n00b help please (wedding photog questions)

[mjstyle]

hi
im mj, im new to the forum as well as new to using a DSLR. pls forgive me for the n00b questions..

moving forward..
i have been asked to photograph a wedding and bridal portraits for a friend, and i said sure.
my gear:
canon rebel t1-i
canon 430EX-ii flash and a wireless ebay remote/trigger (yungnuo.. i know i know )
lenses:
canon 50mm 1.8
canon 28mm 2.8
and the kit lens that the t1i came with (18-55 3.5-5.0)
and a monopod i got for free

the wedding is going to be inside a banquet hall in a baseball stadium (for any austin/roundrock peeps, its the united heritage center in the dell diamond). the wedding isnt til november so i have a little time.

- i read up on some shot lists and feel pretty comfortable for the wedding, but im also doing the bridal, so are there any suggestions??

- also for austin tx readers: any good locations for the bridal shots??

- is my gear going to be sufficient enough to get sharp and memorable pics?

- i have been looking at a new lens, and im torn between the canon 24-70 2.8L and the 24-105 f4L IS and have been doing the necessary research (reading reviews, etc) and i want to see if you guys can share your insight and help me decide.. i got the jist, pros and cons of each (faster lens vs IS, focal length, etc), but i wanted to see what personal preferences you guys had regarding the two lenses.. basically, if you had to choose, which one and why

- do you guys recommend using my wireless triggers at all, or just keeping my flash hotshoe'd?

- for capturing action shots AND ambient lighting in a banquet hall with my flash, what would the appropriate setting be? ETTL with rear sync and shutter speeds between 1/30 -1/60 ??

i think thats it...
...for now

thanks for the help guys!

[kencaleno]

when is the wedding?

[elvenprincessjo]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

when is the wedding?

It looks like she said it is in November. ^_^

[kencaleno]

Sorry,but you should say "No"-you haven't got enough time to learn how. Regards, Ken

[Eastree]

Short of no, I'd say PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE before!

I jsut got my flash, and i've never used it before. I plan to do some home shoots, with stuff around the house, to get used to it. I'm going to take walks in the woods and stuff, for the same reason. I need to get used to using it before I REALLY have to use it.

The first time I know for SURE I'll seriously use it will be in May.

I might have a friend's wedding to go to next month, but I'm not the hired photographer so I might leave my camera at home for that. I don't think someone's wedding would be a good place for me to practice.

So until the bridal shot, find EVERY excuse to snap pictures.

As far as locations for the bridal shoot, I'd suggest looking into parks and stuff. an outdoor venue does a bit of justice. But also be aware of possible permit requirements for public photo shoots, even if you're not blocking anything. Short of that, I no nothing about Austin.

[mjstyle]

Originally Posted by Eastree

Short of no, I'd say PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE before!

I jsut got my flash, and i've never used it before. I plan to do some home shoots, with stuff around the house, to get used to it. I'm going to take walks in the woods and stuff, for the same reason. I need to get used to using it before I REALLY have to use it.

The first time I know for SURE I'll seriously use it will be in May.

I might have a friend's wedding to go to next month, but I'm not the hired photographer so I might leave my camera at home for that. I don't think someone's wedding would be a good place for me to practice.

So until the bridal shot, find EVERY excuse to snap pictures.

As far as locations for the bridal shoot, I'd suggest looking into parks and stuff. an outdoor venue does a bit of justice. But also be aware of possible permit requirements for public photo shoots, even if you're not blocking anything. Short of that, I no nothing about Austin.

thanks

im going to a wedding next week, and one almost every weekend in october (yikes), none of which im the hired photog for, so i think that as long as it's ok with the hired photographer, i'll practice for my benefit.

moving forward...

my other question relates to getting a new lens...
- i have been looking at a new lens, and im torn between the canon 24-70 2.8L and the 24-105 f4L IS and have been doing the necessary research (reading reviews, etc) and i want to see if you guys can share your insight and help me decide.. i got the jist, pros and cons of each (faster lens vs IS, focal length, etc), but i wanted to see what personal preferences you guys had regarding the two lenses.. basically, if you had to choose, which one and why

[inkista]

For what you want to shoot, the 24-70L over the 24-105L. The 24-105 is a better all-rounder, but it's just not fast enough for available light. It's better as an outdoors lens. I'd check with the church on whether or not you can use a flash during the ceremony--it's not uncommon for them to forbid it. You might be better off renting the 24-70, a second backup body, and a 35 f/1.4L, 28/1.8 USM, or EF 16-35 f/2.8L USM to use in place of the 28/2.8.

For the flash--I say forget off-camera and the triggers except for posed photography, and only use that if you can do things quickly--remember that everybody's going to be waiting on the reception, and you'll have to know how to do the cat-herding and posing efficiently. If you can get someone to assist and be your voice-activated lightstand, then the off-camera wireless trigger thing makes much more sense.

For the ceremony and reception, though, either available light or on-camera is probably going to be a better bet, especially since you can use eTTL to run'n'gun. I'd recommend battling your way through as much of Planet Neil as you can, since the Strobist teaches you squat about eTTL and on-camera. I'd also recommend Jeff Ascough's website and blog (to show you how shooting only available light can be a good thing). You'll particularly want to read his entry on preparation. You will notice how much effort goes into disaster planning and his mental state of relaxed concentration. You will also need to consider renting a second body as backup.

Good luck. It's not an easy task you've set yourself.

[mjstyle]

thanks for the info

the planet neil link has a lot of helpful information!!

[Trigger]

I did a christening and (Not comparing it to a wedding) the most use of lenses would be in the 18-55mm so practice in low light indoor tricky outdoor situations,also the 50mm f/1.8 is great for portraits shots,but yeah you will be surprise @ the usability of the 18-55 glass,also get use to bounce flash off ceilings walls or in the f/1.8 glass no flash and use available light


cheers

[oldwolf]

try the Tokina 50-135mm f/2.8.

sharp lens and the images are very comparable to what you'd get from the L lens.

only down fall is that it's only made for the crop sensor so if you upgrade to full frame later on then you won't be able to take it with you.