Thrust into the lungs of hell....

[Chiller]

Well...I knew my luck would run out turning down weddings. :(Now I have been thrown into the world of photographing a wedding. Here is the deal. A guy I have worked with for 25 years, has a daughter who is getting married. Seems the photographer they had backed out, returned the deposit, and blah blah. Today, I find an invitation to her wedding on my desk..with a little note attached..."Please bring your camera" So I called Babu(not his real name but he answers to it. ):biglaugh:He told me that they dont have anyone to take photos, and asked me to hang out with the video guy, and grab some shots. I pleaded that I can not shoot a wedding, as I dont have fast enough lenses, and experience.
He still seems to think I can do this. :batterup: He said he will throw some $$$ my way to rent a lens if I have to, which is where y'all come in. Right now I have ....
Canon 18-55IS, Canon 55-250IS, Sigma 10-20, Canon 50mm2.8, Canon 75-300. Nothing wedding worthy. My problem comes with the venue...it is indoors, and my other problem....it is a Muslim wedding. ( I can hear the chuckles now...:biglaugh:)
Any suggestions on something I can rent? Maybe?, or should I run....fast like crazy, and never be seen again. I have 2 weeks to think about this. :confused:

Thanks everyone. Appreciate you taking the time to read.

[Chris of Arabia]

and my other problem....it is a Muslim wedding. ( I can hear the chuckles now...:biglaugh:)

Try raucous, hysterical laughter and you'd be closer to the mark... :biglaugh:

I can't remember what body you use, but if you could get hold of one of the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM lenses, you'd have something you might be able to work around. I have one that is now sort of spare since gettng the 5DII, but it's in Riyadh and I don't have the box with me for transporting it anywhere - Jeanne could have carried it back to Rutland for me otherwise.

[Overread]

RUN RUN RUN!!!!!

failing that do you have a flash and diffuser? That could be key if you can't get hold of glass and even if you can it would be a good backup for darker rooms and such - when you are allowed to use it - so that you don't have to have every shot taken wide open (which really puts pressure on you to perfectly nail the focus!).
Make sure you also look into diffusers as well for whilst many times you can bounce the flash of a wall, there will be times when you can't and then some diffusion method is key to avoiding the harshness of naked flash

After that the 24-70mm f2.8L is almost the standard wedding lens used - this lens would probably be your best one to higher to give you that fast aperture and flexabilty of a zoom.

[kundalini]

I don't know Canon gear too much, but here's another thought. Since Babu is willing (and has his deposit returned) to spend the money, how about renting the (I really don't know the numbers) 5DMKII (for high ISO and low light shooting), a 24-70 f/2.8 and a 70-200mm f/2.8 to cover all the focal lengths you might need. You can use your camera as the second.

I have used this combination on a couple of ocassions where I had the 24-70 on my D700 with a Black Rapid camera strap (http://www.blackrapid.com/) and the 70-200 mounted on my Manfrotto 685B monopod (http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa199/kundalini2737/658B-Momopod-web.jpg)with the D300. It really is a pretty sweet setup for firing two cameras without a lot of fuss.

You are talented and clever, so even if you're not a wedding photog, this will increase the odds of not missing shots.

Just my 2¢.

[Chiller]

Thanks y'all . Appreciate your comments. I have three Canons....the 350, an xt, and an xti. I only have one Sunpak flash unit, so Im leaning towards a second. This is far off my comfort zone, and I have told Babu, that he is only going to get glorified snapshots if Im lucky, but I would like to at least do my best.
I have jotted down the lenses and see what I can score, and want to fire off some low light shots, so Im not going in there raw.

Thanks again..your awesome. :salute::redwine::toast:

[JC1220]

First: Figure out if YOU really want to do this, it appears you have the talent to do it so I would not worry about that.

Second: Did you get the invite at the same time as everyone else, or only after the photographer backed out?

Third: And, depending on what the above answers mean to you; Forget renting, figure out what it will take to get the equipment you need in time, used or new, and charge for it. If you don't want any more compensation above that other than prints, at least you have some new equipment. I am pretty sure any wedding photographer worth their weight will charge much more than the equipment cost.

[ann]

why am i amazed at the nerve of some people. am sorry you have been put in this position.

[Terri]

You are talented and clever, so even if you're not a wedding photog, this will increase the odds of not missing shots.

Just my 2¢. Add mine to that. See? You have a cheering section as well as four pennies backing you. Why worry? :mrgreen:

But seriously, don't get wigged out over it. Keep reminding yourself it's all being videotaped for posterity. You were asked at the last minute to step in and get what you can. So, they get what they get. :razz:

You are smart to practice some low light shots. See if you can also get into the church, or at least scope the grounds, in advance for a few ideas for shots. Make sure you have backup batteries, cards, etc. The 75-300 sounds like the closest thing to a portrait lens, which is really what would be nice to have. Get in tight for some bridal portraits, looking down at her flowers or whatever. Make a list of routine wedding shots (bride with bridesmaids, bride with parents, ditto with groom) and see if there will be any special guests (favorite relatives visiting from out of town or whatever) the B&G want to photographed with. Get names, make a list of shots, stick to it, and you will have done your job. If there is any family member or friend (best man?) who wants to help round people up when you're ready for the group shots, it will make things go faster.

