This has been a question that I have been researching for quite some time, What kind of lens do I need to satisfy a client for a wedding photography event. What’s the difference if I choose from Sigma or Nikkor Lens? (As the Sigma lens’ are a lot cheaper.)

First, ask yourself what a professional would use to shoot a wedding or similar event. This is important to separate yourself from the professional who’s livelihood comes from his or her skill in using the very best equipment. Best, in terms of quality, is one of those things that people like you try to find a way around because of the expense. When you work as a professional, your equipment serves as the tools of your creativity. To consider inferior equipment based on cost is to limit your ability to provide the highest level of quality to your client. That’s putting it mildly.

What you should have to shoot a wedding: At least (2) camera bodies, primary and a back-up. You don’t mention the camera you are using, so there are some things you need to consider. You need to think about which cameras you will use, will they be full frame (or FX), or crop frame (DX), or both. The sensor crop will determine lens choice due to the "crop factor", or focal length multiplier. A crop sensor frame is smaller than full frame, requiring you to "multiply" the focal length by 1.5 to calculate "equivalent" focal length, or perspective. Ideally, you should have a fast aperture standard zoom lens, sometimes referred to as a "walk-around" lens. For full frame, a lens like the 24-70mm f/2.8 is a good choice. For crop frame, the 17-55mm f/2.8 is a good choice as it approximates the full frame equivalent focal range while it maintains the constant f/2.8 aperture. Next, you should always have a fast short telephoto prime lens like the 85mm f/1.4 for full frame, or the 50mm f/1.4 for crop frame as it approximates a similar perspective. Finally, you’ll want a fast tele-zoom lens like the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, for use with either full or crop frame, one of the more indispensable lenses you could have in your repertoire. These lenses should be Nikkor lenses, if you shoot with nikon cameras. Next, you need light. I would recommend the Q-flash trio, from quantum, on a flash bracket. The trio is a hot shoe flash with more power, and a parabolic head and diffuser. It’s simply the best way to get good light at events.

That’s pretty much it, really, two cameras, three lenses, and a good on-camera flash with a bracket.

So put simply, you’d should have no more than 3 lenses: A wide zoom, 24mm (or equivalent) to short tele for moving around the event, capturing interest shots and candids. A fast prime, f/2 or faster, for low light and portraits, formals, creative shots. And a fast tele-zoom.

Important: Do NOT use slow lenses. You’ll notice I didn’t mention anything in the f/3.5-5.6 aperture range. The difference between an f/2.8 zoom, and an f/3.5-5.6 zoom is more often about $1000 or more, and the difference between shooting at ISO 200 (with little noise), and ISO 800 (more noise). Faster lenses mean cleaner images, in simple terms.

And I’ll tell you what a very good professional photographer friend told me. Don’t dilute the market with low cost, low quality work because you’re neither experienced, nor have the money to invest in professional equipment, just to occupy some spare time or fleeting interest in your life, all so that you can call yourself a "wedding" photographer. There is no "amateur" grade in wedding photography, no "beginner" fee to charge your client. If you’re not prepared for your client to pay you, at a minimum, $1,200 for a 4 hour event when you start, don’t even bother. Because there’s no way I’d pay you to shoot a wedding with a sigma lens because you can’t "afford" professional nikon glass. And that’s only because I know better. The problem with people like you is, your clients don’t. They don’t know that your not worth the time wasted. There are plenty of people [like you] who want to be professional photographers who can’t "afford" professional gear, but assume you should have the right to go out and do the work of a professional. We can spot you a mile away. These are the questions that if you have to ask, you need to STOP, go back to the drawing board, and research further on what you need to do a wedding photography event. Asking this question on yahoo answers is easy, because I just told you which lenses you should have. So technically, I answered your question. But thing is, most people who work as photographers never had to "ask". They took the time to learn photography FIRST. When you learn, you don’t have to ask………you’ll already know.

So please stop pretending you’re a photographer. If you have to ask what lenses you need, you’re at least 2 years away from trying your hand at shooting IMPORTANT moments in people’s lives for cut-rates because you have no skill. It really incites resentment in a lot of people who work hard at doing this.

In the end, you should do what you think is right. Or disregard this rant and do what you want. But if you don’t put forth the effort, you’ll never learn anything. So you know what lenses you should have, now what? What are you going to do with them? I suppose that’ll be your next question, huh?

Do you email or phone wedding photography companies and ask if they need assistants ? or do you start of with simple studio work.

So far I have been building my portfolio with freelance stuff and nightclub photography. And I have taken pictures of 1 wedding, indoor, but very small

Are there other options then looking out for gigs on craigslist ?

interning is the best way. talk to local wedding photographer to see if you could help if you can work with them for a while they may give you a chance to become a second shooter. this will help you build your port and get you some work. this may take some time but you will become a better photographer for it.

im only 14 but ive been into photography my whole life. i can take pretty good pictures, and very good at editing. i currently have a nikon d40. i want to become a wedding photographer. can wedding photographers, or any type of photographer give me some tips?

to get started?
what type of cameras?
what age should i start wedding photography?
what kind of pictures to take?
anything, please and thanks.

