mikec01 Loc: Georgia, USA

I have friends whose son is getting married. They cannot afford a professional photographer and, knowing that I mess around with photography, have asked me to take photographs. I am not a professional, only a semi-skilled amateur, and usually shoot wildlife or landscapes.
The equipment I have is a mirrorless crop-frame Canon. Lenses (not including extreme zooms and macro lenses) are an 18-400 mm f3.5-6.3; 18 - 150 mm zoom, 10 - 20 mm wide angle, 50 mm prime, 24 mm prime. I also have a decent tripod and a monopod. I don't want to buy more stuff for the event (I'm not being paid for it.) Any advice on lenses to use, useful web sites to peruse in advance, or other relevant info to help me do a half-decent job? Thanks

eagle80 Loc: Kutztown, PA

Stay away from it.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

The 18-150 and the 50 prime would be plenty of lens power. A TTL flash with a diffuser would be indispensable for fill light. Lite Genius has some decent YouTube videos for beginner flash users.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Did they hire professional catering?
Are they paying for a venue?

Besides not doing it, is it inside?
You don’t mention a Speedlight in your list of equipment.
You absolutely need one (or two) and need to know how and when to use it.
You may not be allowed to use it during the ceremony (usually don't then either), but it will be invaluable for groups, candids and fill flash outdoors.

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

Wow! You have no idea what you are getting into!

MW

Sorry to say this but the advice to decline the “job” is generally wise. I got sucked in to this once -and only once- with the result we never spoke to each other again.

Many people think any fool with a camera can photograph a wedding. The professionals who do are paid what that are paid for a reason.

Vietnam Vet

Similar situation when my wife and I got married. Her dad had a friend into photography and shot our wedding for $50.00. Everything turned out fine.
The 18-150 should cover most of your shots. The 50 is a much faster lens and you will need the wider aperture if the church is not lit very will.
Have fun.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Forget doing it all yourself. Get a four or five one-time use cameras and give them to select guests with instructions to take photos during the event. Collect them afterward, have the film developed for prints that you put into an album along with any images you made, and present the album as a wedding gift.

Stan

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

Honestly the very best advice is don’t do it! Weddings are hard. There is a reason Wedding photographers command the money they get. It’s more than knowing about how to take a good photo. It’s about knowing when to take the photo and who to photograph. It’s more about knowing how to deal with nervous brides and bridal parties unreasonable parents. And Uncooperative Wedding guests. Unlike shooting wildlife where if you miss the shot you can always come back another day and try again with a wedding you don’t get a second chance.
Most of the time these start out as a favor for a friend but end up as friendship ending events. Take a gander at similar posts.
As for equipment none of the lenses you have fall into the ideal for weddings catagory. You need fast lenses to start because of the lighting conditions. You usually can’t use flash in churches. Your 10-20 is wide enough to get group shots your 50 prime if it is a 1.8 is probably fast enough. You are missing a 70-200 2.8 which is pretty much a standard. Your longer lenses are too long. Your other issue is you only have one body. You will be missing shots while you are changing lenses. Again remember Weddings don’t allow you to come back tomorrow and give it another try.
If you are still insistent on doing it. What I would suggest is rent another body ideally a full frame and a maybe a 35-70 2.8 and a 70-200 2.8. Throw one on your body the other on the full frame. Carry the 10-20 in your pocket.
Well before the event visit the location or locations preferably during a Wedding and see what the lighting is going to be like. Maybe even see if you can get a peak at another photographers equipment that they are using at the venue. What happens on Wedding day if you get there and realize speedlights are needed? You don’t want that to happen. Load up on batteries and memory cards. You will be shooting thousands of shots. Plan to enlist the help of either a second shooter or at the very least a helper. You will need a second pair of hands. You never know for what but it will be good to have someone there. Lastly prepare yourself for the amount of time you are going to spend post processing your shots. You are going to take a lot of shots just the culling alone will take a lot of time.
Remember Free is Never Free. I have never shot a wedding my self. But on one occasion I was a second shooter at a wedding, there are a lot of us who consider ourselves “Pro’s”. I can tell you good wedding photographers are Major League. Here is what I would do if this were a really close friend or a relative. I would add up my costs of renting equipment, purchasing equipment, my time before during and after the shoot including all the post processing time. Then I would consider giving that amount as a wedding gift upfront to go towards the expressed purpose of hiring a wedding photographer. Think about that for a second. Is this that good a friend that you would give that much money as a wedding gift?
Just my opinion but what ever you decide I wish you the best of luck.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

You know the answer, run. Your gift should be paying for a professional wedding photographer for them. If you have to find other friends and relatives of these people to split the cost with. That way you will remain friends. Outside of your business, if the parents can't afford a photographer can the bride and groom afford to get married in 2020. Jobs, education, background. But that would be addressed to the families involved.

sabfish

You obviously plan to do this, so you might as well ignore the unhelpful advice about not doing it. A back up body is not a bad idea. I really don't think it needs to be full frame. Most people are not making huge blow ups.
I have done this many times and like you I am just a decent amateur photographer. It is hard work. Don't plan on enjoying the wedding. Hopefully you didn't agree to print the photos or prepare a photo book. I would give them a flash drive with the images (in JPEG) and be done with it.
The one piece of equipment you need to buy borrow or rent, in addition to a spare body, would be a decent flash with a bounce card or diffuser is essential for fill. Assuming you are talking about an APS-C sized sensor, I would stick with the 18-150 and 50. Maybe have the 24 prime handy.
You should get the couple to provide you a list of must have family photos. Tell them you will need to have a relative/friend who can corral the people you need for those must have family photos. It is like herding cats.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Very best response thus far...
"...Your gift should be paying for a professional wedding photographer for them..."
thank you for your wisdom and honesty Mike

mikec01 wedding photographers know it's not about kit it's about mastery of a wedding event...

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Would you hire yourself to shoot your own wedding?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Good luck

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Do a dry run at the place or church so you can see lighting and where you want to position yourself. I would shoot with the 18-400. Have a spare camera battery next to your body to stay warm. Think about the group individual images you want to take and review ahead of time with Bride and Groom to be.
Any other things PM me. I did wedding photography for 20 years. Good Luck