Terrified! (Gulp!) Shooting First Bridal Session

[Daylon]

Okay, you've gotta learn sometime, right? Well, I've been asked to shoot a bridal session, then stay for 2 hours to shoot candids at a reception. (The "big day" was months ago, this is a reception for friends and family locally)

The candids I can handle, no problem - it's the bridal ones I don't want to f'up. She's a friend and I just want to get it right. We'll be shooting TWO dresses, one a full on white traditional bridal, the other a highly colorful traditional Indian bridal gown.

Some *slight* issues:

1) I've never done this before
2) Have next to zero equipment (D200, SB800 w/ Gary Fong LS's, and 18-135mm lens)

What I'm planning (trying to keep it as simple as I can):

1) Purchase battery back, extra battery, flash bracket, sync cord, large reflector. Possibly the 50 1.4 if I can afford it ahead of time. (Possibly a tilting flash bracket from Azlo with the mini softbox setup? comments?)

2) Borrow / rent a 85 f/1.8, and a 70-200 f/2.8. Bring painters tarp as well...

3) The shoot will start at 3-4pm with the dinner / reception from 5-7pm at a restaurant called La Galleria in Ennis. So I'll have some natural light / window shots and some interesting backgrounds to work with.

3) if I can swing it, maybe rent / borrow a large softbox?

4) I have a decent idea of the shots I want to get but any and all help / pointers appreciated.

This is a beautiful blonde haired / blue eyed bride in a traditional Indian gown with all the extras.... would be a rare chance to photograph it if maybe a more experienced shooter would like to come with me as extra insurance just for the bridal stuff? I'd be willing to throw in some $$$ for your time / teaching experience

Questions:

Do my lens / equipment choice sound right? (for a minimal shoot, what do you guys normally bring?)

What am I forgetting?

MUCH thanks in advance!

D.

[HeatherLou]

Daylon, when is this?

[Davidtxs]

only advice i can tell you is DONT SING To em good luck

[PictureCow]

Tripod... sounds like you might have some nice natural light with the windows and all.

That lens doesn't sound like it's a fast lens so you'll want a tripod to be able to shoot "slower" without cranking up your ISO too much.

Good luck!

[Wes]

Check your PM.

[CaptainTom]

Daylon
My advice would be to keep it as simple as possible. Don't get a bunch of new equipment because you think it will give you better results.
A new flash bracket and cords, etc. is a good idea. But, test everything thoroughly before you use it for a client. Make sure you are completely comfortable with the equipment you have now, and make use of it.

I see and hear about so many photographers who buy a bunch of new stuff and they don't know how to use it, and it just gets in the way of taking good photos.

Getting someone with experience to help is a good idea. just KISS !

I would be happy to help you out if possible.

[Daylon]

THANK YOU! To Wes and Debbi for the PMs! (Very generous offers of lenses!)

This shoot is going to be Memorial Weekend - on May27th (Saturday). Would love to have someone come along if anyone's available - (preferably someone that's done a few bridals?!)

Oh, one other thing I need to add to the list - light meter.

Picturecow - you're right.. the 18-135 isn't fast at all, that's why I was going to try to get my hands on a 50, 85, and 70-200. I have shot with the 50 and 85 before, so I know the results I would get. I'd like to use as much natural light as possible for the bridals...and I'll definitely have a tripod!

CaptainTom - good advice as well. If I'm ever going to be "serious" the extra battery grip, flash bracket and cord are probably must-haves anyway. I haven't used a softbox before personally so I'm hoping I can rent one for the weekend and "test" it friday night before the shoot to play with it a little...

Davidtxs - how do you think I GOT this job? Lol!

Hmm. that 50 f/1.4 and the 85 1.8 are roughly the same price.. which would you guys choose?

Thanks again for all the help and advice!

D.

Also, do my lens choices make sense? (50 f/1.4, 85 F/1.8, and 70-200 f/2.8?) I didn't think that the 18-135 would be much use for this....

[HeatherLou]

Well phooey, if it had been the next weekend, I coulda helped out :) LOL I cant help much on the lens side (only cuz Im lusting after an 85 myself), but if you do get the flashbracket, the one your looking at is fantastic, I have a flip bracket also and LOVE it. Its a different brand then Alzo, but the name escapes me at the moment. Good luck! I know you will do well and cant wait to see what you come up with!

