heather_dillon

Thanks for asking this question, I was looking into getting one from my D40x! Thanks for the responses Raf.......

 

Eric - Some people actually WOULD put a spoiler on a Kia....what's it to you??? If you have a Ferrari with a spoiler and I have my Kia, we will both still get from point A to point B and we both look good doing it :)!!

David - that's fine, I understand that I wasn't clear about having a back-up and I know that it is very important to have one. Hopefully in several months I will upgrade one of my d40x's...but until then I am content :) I really appreciate ALL the advice!

Thanks for all the advice so far. I already have a backup camera - a d40x also. I don't mind sticking with the AF-s lens for now, as I know they will be releasing more AF-S options - or at least I hope!

 

Anyway, I think that I will go with the 30mm f/1.4 for now!

 

Thanks again for the responses....

I have a Nikon D40x and I have the Nikkor 18-55mm Af-S kit lens and a 55-200mm

f/4-5.6 VR lens. I am searching for a third lens for shooting weddings and I

want a nice wide-aperature that I can shoot in low light. I am looking at either

the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 HSM lens or the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 HSM lens. I would

prefer one of these two since they will autofocus with my D40x and they are in

my price range. I have about $400-$500 to spend. I am also considering a Nikon

50mm lens that I would have to manually focus.....any suggestions???

If you do a search on first weddings I bet you will find about 100 questions just this past year. You will also find some very good advice pertaining to equipment, to posing, to lighting, and much more.

 

"In all fairness, considering all of these posts, the first timers could help themselves out a lot more and do a search first to see all of the posts in the past! In light of the first time questions, most of the long time pros here routinely give valuable input and professional insite day after day after day. Some of these pros have 40 years of experience, Masters degrees, and lets face it you cannot teach lighting, poses, formals, candids, church rules, different religions, contracts, what to buy, and much, much, more in a paragragh or 2, compared to some pros with this kind of experience."

 

It's funny, because I have researched and searched and most of the questions that are more recent have responses from "pros" that just want to rip the newcomer apart and crush their dreams instead of good advise. I don't understand why a pro would feel the need to be on a forum such as this if they don't want to HELP. We (newcomers) have already heard a THOUSAND times to give up and let a "professional" do the job. I was asking for those people who went against that "advise" and succeeded.

Hi I am a newcomer to wedding photography. I shot as a second photographer at my

sister's wedding last month. I have been asked to shoot a wedding for a friend's

daughter in June. I have seen and read about many people asking for advice

before shooting their first wedding. Most of the advise was to not shoot it or

call a "professional". But I would like to see examples or hear stories of those

who successfully shot their first wedding solo. Surely there are some out there!

I did a search but most of them were so old (2004) that the links didn't exsist

anymore.

 

So anybody have some good and/or bad first wedding experience, I would like to

hear them!

THanks again Wayne for your help. The only problem I have with keep the reflector close to the subject is most of time my subject is a child and they want to grab the reflector or touch it :>) But thank for the link and the suggestion!

Wayne, if you are still watching this thread......

 

I chickened out with the full-force alienbee set. I ended up just purchasing 1 AB400, light stand, 48" shoot-through umbrella and a 48" Brolly Box. I have been playing with it and am having a little trouble - mainly because I am just practicing in my dining room on my rowdy kids. But I have a question. Can I take decent portraits with 1 light and a reflector (which I purchased from B&H)? I would like to get familiar with my Alienbee before purchasing additional lights (and I need to save some money right now) I am asking for the Sekonic L-308S Flashmate for Christmas from my husband. SO, what do you think, can I get by for a little while with that? You have been so much help already. After doing TONS of research and reading, I went back and re-read your posts and they all make sense now. Thanks for being so patient with a newbie like me and for spending time to share your knowledge....

Charles - I guess you got the wrong portfolio - I don't have any yet - But I am working on it!

 

Fred - I am trying to get some ready to post - I stay pretty busy with a boy in Kindergarten and 15 month old daughter :) But that said - I have some beautiful subjects to photograph :)

 

I will post some really soon - I promise!

Thanks you guys, a couple of you I have learned alot from by reading through your answers to questions (I do use the search when I can). You all are not the ones I am referring too, but have no fear (lol - that sounds like a cartoon) I am not going anywhere.

 

I really like these forums and I know that the good out-way the bad. I am not really saying they are bad; however, they just don't know how to humble themselves when answering a question.

 

But thanks again to all of you that are helpful AND courteous!

Okay some background first......I am a married mother of 2 small children and

have not worked outside the home since my daughter was born 15 months ago. I

have always 'played' around with photography and considered it a hobby. Well the

cards have played out just right for me and I am starting a photography

business. I have a Nikon D40 and am in the process of purchasing studio

equipment - Lights, meters, backdrops, monitor calibration system and so forth.

So I thought I would use this site for helpful information....

