Calling all photographers!!

[Melissa Bennett]

I need some help. I have the honor (I am terrified, LOL) to do the photos for my SIL wedding in August. I want to do them right. So what I need to know is what kind of lens should I use? I have a Nikon D50 with a Tamron 18-200mm 1:3.5-6.3 lens. Will that lens work, I want to shoot in manual mode. Also is there anything else I need? TIA!!

[heathergw]

do you have an external flash?

indoor or outdoor wedding?

[Melissa Bennett]

I just have the flash that is on the camera and the wedding is gonna be indoors but I will be taking some pics outdoors.

[Kara]

Seriously, get an external flash. Mine makes a HUGE difference in my indoor photos. I'm guessing you can rent them from the lens rental places. Have fun!!!

[ColleenSwerb]

I would rent an external flash (or 2, 3 if you can really swing it with some stands for them). Rent a lens that is awesome in low light (like a 50mm f/1.8 or 1.4, or similar -35mm, 85mm, etc). Any prime lens will do really, you just need them for the low light capability.

Practice, practice practice. Make your kids pose for you, scour the photography blogs, get her to make a list of all her "must have" shots.

[heathergw]

the Tamron will be too slow for indoor shots, so I'd probably get an external flash which would be cheaper than buying a fast lens that you might not use again... if you aren't wanting to buy anything expensive there are diffusers you can get for the onboard flash, but I personally think you'll love having an external flash... I use mine all the time even on really sunny days outdoors.

this is the one that I have and love Nikon SB-600 (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-SB-600-Speedlight-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0002EMY9Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1279042726&sr=8-1)

and I'd probably get a diffuser too, like this one (http://www.amazon.com/Sto-Fen-OMNI-BOUNCE-OM-600-Flash-diffuser/dp/B000HDFXU2/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I36WSB4ZR13JMP&colid=319O8OX9NVDE1)

and I would definitely get some practice beforehand with bouncing the flash off the ceiling and using the diffuser

[nesser1981]

First I'd say find out if the church allows you to shoot with a flash. Because they might not.

I did a wedding a few weeks ago, I shot with an external flash and a Gary Fong Lightspear. That worked ok. It wasn't great, the church had super high celings. If their church has low celings, just point the flash up and bounce off the celing.

Churches have terrible lighting, so unless your camera can handle really high ISO's, then even a super fast lens isn't going to help that much. I took my 85mm 1.8 and my can 24-70L 2.8 and I couldn't shoot with either of them without a flash. I have too much noise at ISO 1600 and it was pushing it with mine set at ISO 800. I need to upgrade my camera big time for weddings.

I would convince them Melissa to take all their formal shots outside. Try to find some open shade if its really sunny out so the sun isn't in their eyes too much. We did a lot of the formal family photos, etc inside and they aren't my favorites, but the ones of the bride and groom outside I loved!

Be sure you take an extra battery for your camera, shoot in raw so you can correct your White balance and exposure if you need to. And if you get an external flash, pick up 2 sets of recharagable batteries. They go through them light nothing.

[Kjersti]

Yes - get the external flash for sure and get a HUGE pack of the AA batters and change them all the time!! Weddings have such low light!

Will she let you shoot her bridals a week before the wedding? That would give you a trial run - especially if you want to test out a new external flash.

[Melissa Bennett]

Thank you everyone!! Off to do some research on purchasing an external flash and a new lens. I will be there a week before the wedding so I will be doing some shots before for practice and I will be practicing on my kids until then. LOL!

[nesser1981]

This is a pretty good book too Melissa. I've been reading it, very helpful.
http://www.amazon.com/Camera-Techniques-Digital-Portrait-Photography/dp/1584282584/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279052027&sr=8-1

[Melissa Bennett]

So would this lens work?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+-+Nikkor+50mm+f/1.8+AF+Lens/7650516.p?id=1134699413522&skuId=7650516

[nesser1981]

Yeah, that one will work Melissa.

[DawnMarch]

That lens will work, but be aware that with a fixed lens, you are going to have to "zoom with your feet" -- i.e., walk in close to get the close shots.

I agree that you really need to contact the church and find out their photography policies. Some don't allow flash, some don't allow you to walk in certain areas, etc. Once you know that, you'll have a much better idea of the equipment you'll need (fixed vs. zoom lens, how fast a lens, etc.). Either way, if they are having a reception indoors, you'll want to have an external flash that you either diffuse or bounce.

[chez]

you can also borrow lens beforing buying. which i do!

BorrowLenses.com

[Melissa Bennett]

Okay, if I have the external flash would the lens I have now be just fine?

[heathergw]

yes... and in case the ceilings are high, I would get the diffuser too

[ColleenSwerb]

Okay, if I have the external flash would the lens I have now be just fine?

It depends on the church's policies, but in my opinion I would say no.

I would go ahead and rent a lens or two and the external instead of buying. You can rent for long periods of time and it's more cost effective if this is going to be a one time thing.

[Shawna]

I'm a Canon girl so I don't know a ton about Nikon lenses. The 50mm is a great little lens and for the price I'd go ahead and buy it cause you'll get tons of use out of it besides the wedding. But since it's a one time deal I would also look into renting a speedlight (like the Nikon SB-600 that Heather posted) and a nice (expensive) fixed aperture lens like one of these two lenses -
Nikon 17-55 f2.8 (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-17-55mm-2-8G-ED-IF-Nikkor/dp/B000144I2Q/ref=sr_1_15?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1279064353&sr=1-15)
Nikon 24-70 f2.8 (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-24-70mm-2-8G-Nikkor-Angle/dp/B000VDCT3C/ref=sr_1_4?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1279064353&sr=1-4)

[nun69]

I just wanted to add to make sure to verify with the church that the pastor/minister will let you take pictures DURING the ceremony or if they will have to be staged after the ceremony...that could make a big difference in shooting I would think...my sister wa going to have pictures taken at her wedding and the minister said "no" to pictures during the ceremony but we could "stage" everything afterwards....I am another one for getting them to have shots talen outside :)

[Milmomma]

I would vote you go with them a couple times and scope out the place, scouting is a must to me. And I second the bride making a list of must have shots. We all have different ideas of what we want, and being on the same page is a great way to be ready. The equipment I would rent unless your gonna keep doing weddings. :)

[Melissa Bennett]

I would love to scout out the location, except it's in Texas and I am in South Carolina. I will be there 1 week before the wedding. I went ahead and got the external flash, I do plan on getting into photography so I look at it as an investment. Now to decide on a lens. Gosh, this is all scary since her one special day is in my hands for memory, gee no pressure. LOL!

[Beth Swann]

Melissa, I have your exact same camera and I have the 50 mm 1.8, too. If you decide to buy it, I would sooner purchase from B&H than Best Buy. It's cheaper and you get free shipping. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/247091-USA/Nikon_2137_Normal_AF_Nikkor_50mm.html

I was in your shoes last year in August when I photographed a wedding for the first time. I bought the lense mentioned above and I invested in an expensive 2.8 lense as well. And I agree with the need for the external flash! It will help sooo much!

Good luck! I hope it goes well!

[Joana1n]

Where in Texas is it? I'm in the Dfw area and could scout it out for you if it's in the area.

[Amber1279]

I haven't read all the response, and I am sure you have got some great advice. This topic just reminded me of a blog that I read recently.
http://www.nodakademic.com/2010/07/on-why-we-never-want-to-shoot-another-wedding.html

it will at least give you somethings to expect and she is pretty honest.