Wedding lens

Hi guys. My future SIL asked me to take pics at their wedding. I am a total amateur, basically get lucky taking pics of my kids every now and then, but never did anything like this. They have budget issues so I suppose they think I can get decent pics for them for free. That makes me nervous! Anyway, I have a Nikon D70 with a flash bracket, a sb800 and sb600, and a telephoto lens, an 18-70mm lens, and a 50 mm lens. What is the best lens for this? The ceremony will be catholic mass inside a church and pics can only be taken of the procession and vows. The reception will be outside at someone's home under a tent but I'm told there are plenty of places indoors and outdoors to get pics. Any suggestions? Thanks!!!

It's a lot of work to shoot weddings. Really - been there, done that...

Check with the Church to see exactly what they allow for photography. Really, it's best to talk to the person performing the ceremony for specifics of what they will and will not allow. I've been able to shoot in Catholic (and other) churches during the service as long as I don't use flash after the father gives the bride away until the procession starts. It can be done but you'll use a high ISO like 800 and will need a tripod. Basically, they don't want you being a distraction but plenty of people in the church will have flashes going off.

I'd be nervous shooting with one DSLR body and no backup. It's a big investment and chances are you won't have any problems but then there's Murphy's Law. A backup flash is good to have but make sure you know how both of them work without having to stop and think about it (happens after not using something for awhile, at least for me).

I'd say that the 18-70 will be by far your most used lens. The 50 may come in handy inside the church but switching lenses takes time. I know not much time, but it's one more hassle. I usually used an 80-200 f2.8 during the service on my 35mm SLR's but often wished it was a little longer so on a DSLR with a 1.5x crop factor that should be about right.

80-200 f2.8 lenses are big and heavy, not to mention expensive so don't buy one just for this day. It'll be a good investment if you want into wedding photography but not a requirement for now - especially if you're doing it for free. I guess it depends on what their expectations are. Not trying to scare you off but if you don't get the shot that they want, will there be a serious problem? Usually when people ask a friend/relative to shoot a wedding, they don't understand what it entails. Did you notice most of what I replied with wasn't about lenses? :)

Thanks for the reply. I hear you loud and clear! I so don't want to do this but budget is their main concern. I've communicated to them that I only have one camera and perhaps they should fine someone else to take pics as well. I told them I'd hate for them to miss have great photos of this special day. I'm hoping someone offers to give them the gift of a professional photographer for the special day! As always, I appreciate your response.

I've read posts similar to yours on other sites, and seen the replies just turn into reasons why the world will end if an inexperienced wedding photographer is used. Truth is, all of those people started somewhere and not everyone has five grand to hire a top pro. Excellent shots can be taken by amateurs and I hate to discourage anyone from trying something.

The reason pros are hired is basically because they will deliver, bar none. This can involve backup equipment, assistant(s), lots of shots taken, redundant backups of digital cards or careful processing at expensive labs, pre-shoot meetings and of course experience. All of this comes at a price, however - and not everyone has that kind of money.

I definitely think you have the right approach. Do your best, that's all you can do. It always helped me to look at places in advance just to see what they looked like. This may have calmed nerves the night before more than anything else because everything changes. :) Good luck with everything!

Thanks so much...excellent reply!

Hi, just a few comments. Your zoom should do fine, as mentioned before. I use a 28-105 and I'm happy with that. One major suggestion, go to the rehearsal! This is huge! I have been doing weddings un-professionally for about 12 years or more, and I still go to the rehearsal. First, you can talk to the pastor/priest about their rules; second, you can know what is going to happen and when. Then there won't be any surprises. Sometimes the "kiss" is right after the rings, sometimes it's at the end, that's just one example. I missed the "kiss" at one wedding because it came before I expected it, and I wasn't at the rehearsal. You will also know if there is a Unity candle, flowers to mothers, etc. Make sure you have plenty of batteries. I use rechargeables and charge all of them the night before.

Another suggestion: RELAX!! If you like taking pictures and you do pretty decent, don't worry. Remember to come in close. Not physically,(but that's ok), but zoom in and get good close pictures. You will want some with the brides whole dress of course, but get some nice tight shots of their faces, like portraits. If you are going to pose the people for formal pictures, watch for little details. Straight ties, necklaces, where hands are, etc. If you have time, go to a local library and see if they have any good books on wedding photography. I found a lot of great information by doing that. It can also give you good ideas for posing people. If you plan on doing formal pictures between the wedding and reception, tell them to leave plenty of time. I like at least 1 or 1-1/2 hours. That's if your doing B&G, wedding party, parents, etc.

Have a great time and don't get too worked up over it. Trust your equipment and yourself, you'll do fine!

Great info. Thanks for the reply. I think I tend to take pretty good pics, I am just nervous natured which causes most of the troubles! :)

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Originally Posted by LLMc

One major suggestion, go to the rehearsal! This is huge!

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How could I have forgotten that - thanks for bringing that one up! My first wedding was for friends so it wasn't any problem to go to the rehersal (could be kind of strange with people you don't know, but that's down the road anyway). Everyone will be more relaxed and will actually listen to you when you ask a question - especially the person officiating. :) It's probably best to try to talk to them before, but you may have last minute questions which can easily come up after seeing how things are done.

I'm glad I went because I found out the priest would be in the aisle, several rows back during the vows. That's exactly where I expected to be and it could have been a big problem - so instead I went to one side of the church instead. Knowing this in advance gave me time to think about it, and I figured out that I better be on the groom's side so the bride was facing towards me. Since this was my first, if I would have not known about this I would have just gone somewhere and had a 50/50 shot of chosing the right side. By the time I would have figured out I was on the wrong side it would have been too late (if it wasn't too late already). So - yes, I learned a lot from that rehersal!

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Originally Posted by RachelleFav

Hi guys. My future SIL asked me to take pics at their wedding. I am a total amateur, basically get lucky taking pics of my kids every now and then, but never did anything like this. They have budget issues so I suppose they think I can get decent pics for them for free. That makes me nervous! Anyway, I have a Nikon D70 with a flash bracket, a sb800 and sb600, and a telephoto lens, an 18-70mm lens, and a 50 mm lens. What is the best lens for this? The ceremony will be catholic mass inside a church and pics can only be taken of the procession and vows. The reception will be outside at someone's home under a tent but I'm told there are plenty of places indoors and outdoors to get pics. Any suggestions? Thanks!!!

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The problem is the light in the church. The 50mm lense even if it's the F 1.8 is still the fastest lense you have. With the 1.5 x it is a good fast portrait lense.

I'll definitely be at rehearsal to test everything out. Thanks!