Lens & Religious wedding: Tips Please

[rosserx]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

At this time of year I get very suspicious! Is this a pre April Fools? Funny how they joined in 2009 and only have 2 posts!

I joined in 2008 and only have a little over 400 posts.

[CurlyCorry]

lol scooter.... i wrote so many things and decided not to bother because I figured he'd just ask me if there was a place to park the sled dogs too!

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by gpanos2

Second issue: It's a Muslim/Canadian wedding, and I am not very familiar with Islam or Arabic culture, is there anyone who can tell me anything important I should cover in the wedding (including what to avoid, etc.)?

To get things back on track, perhaps your best bet would be to ask whoever is officiating the ceremony.

[CurlyCorry]

I'm sure if you do a google search of muslim weddings, you will get loads of info on what to expect. Also, if you type in "muslim wedding photography" and see what results you get.....

[gpanos2]

Well I didn't expect to get a lot of negative feedback at all, especially from grown adults. Sorry I don't post on this website, I mainly read the articles I get sent to my email, and don't get a lot off practice so I don't ask for much help on the website. I also don't have time either. Didn't know that was a crime. I apologize for offending anyone here by not being very active.

Also sorry for asking about the lens again? Twice? Did that hurt anyone?

Anyways, I was merely asking for some cultural help, and don't want to offend my friend by being too picky. Don't worry about helping me, the same day I posted this the wedding tutorial email was sent out. Also, I don't own any sled dogs.

Who would have thought this helpful site would be so unfriendly. You all sure know how to discourage someone. We all have to start somewhere don't we?

Again, sorry for the waste of your time. I'm sure you all have something better to do than help me.

p.s Thank you CurlyCorry, I've tried that but unfortunately my results were photos from weddings where it wasn't too traditional. The wedding I'm helping with is very traditional. Thanks again! I'll keep looking.

[gpanos2]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Whhoooooaaaaa!!!








A Canadian wedding? Yea, I'd back right the hell out of that immediately.

If you show a picture of Stephen Harper, you'll likely be beheaded!!

Run, don't walk from this wedding!

By "Canadian/Muslim" wedding I meant the groom is "White" Canadian and the Bride is Lebanese Muslim. Maybe I should have been more clear, sorry.

[gpanos2]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

At this time of year I get very suspicious! Is this a pre April Fools? Funny how they joined in 2009 and only have 2 posts!

No, it's just me being a busy student and only reading tutorials I've subscribed to. It's really not funny at all. I thought to look here first for help picking my lens, since this is a website for helping people.

[Swisstony10]

I'd always say that the best lens to use is the one that supports your shooting style best. If you like to get up close and personal with your subjects (in whatever situation), then you want something like a 35mm prime, or a 24-70 zoom. If you like to keep out of the way and shoot from a distance, then something longer like a 70-200 would suit you better.

Whatever you end up doing in terms of focal length, you want the fastest glass you can get your hands on, like an f2.8 - best off sticking with a decent lens that has a constant aperture across the zoom range - there's nothing worse than zooming in close and losing the wide aperture you were relying on. Personally, I like a mixture of keeping my distance and getting in close, so I usually take a 70-200 and a 24-70. Sometimes I throw in a fisheye for a couple of unusual shots, and I'm considering adding a Lensbaby to the mix, just for the hell of it.


As far as what to expect from a cultural or ceremonial perspective - why not ask the bride and groom? They're the ones asking you to take the photos, and it's their wedding, so they're going to be the best people to know what's going to happen. And I'm sure they wouldn't mind giving you some background info so you have a good idea of what's going on.

[gpanos2]

Originally Posted by Swisstony10

I'd always say that the best lens to use is the one that supports your shooting style best. If you like to get up close and personal with your subjects (in whatever situation), then you want something like a 35mm prime, or a 24-70 zoom. If you like to keep out of the way and shoot from a distance, then something longer like a 70-200 would suit you better.

I'll be doing some close up shots with the bride in the beginning, so I might just stick with the lens I have. But for the rest of the wedding, I'd like to be keeping away most of the time, since I'm a stranger.

Seeing the price of those lenses, I'd have to rent them out. I might just go for the 70-200mm.

I also own a Zenit zoom lens. Do you think maybe I should just stick to that?

And the reason I need so much help with the cultural aspect is that the two families are extremely different from each other. One is extremely strict and not easily impressed, and on the other side ...the groom's brother is a tattoo artist covered head to toe in it. I just know it'll be an awkward wedding.

Thank you so much for your help.

*Put the wrong link up.

[IABoomer]

If all you have is the 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 kit lens, you can probably make do with it. I shot some candids at a cousin's wedding using a D40 and that kit lens. However, if you're going to buy a lens, for a couple hundred dollars, the AF-S 35mm f/1.8 is a really nice, light, fast prime.

I shot these at a friend's wedding using a D5000 and the 35mm prime. (Click for larger)

Here we're sitting at the end of the row right next to the aisle, so I've got an unobstructed view of the bride being walked down the aisle by her older brother.



The "father" daughter dance. Dad wasn't there (really long story).



The bride's sister and Grandpa.



The 35mm on a crop sensor covers a nice field of view so you can get some environment, but it's still close enough you can get details without being right up in someone's face. The wide aperture is good in dark reception halls or in the church where shooting with any kind of flash is often prohibited.

As far as cultural things go, I'd definitely ask the couple, and if at all possible, see if you can be at the rehearsal so you can scout things out there.