Just starting out please respond need advice

[AMAHOGANY53]

Greetings All,

I was wondering has anyone ever done photographs for a wedding with a point and shoot, and if so how was the outcome? Meaning was the client happy or upset with the end result etc? I am wondering this because I love photography and I just brought an advance point and shoot not even a year ago for a little over 400 dollars. I have been looking at trying to build a portfolio to take my hobby to the next level but am not sure I want to invest in an SLR and lenses right now. At the end of the day I would like to build my portofolio and see where it goes from there, but I am not sure I can even request being a second shooter with anyone with my point and shoot or offer free services at someone"s wedding without getting laughed out of the building.


Thanks

[PowerPix]

Originally Posted by AMAHOGANY53

I am not sure I can even request being a second shooter with anyone with my point and shoot or offer free services at someone"s wedding without getting laughed out of the building.


Thanks

I think you are right......

A P&S just cannot provide the quality needed to shoot a wedding, no matter how capable a photographer you might be. I don't shoot weddings but I am sure others will agree with that. The absolute bare minimum needed is a zoom lens and flash. Others can better direct you but there is far more than just equipment to be concerned about.

[OsmosisStudios]

Its not just the quality: there are some P&S cameras that make some great shots. Its the useability. a P&S camera is useless in low-light, especially at longer focal lengths. Most dont have any kind of flash control or even room for an external flash.

[candidrachel]

I reckon a point and shoot would work. I think you could capture some really funny moments that could otherwise be missed if faffing around with settings on an SLR. It depends on what the bride and groom want. Some might want snaps and nothing more elaborate than that.

There really is nothing scary about shooting weddings! I've done some after waking up one morning and suddenly announcing that I am off shooting weddings no prior experience necesarry! Nothing was going to stand in my way and failure was just not in my vocabulary. If however I joined this site first then decided to shoot weddings then self doubt and worry about being "good enough" might have crept in but don't let others put you off! Invest in a mid range Canon and you will be fine.

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

There really is nothing scary about shooting weddings! I've done some after waking up one morning and suddenly announcing that I am off shooting weddings no prior experience necesarry! Nothing was going to stand in my way and failure was just not in my vocabulary. If however I joined this site first then decided to shoot weddings then self doubt and worry about being "good enough" might have crept in but don't let others put you off! Invest in a mid range Canon and you will be fine.

hmmm this i dont completely agree with (please dont take offense to that, i dont mean it in a bad way) but ive had my chance at taking shots at a friends wedding on the side and found it quite a difficult challenge. thing is - it comes down to the standard you set for yourself and maybe i just set mine too high. for what it was - i think i did ok - but nothing near what i'd like it to be.


@ amahogany - there is nothing easy about doing a wedding - dont kid yourself. without experience you're at a big chance of screwing up. thats just my honest opinion (i dont mean to sound mean, i jsut say it like it is) and with a p&s - i gotta say that doesnt sound professional or that you're ready.

[candidrachel]

With weddings you have to be CONFIDENT in your ability. I KNOW I can take great shots. I wouldn't let my negative self-talk get in the way of success. I find weddings easymentally but its hard work physically as your on your feet all day but I love it! I just go with the flow and get carried away with the emotion of the day and it shows in my photos.

Just wanted to add that some people on this site have said that there is nothing easy about doing weddings but haven't actually taken the plunge themselves. So how do you know its not easy?

[PowerPix]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

Just wanted to add that some people on this site have said that there is nothing easy about doing weddings but haven't actually taken the plunge themselves. So how do you know its not easy?

We let people like you tell us one way or the other.......

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by PowerPix

We let people like you tell us one way or the other.......

hehehe sorry i shouldnt laugh

Originally Posted by candidrachel

With weddings you have to be CONFIDENT in your ability. I KNOW I can take great shots. I wouldn't let my negative self-talk get in the way of success. I find weddings easymentally but its hard work physically as your on your feet all day but I love it! I just go with the flow and get carried away with the emotion of the day and it shows in my photos.

well i do agree with you to one extent and thats great that you can achieve that. good for you. confidence does help but how do you gain confidence without experience???? people who are just starting out have to be realistic. just because they are confident they can take a shot doesnt mean they can properly coordinate people, make sure they get every vital shot. you have to be the "boss" in an environment like that. i dont think every one is made to be that way. and people who arnt should NOT be taking on jobs that big. i personally think that if people are asking what kind of equipment do i need or if a p&S is appropriate then i dont think they are even close to realizing what shooting big events like that are all about.
just my raw honest opinion

[PowerPix]

I'm with eNZee on this one.

[m.c.adams]

Check this out.

Wedding Photography Equipment

it can give you a quick idea of shooting a wedding.