I would like to shoot wedding and portrait photos. My equipment includes
> >> a Mamiya M645 Pro, an 80mm lens, 120 back, waist-level finder, and a
> >> Sunpak 555 flash unit. I also have a Novatron 500 power pack and 1
> >> umbrella light unit.
[snip]
>
> Also your question makes it seem that someone can reply to you in a
> message or two - to give you "THE ANSWER" Your question is far to
> vague. "camera settings and light positions?" light positions for
> what? fill light? double lighting? broad lighting? butterfly
> lighting? narrow lighting? hair lighting? background lighting? key or
> seperation lighting? Light positions for portraits? for groups? for
> candids? Camera settings? for fill? or outdoor? for indoor? for
> strobe? for ambient light ceremony exposures? Settings for focal plane
> shutters? leaf shutters? for flash sync? for available light? shooting
> what film speed? sunny or cloudy? Need I say more?
>
No, no I think you've said quite enough and more...
I agree that the message is too vague, and the poster may need more
experience before shooting weddings, but that is all that is necessary
when telling someone that... Ron, you sound like many of the people that
I run into in the arts- you're so damn full of yourself that no one can do
things better than you. I'm really impressed that you have the knowledge
to spit out all of those different lighting and camera phrases, but I
really didn't gain anything from that waste of bandwidth. If you're going
to give advise, give it. Don't try to trump yourself up in the process.
People will not learn if they're not receptive, and you successfully cut
off many of those seeking advise from you by responding with cynicism and
condescension.
see ya,
--Kyle Capizzi-- --University of Washington--
Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side and
a dark side, and it binds the universe together
****** Due to budget cuts, the University of Washington no longer has ******
****** an opinion to be in conflict with the personal views expressed ******
****** by this author. Thank You... ******
CorrPro96
While I have to wholeheartedly agree with both David and Kyle in their
responses to the self appointed expert.....
Nobody has tried to help this young man with his request for information.
Why can't we just hope he'll start out with his sister's wedding, or some
friend's??
Somebody ought to tell him he needs to have a back up unit..... and maybe
a light man for a second light.
Cub980
I am a pro for 32 years . I think the Mamiya 6 is much better for Weddings
that the 645
CUB980
Shtrbug
The business of Photography is just that a business, sometimes our passion
for photography overshadows the bottom line. Your photo equipment is only
1 of many parts of the equasion. Learn the basics of everything, become
confortable with whatever equipment you have. No matter how much you
think you know you never know enough. Join PPA, Join WPPI Get as much
education as you can. Shoot as much film as you can afford, every frame
is a a lession.
As far as equipment, I use Hasselblad there is something that is just so
pure about square negatives. I take three hasselblad bodies, two 80mm
lenses, one 120mm lens and six 120 backs. I use a Metz 45ct4 mounted on
a stroaframe aprox 12" above camera as my main on camera flash. I have
two 283s for back up. I Itake two minolta light meaters and at least a
half dozen cords for each diferent flash unit as will as two spare shutter
relase cables. Take twice as meny batteries as you think you will use,
and don't run out of film. The point is weddings only happen once. The
only record, the only way the bride and groom will have of rembering it
will be through the photos you take. Your job is to capture the
emotionsof the happiest and most stressful day in two peoples lives. That
is proubably why wedding photoghers do it. If you do not opperate well
under pressure, weddings is not your thing. Stay cool, calm, accomidating
and professional.
Good luck
Michael
Shutterbug Memories Photography
rfph...@bellatlantic.net
In article <19970420031...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
I've been a pro for the past 27 years and it's hard to teach an old dog
new tricks. For the past 6 months I've had a great deal of sucess with a
Fuji autofocus 645. I still use my Hassies but I find I shooting more
than 80% of a wedding with the Fuji. Excellent camera.
Rich
J fleshin
I agree with the backup comment-- especially good cords, etc. Nothng like
the feeling of the bride coming down the aisle and the strobe not
flashing.
Complete set of duplicate equipment, and a really good flash, like the
Metz 60 ct series. the light takes the picture.
Find a Pro to assist, for free, if he will let you, weddings are a lot
to do with handling people.
Find a Pro lab and use only Pro film--
I began with 4 x 5 B & W and borrowed equipment, shoot a lot before you do
it for the record.
You may want to shoot a few weddings for free for people who cannot afford
a photographer, and do the best you can to work out all the variables.
There are a million mistakes you can make, if you are going to take money
-- do the job right.
Work for a studio to gain experience, after you shoot about 50 weddings
you should know something that noone can tell you.
Good luck-- John
RZkid
In resonse to your desire to shoot weddings,
You are not ready to tackle this on your own (in my opinion). Please do
not take this as an insult! When you photograph a wedding, this is a "one
shot deal" you might say. You must know your equipment better than your
wife (if married) and know how to handle and deal with any type of
situation. One camera and flash is not enough. At least 2 with backups,
also a variety of focal length lenses are needed to do the job. I have
personally spent YEARS learning from the TOP PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE WORLD,
and I'm still learning. We all have to start somewhere. Find a reputable
photographer that you can carry equipment etc. and observe. You might say
"this ain't for me". The stress level is very high for me, and even though
we are very successful, I photograph weddings because my heart is in it!
Good luck on your endeavor!
Sapsalt
What do you think about hasselbland cameras for wedding photography I love
the camera but can not afford it at the time// tell me if you have ever
used it
rfph...@bellatlantic.net
In article <19970504041...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
I been using Hassies for about 18 years now and I feel it is the best
system to own if you can only own one med. format system. Lightweight,
very rugged, and extremely fine quality lenses. Other camera may have
more features but I feel few have the durability of the Hassie. There is
also a great deal of equipment available on the used market. I am now
using the Fuji GA 645 along with the Hassies to do wedding and am very
satisfied with that camera. But I know price is a consideration and to
have identical backup cameras and backs and several lenses can be
outrageous with Hasselblad. Perhaps start with a body, back, and normal
lens and use your 35mm as your backup. Also the Kiev prism works very
well for the Hassie, just like the old NC-1 prism, about $200.
Rich Foley
Rich Foley Photography
Jack Isham
Sapsalt wrote:
>
> What do you think about hasselbland cameras for wedding photography I love
> the camera but can not afford it at the time// tell me if you have ever
> used it
I believe they are great. I have used them for about two years and have
nothing but good to say. Yes, they are expensive, but if you shop around
you can get a 500C, 80mm T* lens and 12 back for a reasonable sum.
Good luck.
Jack
Jlopez3
I had no experience in photography except a high school class! decided to
start shooting weddings one day told some other photographers asked for
referrals the rest is history! I've never been sued and my photographs
have always come out great!!