Looking for small camera for wedding shots

[kathiemt]

My second youngest daughter is getting married in June 2012 and my eldest daughter has instructed me that the mother of the bride CANNOT have her camera (NikonD90) slung around her neck like she was out on a photo walk! mmm, that puts me in a bind. The daughter getting married doesn't want a lot of fuss and won't be engaging a professional photographer for the event. I have talked her into letting a friend of mine, whom I trust and does great portrait shots, to take some formal shots of the wedding, just so we have some. But I want to make sure I can get informal shots during the service and the reception afterwards.

She's agreed that perhaps I should get a small camera I can hide away in my bag when I'm not using it (I don't think it will see the inside of my bag much).

Given I already have a Nikon DSLR I'm thinking of sticking with a Nikon but really have no idea what might be best for this type of photography. I'm not normally a portrait photographer, choosing to do nature and landscapes instead.

What are your thoughts please?

[graciousness]

Hi Kathie,

I think, being the mother of the bride, that you should not even contemplate on taking any photos on any camera. You have a more important job in the wedding and it's not being the photographer

If you plan on just taking snap shots of the wedding, please have someone else do it. Look for someone who is up for the job. Anyone else but you. Otherwise, you can spend that money on paying for a student photographer to take some snaps for the experience and some cash for compensation than buying a small camera. Or, if that friend portrait photographer can extend her kindness in taking more snaps here and there and give her the money instead of buying the camera, then I think that would be a great option.

Or look at craigslist and just find a cheap photographer. If you don't care for high quality photos and just want something, mementos of the event, then there are plenty who will do the job.

There are only a few times not to be and think of being a photographer in life and this is one of them. You can't be in the moment with your daughter on this special day if you are constantly thinking of taking photos.

[kathiemt]

Thanks, but I really do want to have a camera with me on the day. I did for my other daughters' weddings but that was quite a few years ago and I want to upgrade the old P&S I had in those days. I just don't want to be carrying around the DSLR and have something that does fit in my bag.

I appreciate your suggestions but it was all I could do to get my daughter to agree to have a photographer of any sort there in the first place and that really is for minimal time only. Her husband is shy (non- Australian and his country doesn't make a big fuss of these things) and she's not really into photos either. During the ceremony when I'm sitting up front is an ideal time and during the reception when we'll be sitting not far from them also.

[RichardTaylor]

I am not familiar with Nikon cameras.

In the Canon Range I would be looking at either the S100 or G12
Both shoot RAW and have good IQ for a p&S.
The G12 is probably easier to use (I own a G11) - not so much menu driven, however the S100 is smaller and has a faster lens (f2).

[graciousness]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

I am not familiar with Nikon cameras.

In the Canon Range I would be looking at either the S100 or G12
Both shoot RAW and have good IQ for a p&S.
The G12 is probably easier to use (I own a G11) - not so much menu driven, however the S100 is smaller and has a faster lens (f2).

+1 to Richard, as usual

I don't own any of those cameras, but I have a couple I know who use the G12 and they love it. The photos that come out are pretty good and they are unedited that I have seen.

Good luck to you! If you're not planning on shooting a lot and only occasionally, perhaps you can still convince your daughter for you to use the camera, except for the ceremony? I think I'd feel the same way as you years from now and my own daughter marries so I do understand

Later on, I think your daughter will cherish and realise how important it is to have good photos of such an important day. Tell her I didn't have any good photos of my own wedding (couldn't afford anything) and I deeply regret not having any decent photos to look back upon.

[kathiemt]

Thanks Richard, that's a good start and I will explore your suggestions.

And gracoiusness, thank you also for your input. Yes, I'm very aware of how not having photos will prove to be a disappointment in years to come. So very important to me I make sure that there are some good ones, even if there aren't a lot.