My sister is getting married

<p>I have this lunch bag with a set of film Minolta Maxxum 70s and some doo-dads. I bought them new very cheap, that's my "go bag" for stuff like this and trips out for busines or vacations. I don't bring my good cameras, I want to have a good time not be "lens-sitting" my equipment. So I agree with any of the keep it simple suggestions, but I prefer having a short kit where I have some filters and another lens and other things to make some creative shots. Above all enjoy the party!</p>

<p>William - my 'do everything' kit is a 50 f1.0 and 35 f1.4. One of the nice things about a rangefinder is the lenses are faster and smaller than SLR equivalents. Both fit in pockets easily, and are good right from blasting sunlight down to a candle-lit darkness. Good intuition on the focal lengths :-)</p>

<p>In some respects a 75/2 and 28/2.8 would offer a richer range, but I find they're a little too slow to be fully versatile in low light.</p>

You're kidding, right? Walk her down the aisle, participate as a family member, and haul along enough equipment to make yourself miserable and piss off the paid photographer.

 

So when are you going to shoot? As you're having a drink, talking to Uncle Bob about equipment or doing the electric glide? I've done a couple of weddings for first cousins, and that was close enough on the family tree to make the experience schizophrenic. But my sister?

 

My point isn't about whether to make pictures or not. Bang away. But whether or not you participate as an adult and family member or as a slightly creepy one competing with the paid help. How about this: forget everything but one fast lens, maybe two but no more. Be a photographer and not a chameleon. Shoot the moments, the life, and let the chips fall. Not enough fill? So what. Too noisy? So what. Exercise vision and not technique. That's the beauty of being a guest. And you might very well end up with images that are unique, meaningful and entirely different from what the paid help is working to produce.

<p>On the wedding day, be in front of the camera, not behind it! This is your sister's wedding! Enjoy it and be IN the photos! Be part of the memories. </p>

<p>If you want to give your sister a gift of photography do it the day before or after the wedding! Enjoy and Cheers!</p>

<p>I agree, get in the photos and don't take them! My wife is always telling me that I'm not in any photographs. At a time where it's YOUR family what better time to loosen up and have fun with them and allow the other pro do the work. BTW I would have to make some comments about his gear. Have fun with it. v/r Buffdr</p>

<p>Alex: I didn't think you'd be battered down so quickly :) <br />Seriously - I am sure you will come back with some great shots and . . . I am sure you will have fun being outside your comfort zone. I guess you could leave the 10-22 secured in the car just in case, on the night, you decide we are wrong.<br /><br />(Aside): Neil - I am drooling at the "1.4" on the 35 and the "1" on the 50 . . . the 35/2 is smaller and when pushing Tri-X (remember that?) to ASA1600 was sufficient. I think the 35/1.4 is a bigger diameter and blocks some vision - anyway it is a bit longer, I know . . . but I am still drooling at the lens speed. . .<br /><br />WW</p>

 

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<p>Mark T will comment "man I hate that"</p>

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<p>actually i wouldn't care.. as long as they don't interfer with my job.....if they do.. then</p>

<p>"man i hate that"</p>

<p> Alex Elias- I was kidding, I don't have a sister, and I don't drink or smoke, after about thirty years of shooting weddings, I've hung up my boots now and retired, I'm very happy now to attend them as a guest because I thought it was time when the grandchildren of couples whose weddings I shot in the 1960s started asking me to do theirs !</p>

<p>here is another idea to throw in, since your 7D takes HD video, why don't you capture video? if you found a good spot or two, you could put it on a tripod and be in front of the camera. if I were a family member involved in the wedding, I would be focused on family and being involved, but if I felt the need to use a camera and want to be low key, I would want to use something like a G11, to me there is something about having a camera that you can fit in your pocket and still get good shots with.</p>

<p>It's often a struggle for the pro (even with help) to get through "formals," etc., with lighting gear to be set up, schlepped in and out of perhaps two or more locations, etc. in the limited available time. There's no way it will work with a second person trying to do so.</p>

<p>Put on the 24-70 and a flash and maybe a bounce card of some sort. Leave the rest at home. Maybe the 10-22. Futzing around with a big bracket may help on some pictures but is a distraction and added complexity. The rest of the family may already be trying to work out with your wife how to chain you to a radiator someplace.</p>

<p>I shall be taking a very discrete Panasonic LX3 to my next wedding I attend as a guest. It will make a nice change to carring a 5DMKII/70-200L/flashgun and a 5D with 24-105F4L, at the same time on my person, when I am the photographer. Happy days.</p>

<p>Interesting. My sibling is also getting married later this year... I was planning to taking my slr along, but I think I'll be cranking along with my QL17 now :)</p>

<p>Alvin</p>

Leave the cameras home and have fun drinking, eating, dancing, and maybe even taking a limo ride.

<p>Leave the cameras home out of respect for your sister. Be a professional family member for a change. You are walking her down the aisle so you are replacing her father for one day. It won't kill you to not take pictures. Besides. You will be in all of the ceremony shots. The only thing you could possibly shoot is the reception. </p>

<p>Your wife is wise. Try limiting your load to a bow tie, a gift and her. </p>

<p>Lee - You're a very wise man.</p>

<p>Bring a point and shoot, let the PAID photographer do their job (and not insult your sister by showing her that you don't respect her judgement to hire someone to do it right) and just enjoy yourself. Your a guest, you don't need anything more than a point and shoot, if that. Exactly what Lee said.</p>