Wedding Photography 102
It is amazing to me how much easier, yes I mean easier wedding photography is with digital cameras and the new generation of flashes.
3 Responses to “Wedding Photography 102”
It is amazing to me how much easier, yes I mean easier wedding photography is with digital cameras and the new generation of flashes.
3 Responses to “Wedding Photography 102”
John Walz says:
October 14, 2009 at 6:46 am
When I earn money it’s usually for shooting weddings and I am usually shooting film, and it is usually HP5. Your note makes it sound like any drunk monkey with the right camera can shoot a wedding. Shooting any event has to do with sensitivity to the event, an ability to see the whole and the pieces that create that whole and then the pieces that define those pieces- It then has to do with framing those moments in a way that accentuates the action while keeping the emphasis on the event not the photographer. A photographer, to do well needs to deal with exposure and light etc. intuitively so the bulk of the mind can be in the moment anticipating the action before it happens. Equipment is a concern, I suppose but so far down the list it shouldn’t matter. Film has some latitude and any experienced photographer using the same film and cameras for a period of months or years should be able pre-visualize without the aid of a digital back. I agree that digital has changed things to some degree but anyone making great pictures now could have done it fifty years ago and Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, and Garry Winogrand would have no problem with digital. So has digital raised the terrible to mediocre by allowing them to see and make changes? maybe but who wants to take time considering the average to below average photogs?
Anyway Greg, I like the blog and just wanted to throw my two cents or cent and half in, whatever the case may be.
<fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="697460501">Greg Ceo</fb:name> says:
October 14, 2009 at 9:58 am
Hey Jon, Yes, you are correct, I love this where you wrote: “Shooting any event has to do with sensitivity to the event, an ability to see the whole and the pieces that create that whole and then the pieces that define those pieces- It then has to do with framing those moments in a way that accentuates the action while keeping the emphasis on the event not the photographer.” OK, but I’m approaching it from the perspective of someone who’s shot a lot of weddings. To me the wedding happens and that is the story, the “Bride” is the story and I can “Tell” that story if I just follow the action.
In terms of gear, if you are happy with your film, excellent! But for me, the Canon 5D MKII has so much latitude when the files are processed in “Camera Raw.” When I am shooting, I know what I am getting and I can “Test” and “See” what I am getting. I shoot a little bit more than I did with film, and I definitely edit more. I used to shoot with Tri-X and get good results. I’m just having a much better time shooting weddings with digital. I mean, wow, I can change my ISO from 100 to 800 without changing film. I can shoot a lot of frames without changing film. I don’t have to change to a medium format camera when I shoot the formals (which I used to do) and this means I don’t have to load a medium format camera back with 220 film several times (and worry about light leaks.) I edit in bridge and lightroom and I just really enjoy the process.
John walz says:
October 16, 2009 at 10:41 am
I shot a wedding for a photographer about three weeks ago and he insisted I shoot digital so I did shoot some- (nikon d2x) and still shot film too.
Digital changes and improves the workflow, but end result is a print, and I think you have to keep in mind “what is the best looking most archival print I can get to”, not “what is the easiest way to get there”. The wedding I shot 2 weeks ago I again shot some digital and it has for me replaced 35mm color film- I still shoot 220 in the Pentax 6x7s and Fuji Ga 645s and some 120 in my Noblex and Holga- and HP5 in my Nikon F5s as for reloading during formals I just bring 3 or 4 medium format camera bodies and have them pre-loaded. I don’t allow my assistant to shoot she is there to set up lights carry gear etc. I feel I am selling my creativity and imagination ability etc. I shoot a lot events most of them weddings and every wedding has different feel a different flow some are similar – but to command big money you have to bring your best, most alert, most creative self every time. I really work hard to spend time with the people to be there early to understand the relationship with friends and family, and charge enough that I know my time that day and in the darkroom or at the computer are covered.
Pre-visualization is a big deal to me and photogs constantly looking at the screen drive me nuts- I really try to shoot digital like film without constantly looking at the screen. I just prefer shooting 35mm black and white film, and feel confident i can see the print when i push the button. I got into HP5 when I was at scad and have to have shoot somewhere around 5000-6000 rolls of it since then-I should by now be comfortable enough with it to know what I’m doing. Because now everyone has digital equipment and shoots digital being the only guy in my market shooting “real” b+w I have found a niche and am able to charge a premium, obviously if everyone did it it wouldn’t work – So shoot on and i will do the same