 

What I found is this:

 

Alot of people offer great advise and are very courteous with their answers and

straight forward - that is very helpful and I have learned a great deal from them.

Thanks to all of YOU!

 

Others, seem to get aggitated with those of us asking questions, because, then

they start assuming we are idiots and attacking our knowledge or our decision to

even try photography. It is great to have so many talented photographers with

such great experience to learn from, but why do they feel the need to put

everyone else down. Not all of them are this way - but some.

 

Even the greatest had to begin somewhere AND there is always someone that is

greater.....

 

 

Just my observation - and was wondering if anyone else felt the same way?

I will not be printing my own prints, but sending my digital images to Mpix for

my prints. Therefore, what device do you all suggest for calibrating my monitor

colors with the colors that Mpix will use?

 

What do any of you that use MPix use for calibration purposes?

 

I don't want to spend a bunch of money, yet I want something that will work well.

Awesome Barry!

 

Your site helped me to understand lighting tremendously!!! THanks so much for sharing!!! I spent a couple hours today reading through it and things make so much better sense to me!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

 

It is very informative.....job well done!

Thanks so much for asking this question - I was wondering the same thing. I love my D40 too!!!

 

Avi - are the photos in your portfolio taken with your D40? They are fabulous!!!!

Do I really need one of those foam posers?

 

Also, I know by taking my kids in the past to a studio for portraits they have

placed the baby up on a table......do they use a regular card table? What kind

of tables to you all use to elevate the children being photographed????

 

And what kind of chair/rocker is best and cheapest for getting some great shots

of young children?

 

What sources to you all suggest on purchasing such items?

 

Thanks in advance!

Hey there! I was looking for a professional lab to process my digital prints. I

would like to know what places you all use and who you recommend. I was thinking

about using www.mpix.com - are there any other suggestions???

 

I would love to hear some!

Wayne....it IS a wonderful opportunity and I am hoping to take full advantage...as they say, "Carpe Diam" This has been a dream of mine for many years and I am in shock that is actually happening.

 

As much as you have helped me, if you were in my area - I most certainly would :)

Well, he is like a father to me and is not going to charge me rent until I get going really well. Even then, he is going to probably just swap out (I take photos for him in return for rent). So it is no biggy money-wise for that. My only expense right now is my equipment.

 

I would start out at my house, but I really don't have a spot for it - well not that I want to give up for it. Plus, I have 2 small kids that I would have a hard time keeping out of it. And since he is offering - I am going to take it.

 

Thanks again for your help!

Okay so right now in my cart (Alien Bees) I have 3 B400 flash units, 2 10' light stands, 1 backlight stand, 2 48" shoot-thru umbrellas and a "white shovel" reflector......now what size room is required for this? My old boss is going to let me rent a room in one of his buildings and there are 3 or 4 rooms for me to choose from - some require more work than others to get set up, but the size may be the deciding factor.....

"If you have a background screen, then a background light really is often an important factor, to make it "be right". We can really change a background with light. But with just two lights, the background could still be the Christmas tree or the fireplace, like regular snapshot settings, but with really nice lighting. The light does fall off fast with distance behind (2x distance is 1/4 light, 2 stops down), but that can help sometimes too. Normally a lighted background is back farther to prevent interactions. A close unlighted background (using screen or not) is much brighter, but can cause shadows. However, with an umbrella (large), the shadow is weak and diffuse, and with two umbrellas, one fills in the others shadow, and it generally disappears."

 

What light do you suggest for a background light? A continuous lamp?

Alisa, Thanks for posting too and I am glad you benefited from this thread as well as I did. I will definitely post some pictures once I get my new studio set up with hopefully a couple AlienBees :)

Again Wayne - thanks so much - you have helped me tremendously!!! I did not realize you could customize the packages for Alienbees. I was unsure - although had an idea - about the different umbrellas. Thanks for helping out with that!

 

At first I was going to just get something cheap to get started, but you have made me realize that I should get something that is going to work and something that is going to last. I really appreciate your helping a little ole' newbie like myself. Most people wouldn't take the time to do so.

 

I will keep looking and researching and reading and let you know what I decide on - again - I can't thank you enough!

or this one?

http://cart.owens-originals.com/V-300-600-W-S-UMBRELLA-KIT-p/v-600umb.htm

Wow! Thanks Wayne! I really appreciate your help! Now, do you have any books on photography/studio lighting that you recommend? Or website tutorials. Those articles that you mentioned were very informative. I really feel like I know lots more about photography than I did yesterday.

 

So, what do you think about this kit? http://cart.owens-originals.com/DL-360-PHOTOGRAPHY-LIGHTING-STARTER-KIT-p/92301.htm

Wayne - Nevermind I see that the modeling light is 'built-in' to the AB-400/800? SO, I have been checking out their packages. Is a one-light setup good for starting out? Will it be difficult to keep from casting shadows in the background with just one light? Or can that be remedied with just a simple reflector? I really appreciate your help!