Bare minimum needed to....

[theysayjump]

.....photograph weddings?

I bumped into an old friend who may be looking for some freelance photography work, some weddings, some not, however I am far from a professional. At the moment I'm just an enthusiastic hobbyist. The equipment I currently have is:

Nikon D80
Nikon 18-55mm Stock lens
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1.8 lens
Accessories such as tripod, memory cards, basic filters etc.

So how much more would I need to be comfortable photographing weddings? I'd be looking to spend as little as possible as I'm far from well off too, but any help you can give would be appreciated.

[Dirt_Bike_Ryda]

a FLASH !

a battery grip would make it more combfortable.

a longer telephoto so you can get "the kiss" without being the way of everyone. say like a 200mm or something.

my .02

[FrankLamont]

Technically you can shoot a wedding with anything from a $50 camera to a Hassie.

Rationally?

Fast lenses (wide to telephoto) and preferably a full frame body. Flashes are optional but *very* useful.

[kencaleno]

you already have all you need....Ken

[theysayjump]

I figured I'd need a flash, I hadn't thought about a battery grip, and the 200mm lens is a good idea that also hadn't thought of.

As for the full frame body, would it really be worth the purchase (ie, spend the money on that instead of better lenses etc for my current camera)?

[WooD]

Originally Posted by theysayjump

.....photograph weddings?

I bumped into an old friend who may be looking for some freelance photography work, some weddings, some not, however I am far from a professional. At the moment I'm just an enthusiastic hobbyist. The equipment I currently have is:

Nikon D80
Nikon 18-55mm Stock lens
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1.8 lens
Accessories such as tripod, memory cards, basic filters etc.

So how much more would I need to be comfortable photographing weddings? I'd be looking to spend as little as possible as I'm far from well off too, but any help you can give would be appreciated.

To be realistically comfortable shooting wedding, and going by what you already have, I'd say....................

One extra body, at least a D300, but a D700 would be better in low light. I've found most churches wont allow any flash during the ceremony, so your going to need a body that handles higher ISO's which the D80 doesn't.

One 17-55 f/2.8 or 24-70 f/2.8

One 80-200 f/2.8 the 70-200 VR f/2.8 would be best, but costs several hundred more.

One SB600 or SB900 flash unit, or an after market equivalent.

[AndCity]

Apart from all the equipment, have you thought about the confidence you need in your abilities to pull off a once only, no going back, shoot? Please don't think I'm knocking you, I'm just playing devil's advocate. I wish you all the best.

[CanonRebelz]

Originally Posted by AndCity

Apart from all the equipment, have you thought about the confidence you need in your abilities to pull off a once only, no going back, shoot? Please don't think I'm knocking you, I'm just playing devil's advocate. I wish you all the best.

To add on+
You also need a lot of know how, you only get one chance to get it right at a wedding. I've never shot weddings but I say that from what I've read on here and other places.

[theysayjump]

Originally Posted by WooD

To be realistically comfortable shooting wedding, and going by what you already have, I'd say....................

One extra body, at least a D300, but a D700 would be better in low light. I've found most churches wont allow any flash during the ceremony, so your going to need a body that handles higher ISO's which the D80 doesn't.

One 17-55 f/2.8 or 24-70 f/2.8

One 80-200 f/2.8 the 70-200 VR f/2.8 would be best, but costs several hundred more.

One SB600 or SB900 flash unit, or an after market equivalent.

Thank you WooD, that's exactly what I was looking for.

Originally Posted by AndCity

Apart from all the equipment, have you thought about the confidence you need in your abilities to pull off a once only, no going back, shoot? Please don't think I'm knocking you, I'm just playing devil's advocate. I wish you all the best.

Originally Posted by CanonRebelz

To add on+
You also need a lot of know how, you only get one chance to get it right at a wedding. I've never shot weddings but I say that from what I've read on here and other places.

I absolutely agree with both of you. That's the one thing that would turn me away from doing it more so than the lack of equipment, BUT, people who have never shot weddings before have to start somewhere right?

Where is that somewhere?

[cphoniball]

Assisting.