wedding photography gear - Would like to go pro

[Wannbephotog]

Hi, I'm an amateur who would like to make the jump to doing portrait and possibly wedding work.

Could anyone please tell me what equipment you think is essential for doing the job?

Thanks...Wendy

[Marko]

For me it would all depend on how much experience you have as the word 'amateur' could also mean to some people that you have zero real photography experience.

So if this is the case.... first off I would get the cheapest fully manual SLR camera possible to learn on. That could be the Pentax-K1000. You should also know the relationship between shutter speed, film speed and aperture. (There's a good in depth article on this site here)
http://www.photography.ca/phototips/phototips1.htm

If you know this already then ok here are my personal suggestions on good wedding photography gear.

A higher end autofocus SLR either digital or non digital with good lenses. A good external flash that would go into the hotshoe.

Some type of lighting kit. This could either be small portable units (Like Quantums) OR 2 or 3 heads that plug into a battery like unit that plugs into the wall (Like Norman or Novatron) OR Heads that plug into wall and have slaves that make them all fire together.

A light meter - probably an incident AKA ambient light meter

Tripod

Another autofocus SLR and flash to be used as backup.

Maybe a backdrop and stands to hold it up.

A nice suit

So I hope that helps. Any semi-established wedding photographer would have easily spent close to 10,000 on gear. That's why I always say start slowly UNTIL you are ready to make that kind of investment.

Marko
ADMIN

[tegan]

Keep in mind that strictly speaking one does not "jump" into either portrait or wedding photography.

There is a considerable amount of learning involved in both in the area of technique and composition in setting up shots and postprocessing, as well as the business skills of marketing and dealing with clients and the people you are shooting.

Tegan

[murphyimages]

Hello My name is Justin,
My website is www.murphyimages.ca

Even though I shoot with a 1DS and a 1D mark 2. My first and olny suggestion when it comes to equipment and starting out is. Always have a backup, camera and always backup your data.

Justin Murphy Calgary, Alberta

[tegan]

Hello My name is Justin,
My website is www.murphyimages.ca

Even though I shoot with a 1DS and a 1D mark 2. My first and olny suggestion when it comes to equipment and starting out is. Always have a backup, camera and always backup your data.

Justin Murphy Calgary, Alberta

Good point. The one time I decided to go light in Mexico without carrying my backup equipment was the time that a plastic piece in the interior shutter mechanism broke.

Tegan

[8ball]

i took a lot of picture from my sisters wedding and all i gotta say is i got drunkkkkkkk and probably the photographer took pictures of me everytime i went for a refill i was getting the camera and photo all in my face