Well, I do quite a few different types of photography, including weddings.

Just because you are 14 means only that age limitations apply. You have the youth and energy to craft your photographic trade for decades to come though! Having a Nikon D40 is a great thing. I shoot a D90 with a Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 and love it! The fact you can edit is a great plus, seeing that digital photography has a requisite for that kind of talent.

Now, on to your questions…

You’ve already have gotten started. You have a great camera, you’re computer savvy and have drive. Now you need the channels to utilize those energies. How about the school paper? The local paper? Be a free-lance photographer for them! Learn what clients want and find out how you can supply it. How will you make yourself unique (differentiate) as compared to other photographers? Think about this.
As to how to further get started in wedding photography, I learned by taking lots of photographs and reading up on books in the library. I also asked other photographers (like you’re doing here) on some tips. It takes time, and you have lots of that!

As for your camera, right now the D40 is fine. Learn the operations of the camera if you haven’t already. Knowing your tools is of utmost importance to getting the most from them. In a few years, think about upgrading possibly. Always look to buy the best lenses you can afford. The lens will outlive the camera by decades! Read articles, look at product reviews and see what is the right kind of lenses and bodies for what you want to do. I still have my 6 year old D70 and lenses because my wife is getting into photography and she loves it.

You can do some work on wedding photography right now. Not for pay possibly, but doing some free-lance work and then showing the bride and groom your work afterwards would set you up for something in the near future. I’d say that the earliest you could get some sort of paying work is at 17 or 18. Don’t ask me what you could charge… your work/portfolio quality will determine that in a few years.

What kind of pictures? What do you WANT to take pictures of? What really makes you want to snap that picture? That is the motivation you need to focus on! That is what helps differentiate your work from everyone else! I do a lot of landscape, macro, flowers/plants and specialty photography personally.

The best thing to do is:

1) Learn your camera and lenses. What/where are they good at performing? How many lenses do you really need to just start? If you only have one lens then fine. Learn its strengths and weaknesses. Know the camera operations by memory so that when conditions change, you can change the settings accordingly.
Do you have a good prime lens (50mm f/1.8), a good low end zoom (18-70/105mm), a good high focal length zoom (70-300mm)? Maybe, like me, you have a good "walk about" lens (18-270mm). Even if you just have the 18-105mm Nikon lens the D40 came with, it’s a very good lens! You can do a lot of fine work with that lens.

2) Read up on the types of photography you’d like to do. Take notes. How about some classes in middle or high school? Go to the library and check out some books so you can refer back to them. That is a no-cost option! Learn the basics of exposure and composition and how to get different effects from different settings of the camera. Don’t rely on your software to make a semi-good picture better. Learn to take a great picture right off the bat so you don’t have to do any rework on the computer.

3) Learn from your mistakes. Why did the picture come out bad, over or under exposed? How can you work to not do that again? Why is is that certain pictures came out fantastic? What did you do correctly so you can repeat that? Since you have a digital camera, you can usually take several shots of the same subject and see how different settings make the picture change to you liking.

4) Have fun doing whatever you do. I have seen so many people get into photography and get lost in the details that they forget to have FUN!

Good luck!

I would consider myself a fairly serious amateur photographer and have mainly shot landscapes. My friend saw some photos that I had taken and asked if I could take her wedding pictures. I told her that I was in no way a professional and that I could not guarantee the "perfect" wedding portraits. She said that she knew that and wanted me to take them anyway. Now I am wondering what type of lighting and lenses would best suit wedding photography. I can probably think of some things but I just thought I would ask so that I don’t miss anything that would make my pictures better than they would be otherwise. Thank you for your help.

wedding photography tutorials: http://www.net-art.it/photomonitor/html/teoria_tecnica/ripresa-tecniche/matrimonio-cerimonia-e.shtml

Wedding Photographers are soo pricey. Does anyone have any creative alternatives?
I am already planning on doing the disposable cameras. I am concerned with nice portrait type photos.

You can do the disposable cameras, but you can’t be sure that you will get great pictures. Some people do, some don’t. Ours were fine from the disposables, but then when I saw them compared to the photog’s pics, they were nothing.

I looked at it this way - there are few things that you will have from your wedding that you will be able to hold on to. Memories will fade - in order to keep them fresh, you want to have a good photographer. Those pictures will last you for the rest of your life and then be passed onto your children as well. Skimping on them may inhibit a lifetime of memories. You won’t remember if you got the more expensive linens. You won’t remember if you had 4 candles or 5 in your centerpieces. But you *will* always want to remember that first kiss, your Uncle Ted dancing the night away, the toast from your Best Man, what your dress looked like, what your wedding cake looked like, etc. And a professional photographer can best capture that for you.

Be creative, have fun, but don’t skimp on something that will be the most long lasting memory of your wedding.