[Wes]

I would love to come along and help, but that's Memorial Day weekend and I've got family in from out of town.

As for which lens I would choose if the choices were the 50 f/1.4 or the 85 f/1.8..... I would definitely go with the 50. I borrowed an 85 f/1.4 from a buddy of mine once when I was the 2nd shooter for Killeenguy at a wedding. While the 85 is an awesome lens I found that I was constantly running out of room in tight quarters because I had to get far enough away for certain shots. The 50 (which I did not own at the time) would have allowed me to stay in a bit closer and would have worked better in some shooting situations.

BTW - I have a couple extra en-el3e for your D200 if you want to borrow them. Do you have the MB-200 battery grip? If you're going to go on a spending spree I'd add this to the list.

Don't know how comfortable you would be doing this, but have you considered some wireless solutions for your flashes so you can do some off-camera lighting (ala TriCoast)? I just picked up a couple of Pocket Wizards myself and these things are a blast!

[Daylon]

Well, the battery grip and extra batteries are a must - so they'll be bought in the next week or so.

Honestly I have NO experience using Pocket Wizards - just played around with the wireless flash capabilities of my SB-800 - I wouldn't know where to begin on a PW. Now if Brad can move his Basic Lighting Workshop up by about two week... ;-)

I've got an into Bridal Workshop and Brad's Lighting Workshop in June.. this should be a good prep for those i figure.

Thanks for the info on the 50 - I think it's pretty much the standard "headshot" lens, right?

D.

Originally Posted by Wes

I would love to come along and help, but that's Memorial Day weekend and I've got family in from out of town.

As for which lens I would choose if the choices were the 50 f/1.4 or the 85 f/1.8..... I would definitely go with the 50. I borrowed an 85 f/1.4 from a buddy of mine once when I was the 2nd shooter for Killeenguy at a wedding. While the 85 is an awesome lens I found that I was constantly running out of room in tight quarters because I had to get far enough away for certain shots. The 50 (which I did not own at the time) would have allowed me to stay in a bit closer and would have worked better in some shooting situations.

BTW - I have a couple extra en-el3e for your D200 if you want to borrow them. Do you have the MB-200 battery grip? If you're going to go on a spending spree I'd add this to the list.

Don't know how comfortable you would be doing this, but have you considered some wireless solutions for your flashes so you can do some off-camera lighting (ala TriCoast)? I just picked up a couple of Pocket Wizards myself and these things are a blast!

[Davidtxs]

daylon i have a 50 1.8 you can borrow if ya want its not the 1.4 since you will probably be shooting wide open they say the 1.8 is about as sharp at the 1.4 at wider apetures

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Daylon

This shoot is going to be Memorial Weekend - on May27th (Saturday).

Not trying to nit pick, but Saturday is the 26th. The 27th is on Sunday. I would be available the 27th with gear for you to use (80-200 2.8, remote fired Softbox, backup cameras, batteries, SB800, Quantum pack, etc.) I already have a wedding on the 26th.

[HotHolly]

Bridals are fun! They are actually my favorite type of shoot. Don't freak out! If I were in town that weekend, I'd help ya out.

If you want any tips - feel free to PM. Not sure what you need. I have a ton of bridals you could look at for ideas and a little e-book we give to our interns when they 1st go along on a bridal shoot. You want it? Its probably beneath you, but it has some tips in there about posing. Just PM me if you want it.

[Daylon]

Thanks for the help Hotholly! Beneath me? Obviously you've never met me .. (heheheh) Yes, I'll take all the help I can get. And I'll probably pester you with PM's as we get closer to the actual shoot.

Originally Posted by HotHolly

Bridals are fun! They are actually my favorite type of shoot. Don't freak out! If I were in town that weekend, I'd help ya out.

If you want any tips - feel free to PM. Not sure what you need. I have a ton of bridals you could look at for ideas and a little e-book we give to our interns when they 1st go along on a bridal shoot. You want it? Its probably beneath you, but it has some tips in there about posing. Just PM me if you want it.

[Daylon]

Thanks! Well, I'm in Boston til thursday, so I'll double check my calender when I get back to Dallas. I *was* pretty sure it was that Saturday....

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Not trying to nit pick, but Saturday is the 26th. The 27th is on Sunday. I would be available the 27th with gear for you to use (80-200 2.8, remote fired Softbox, backup cameras, batteries, SB800, Quantum pack, etc.) I already have a wedding on the 26th.