o._wagner

I am upgrading lenses from my Tamron 18-200. I shoot with a 20D. My budget

is roughly $1,700 so I'm getting the Canon 70-200 f/4 AND either the:

 

Canon 24-70 f/2.8

or

Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS

 

I can't decide. Since they are roughly the same price that is not a factor.

I don't shoot a whole lot of wide angle so I'm not *too* concerned about

losing that with the 24-70. I want image quality. Is the L glass *better*

than having the IS? I am a child photographer and assist with weddings in

case you're wondering.

 

I am also selling my Tamron and am thinking of getting an 85 f/1.8 or a

flash. I rarely use flash so I would rather rent that for an upcoming wedding

when I need it and have a nice prime lens.

Thanks guys, you're right. I guess I am just being too picky about what I show. You're your own worst critic, ya know? I need to just start making albums from start to finish for each decent wedding I do. I have done a lot of assisting so I know my way around a wedding. It just ends up being that my favorite "getting ready" shots are from one wedding, favorite "formals" from another, etc. I need to get over "my" favorites. I do have more couple interaction and people photos, like I said, I just haven't had my site updated.

My website is: http://www.oliviawagnerphoto.com

 

Wedding samples are dated (from last season) when I was just starting to assist and making next to nothing for $. My sis is the graphic designer and she just hasn't had time to update the pics. It's kind of nice because these clients wanted to meet with me after seeing the samples on my site not even seeing any of my recent work. I have gotten a lot better!

 

Thanks for the advice Aaron, I am from the Twin Cities as well. ;)

I have failed with 3 potential clients. They liked my work and loved my

website and set up a time to meet me in person. Each time, they looked

through my portfolio and liked the pictures but just weren't impressed overall

I guess. What would you say is lacking in situations like these? I show best

of and not a complete wedding. I know I need to do a complete album but just

haven't had "the" wedding yet to do so. Is this a huge factor? We seemed to

have gotten along okay and I was within their price range. What would you say

the ratio is for getting this far with a client and not "sealing the deal?"

 

I know I can't win everybody over but if a client goes as far as to interview

you, they like your work. What is it that really just grabs them? I try to

put myself in their shoes (I am married but never interviewed any photogs for

my wedding), and if I liked their work, I would definitely say personality

would win me over. When you only have 15 minutes to win them over, what do

you do? I am cheerful, present myself well, ask about how they met, etc.

I can't believe that my first experience with finally getting an L lens almost resulted in a law suit! How disappointed I would have been if I would have went with them to try to save a buck. I actually found the lens combo that I want cheaper at B&H vs. Amazon, even with shipping. I know B&H is reputable so no worries.

 

Thanks again Joe for showing me the light. All that research on the lenses, but I didn't take the time to research the seller itself.

 

On another note, do you think I'm making a good decision with the 24-70 and 70-200/4 combo? I know they are too great lenses and will cover basic photojournalism needs. I know there will be times where I will be missing the 2.8 IS in a dimly lit church during the wedding vows... but right now it's not worth the extra $1,000 in cost.

WOW! Thanks for the heads up about Express Cameras. I knew it had to be too good to be true. I guess I will order from Amazon. Good thing I hadn't placed my order yet!

I think I have it figured out. For roughly the same price as the 70-200 IS, I will get the 24-70/2.8 and the 70-200/4. I am getting the great walkaround lens and the L telephoto that I wanted. Sure, I will lust over the 2.8 IS but I think the 4 will be great for less cost and less weight.

 

I don't know if you have ever checked out this site for lenses, but they have great prices on brand new lenses.

 

http://www.expresscameras.com

 

I currently have the 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/4 in my cart for a subtotal of $1,598! The 2.8 IS goes for $1,499. That's up to $300 lower than I have seen it other places.

Craigslist! I started my photography business last year entirely from craigslist. It's free and you can target specific areas. Please tell me you've heard of it...

 

http://www.craigslist.org

 

Just click on your corresponding city to the right and post an ad! Sit back and wait for responses! I got my camera, posted an ad that night and by the following weekend I was shooting my first two clients!

I am new to this forum and have realized what a great resource it is.

Photography has been my passion for the past year since I've invested in my

DSLR. My current set up consists of a 20D, Tamron 18-200 f/3.5-6.3, and a

Canon 50mm f/1.8. My experience consists of candid family/child portraiture

and wedding photography. I have experience shooting about a dozen or so

weddings, three of which were entirely on my own. Nothing spectacular, but

your typical "budget" type wedding so I had no problem handling it on my own.

I am starting to get pretty decent, decent enough to know that my primary

Tamron lens sucks. I now have the opportunity to invest in a decent lens and

have been researching them for weeks upon weeks. I have almost decided on the

70-200 2.8 IS. I know this isn't a great carry around lens but it will

probably be the most expensive lens I ever purchase. So my question is, do I

get it now while we have the money to do so, or do I get maybe the 24-70 and

85 f/1.8 and dream about getting this lens down the road?

 

I know it would come in handy during my child sessions so that I can keep my

distance and shoot more photojournalistically. But with weddings, I know the

24-70 would be more practical. I just don't think I'll have this opportunity

to get the more expensive 70-200 if I wait and try to save up for it.

 

What's a girl to do?? I also know that I need to invest in an extra body,

flashes, and possibly some studio lighting, but that's down the road when I

actually start lining up more weddings of my own. Right now I have no use for

those things since I am primarly shooting child sessions outdoors and

assisting at weddings.

I assist for a studio that does this. They use Pictage. I have recently inquired with Pictage myself since I have my own weddings that I shoot and so far I've gotten lots of various emails from them along with a phone call "following up" my inquiry that I made. So far, they seem to be trying to sell me to death and now I'm not so sure that I'm interested in working with them. I will have to find some other online sharing/ordering system.

If you are going to pursue a serious career in wedding photography, I would seriously consider upgrading your camera body to a more professional one down the road. The Rebel XT is a consumer grade camera, not meant to hold up to the rigorous use of a wedding. A 20D would be a great "next step up."

 

The 24-70 f/2.8 is a great wedding lens because it covers the most used focal lengths in portrait photography. Anything you get with an f/2.8 is going to be a nice, bright, fast, lens. Some say that the 24-70 f/2.8 and the 70-200 f/2.8 are the perfect wedding lenses to have to shoot photojournalisticly.

 

Seriously consider upgrading your body. The Rebel XT is widely popular now with general consumers and I see guests at weddings using them all the time. How would it look for the "professional" photographer to show up shooting with a camera just like theirs?