I am taking my friends wedding photos next weekend. I have only done one other wedding( everyone has to start somewhere lol). My question is where do I stand to get good shots of the wedding party walking up the aisle? Do I stand in the middle of the aisle, shoot the pic and then move out of the way. Please someone help me. Any other advise welcome too. Thank you and God Bless you
I am doing this as a favor for my friend because she cant really afford a photographer. Please only give nice and encouraging answers because I really want to her to have some nice pictures. Thank you

My husband accidently erased my lengthy answer, so here is a shorter version. Photography Guide brought up many good points, I will second start the processional with new batteries! If you don’t have a battery pack, your flash will need time to recycle, so allow for that time. If you don’t have a bracket or diffuser, you will have harsh side shadows. If you have enough pixels, you can avoid that by shooting horizontal, then cropping vertically in post processing.

Photographers go with the flow when it comes to positioning. Usually, I shoot from the front, between the alter and the first pew. Occasionally, I shoot from a spot near the middle pews. I get out in the aisle, get the picture, and step back. I always pick a certain point where I want to fire, usually something like one of the backtwo or three pews. Beforehand, I ask the wedding party to pause at that spot for an instant and LOOK at me with a smile. The processional moves pretty fast, so be ready. If the church is dark, you may have problems with the auto focus. In that case, I pre focus manually on my spot.

I try to get multiples of the bride and father (or whoever) walking down the aisle. You are ***usually*** allowed flash until the handoff. I get one from behind while I’m in the front. I stay up front until the bride and dad arrive. Usually there are a couple of minutes of blab between the arrival at the front and the hand-off and the Dad’s kiss. I use that minute to get to the back or balcony wherre my tripod awaits. Unless it is an unusual ceremony, or I have a second shooter, I stay at the back for the ceremony, until just before the prouncement. Then I scoot back into flash range for the first kiss. Be ready, sometimes the kiss is the briefest of pecks, hardly time to fire even one shot! Then shoot the recessional with flash, the recessional goes really quickly, too.

Some advice for the formals:

Take charge. Have someone in charge of rounding up the family and assorted people who are to be in the group shots. B&G always front and center, together, or higher. Bodies always angled to the camera. Men’s hands at their sides or in pockets, not folded over thier crotch. Ladies hold flowers at waist, no higher. Flowers at hips with stems pointing back is good, too. In full length shots, do not amputate the feet! Same with 3/4, don’t cut off fingers. More than three in the group, shoot horizontal. Start with the biggest group and work down to just the B&G. Don’t let other people with cameras snap while you’re shooting. Fix your poses, then you get your shots first. Otherwise, you will have the subjects’ eyes wondering all over the place. To avoid lots of post work, they must look at YOU, not Aunt Edna. In large groups, take several shots.

Check your histogram to avoid blowing highlights. If you know how to custom WB, use it. (I am assuming you are digital, if film ignore that line, film has more exposure latitude.)

Don’t forget to get some detail shots of the rings, flowers, decor etc etc. Get a good shot of the cake. If you don’t know the families, ask who is important to get a shot of, in particular don’t miss the grandparents, godparents, favorite aunt and uncle.

Take lots of fresh batteries, lots of film or memory. Browse wedding websites to see what poses you might want to copy. Don’t get flustered if something goes not as planned (usually it does) Get a backup camera if you don’t already have one. Doesn’t have to be fancy, but if your main camera goes down, you want to be able to just switch to your spare withour missing a beat.

Good luck, hope it all goes well.

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From the history of photography and how to shoot wedding portraits to creating stylish albums and working with digital output, everything a wedding photographer needs to know is included in this all-encompassing manual. Photographers are provided with a shooting guide that walks them through the wedding day and offers advice on a variety of topics–including integrating detail, capturing the walk down the aisle, working in and out of doors, and finding and illustrating key relationships. Traditional and “in” methods of wedding photography are depicted in an educational timeline that explores past, present, and future trends in the field; current photo manipulation software, such as Adobe Photoshop and compatible plug-ins, are also discussed. Emphasis is placed on client interaction both before and after the big day, transforming prints into fine arts products, and developing and fine-tuning a creative shooting style.

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Almost 2 weeks ago, I introduced you to Jessica–showing off some of her bridal portraits. You probably noticed that I’m quite a fan of Jess and her family. Now it’s time to introduce you to another one of Jessica’s fans . . . Jake. Not only does this fellow really, really like Jess, she’s actually pretty fond of him, too. As of this writing, actually, Jessica is now also known as “Mrs. Jake.” You’ll soon see another slideshow of their wedding at Trapnall Hall. You’ll wish that you were th
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How much did you pay for the photography at your wedding?

Did you also have a videotape made?

What about studio portraits? Was this by the same photographer or did you go to a different one before or after your wedding?
Also, did you find it to be a good price or do you feel that it was too expensive?

250 eah ya bou aia bs lol d7ktny

from 7 years i pay for the portrait 500 le at el alfi studio mohandseen he take about 10 poses and gave us large one u choose it from ur poses and an album for the all the poses

about the photography and the video it could be package at the wedding place i mean the hotel or wherever u'll make ur wedding at if it at home or something go to any studio and they can offer u good deals or if u will bring dj he can gave u a deal as most of them have company for that.

and no it wasnt expensive

congratulation