More positive thoughts:

It will be over before you know it! :cheer:

Whatever you give them will be better than what they would have had if you didn't agree to do it. :sillysmile:

You're being a good friend. :toast:

[doenoe]

well, i cant help you with ideas on lenses and stuff, but i wish you the best of luck :thumbup: :)

[Chiller]

First: Figure out if YOU really want to do this, it appears you have the talent to do it so I would not worry about that.

I honestly dont mind as long as they understand my capabilities, which Im sure they will. They have seen my work, and know I have never shot a wedding.

Second: Did you get the invite at the same time as everyone else, or only after the photographer backed out?

I was verbally invited, but there was no mention of the camera, till after the other photographer backed out. If you knew Babu....he just forgot to give me the card invite. :biglaugh:

Third: And, depending on what the above answers mean to you; Forget renting, figure out what it will take to get the equipment you need in time, used or new, and charge for it. If you don't want any more compensation above that other than prints, at least you have some new equipment. I am pretty sure any wedding photographer worth their weight will charge much more than the equipment cost.

They dont even want any prints. They just want me to put the stuff on a disk, and they will look after the prints....Babu is a printer. As for the renting, I just dont think my lenses are fast enough, and would rather be prepared , then go into a dark hall with what I have.

why am i amazed at the nerve of some people. am sorry you have been put in this position.

Thank you Ann. I have known Iram(Babus daughter) since she was a youngin, so to help out the family is cool with me. Im just concerned about the equipment Im going into the fire with. Also with my lack of experience shooting a wedding. There is no church or anything like that. Everything is done in a banquet hall, which is one of my concerns about the faster lens.

Terri....Thanks for the support. After chatting with Babu, Im getting the feeling they want informal, candid type shots. The low light is what concerns me. Everything is very short...starts at 6:30 on a Friday night, and dinner is at 9pm. They better not be strapping my arse in one of those gowns and a little hat thingy for dinner. :biglaugh::biglaugh: Another co worker said...."look on the bright side..you might meet some rich oil kings girl, and be well off for the rest of your life, and own all the equipment you want" Oh my. :biglaugh:

Thanks again everyone. I have jotted down some info. Much appreciate all your comments and kind words.

[Artograph]

*Ugh*!!!! :mad: ...I'd 'kill' to have you do my wedding!!!!! :razz: Well, he he heee...maybe not "kill".....more like mame....:twisted:...no, no, no.....but I'd sever my right baby toe for your prop collection to do my wedding!!!! :mrgreen: LOL!!

(Good thing I'm already married--planning on it being the 1st and only time-- :sexywink:....I get to keep all my toes!!!!)

But really...a Chiller-style wedding shoot.....just think of it.....the bride coming down the isle....in a beautiful white coffin!!!! LOL!! Coooooool!!! :whip:


Seriously,....?? You'll do great!!!! :hug: Can't wait to see the shots!!!!!!!

[PhotoJet]

I'm going to throw in my 2 cents as well and say that you'll do fine. ;)

A banquet hall might actually be a better setting than a mosque/church, as you may have more light available. See if you can get there before the ceremony at about the time of day /night of the ceremony to see what sort of white balance you'll need to do and what sort of ISO you'll need. Also find out if there are any religious restrictions about what you can shoot or not shoot.

These things may prove more important than gear! :) Be sure to post something here! I'm in a similar pickle in a couple weeks. :( (Just so you know ... misery loves company!) :lol:

[invisible]

I feel your pain and I wish you the best of luck. Also, I agree with kundalini's suggestion about renting a camera with very good high-ISO performance –it'll make your life so much easier. For samples, check kundalini's night shots with the Nikon D700.

[renegade]

We tend to agonize over these things when they come up because we have high expectations of ourselves when the friend only wants some memory shots because the paid photographer backed out. I think they will be happy with whatever you do. I have several times spent money on a favor to make everthing right when in retrospect I would have been ok with what I had. Good Luck. I understand how you feel.

[KMann]

So, how did it go?

[Terri]

I've been wondering about that, myself.... :razz:

[Chiller]

The good news is....the photographer who was supposed to shoot the wedding had a change of heart at the last minute, and the better news, was I got to keep my camera in the bag where it belonged. :biglaugh:

[Terri]

The good news is....the photographer who was supposed to shoot the wedding had a change of heart at the last minute, and the better news, was I got to keep my camera in the bag where it belonged. :biglaugh:Ha, you squeezed out of it! :lol:

But...I would still have been interested in seeing what kind of shots you made. :sexywink:

Maybe someone will snag you again someday.

[invisible]

But...I would still have been interested in seeing what kind of shots you made. :sexywink:

http://sp3.fotolog.com/photo/51/58/123/lennusk/1219602250499_f.jpg

[Terri]

:biglaugh:

[Chiller]

NIce. I wish my pics turned out that good.:biglaugh: I only took a few of the first wedding, but the second wedding, where there was no pressure, I put them in my 52week themed thingy. :toast:

[Manaheim]

http://sp3.fotolog.com/photo/51/58/123/lennusk/1219602250499_f.jpg

bahahahha... perfect. :lol:

[Chiller]

bahahahha... perfect. :lol:

yeah, yeah.....if I had a wedding like that to shoot, I wouldnt mind. :biglaugh::biglaugh: