I'd love some recommendations!

[AmyH19]

I have a Nikon D3000 and am just getting started doing photography as an extra weekend job. So far, I have a second photographer job at a wedding in June and shooting an entire smaller, non-traditional wedding in October. I do not have a studio now, so I'll be marketing myself for outdoor portraits and weddings.

I have the basic kit 18-55mm lens (never use it), the 55-200mm zoom and the 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX (pretty good lens).

I have a tripod, remote for the shutter, Nikon bag, two batteries and UV filters so far. I know I'll likely need a flash but I'd like some recommendations for other lenses and filters, keeping in mind compatibility with the future D90 (or maybe even a bigger, badder Nikon) that I'm hoping for. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[LeeR]

I am usually the first one to tell someone to "go out there and try your best, we all started somewhere!" but I may have to make an exception in this case.

First, I applaud you for working as a second; nothing will teach you the business faster or better. In essence, you get paid for learning. Not many school can offer that incentive.

Second, you have to have a flash. Weddings=flash, no exceptions. OK, maybe Dennis Reggie is an exception but he has been doing this for many years and can afford the $10,000+ ultra fast lenses the rest of us only dream of.

Thrid, you need back-ups for your back-ups. You need to ask yourself, what would I do I my camera quit working? ...and what if that didn't work? This is a one time deal, with no re-dos, so you have got to get it right. That means at least two of evertything, cameras, lenses, flashes, batteries, memory careds, etc. Failure is an invitation to a law suit, so get it right the first time.

[inkista]

Personally, I'd recommend this thread on the Fred Miranda board's Wedding Photographer forum.

[AmyH19]

Thank you both for the help!

I'm looking into getting the Nikon SB-900 dedicated flash instead of messing around with the 600 as well as some other lighting. I will likely need that for my October booking, the wedding is inside a country club.