lbrandt79 Loc: League City, Tx.

A wedding is important and the pics are precious memories, but to indicate that it can be done by anyone is true, it can, but not as good as a pro.
They are are pros for a reason, they can do it better, they charge obscene prices for a reason.
Stop it, people who do this for a living do it because they know what they are doing.
Send us a great shot from that three year old, please.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

I have done some weddings in the past. Many for friends and relatives. However, the stress of any wedding shoot was way too stressful for me - my thinking of NOT really getting The Shot at The Time it occurred. I stopped - not only for friends but EVERYONE. I do Not Do Weddings at all.
The only "Weddings" that I do now are anniversaries and other group events. the Real Wedding was just too nerve racking for me.
For a photographer, weddings are were the money is. And there is a lot of competition.
Weddings, Sports, and a few other aspects of photography require that your knowledge of the way to get things done IS the key. With all due respect I would suggest that you would work under the experience of a "seasoned" Photographer. And READ EVERYTHING about this field of photography. Do a LOT of practice shots, and stay calm.

Good Luck -

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Larry, it's guys like you that run people off this forum.
It wasn't the painting I was showing off, it was the picture
of the painting, no tripod, no lighting, no flash and the camera on auto, with a telephoto lens. That is what I was
trying to convey to the guy, he can take good pictures under any circumstance and you doesn't have to be a professional.
You guys are just to critical of people that just simply want
HELP. The painting was there and it was better than taking
a picture of my room, I don't get out much, 71 years old.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

What EVER Eartha does, I hope that she doesn't take you seriously

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

There are people posting here who have no idea how important wedding pics are - to the couple, to their parents and to others

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

With all due respect, photographing a wedding is less about technology and mostly about understanding exposure, lighting, and composition. Its a learned skill. Just because your grandson can get a decent exposure with a T4i, doesn't mean he can shoot a wedding. The OP wants professional looking results, not mediocre holiday or family snapshots.

billwassmann Loc: Emerson, NJ

The idea of having to use expensive glass simply isn't true. There have been weddings photographed for 100 years or more and the lenses weren't what they are today. (Mine was shot with a 4x5 Speed Graphic in 1954.) Saying you need expensive glass justifies what they spent and they spent it, at least in part, to demonstrate their "professionalism". It also justifies the high fees they charge. What is more important to the couple is that their moments are preserved. This is why some people put out single-use cameras at the reception.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I've been a full-time pro for the last 35 years & having been a staffer for a daily newspaper, my own commercial work, and now a nice university gig, which allows me to continue doing freelance work, nothing gets me as nervous as a wedding.
It's not the new technology, it's about knowing how to use instinctively whatever camera you have to capture the event. Camera familiarity aside, the usual challenges are still there. It's about knowing how to deal with the unexpected when things go wrong, as they often do. (Do you have a back-up body & flash?) It's knowing how to deal with difficult mixed lighting and using flash so it doesn't look like an amateur shot it. It's about knowing how to deal with that white wedding dress in a sea of black tuxedos and still get a good exposure. The wedding could be outside at noon. Know how to use fill-flash outside?
Candlelight service at night? I wouldn't dare try available light with the bottom-end equipment the OP has.
Shot lists only help you know what should be photographed, not how to deal with the above mentioned challenges and more.

To the OP- you are right to be scared stiff.

Now having said that, I don't even know where our own wedding album is, (kind of like the plumber's house with leaky faucets), but your bride and groom may care for many years.
If you shoot it- good luck.
You'll need it... as everyone does.

lbrandt79 Loc: League City, Tx.

Thanks, ebbote, that is all I was getting at, you explained your great picture, you just did not at the beginning, I am not trying to run anyone off of this forum, but admit, it was misleading at the beginning, and again it is a great shot but to a newbie it meant nothing. Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

LaughBrian Loc: Tn

you need to grow up and move on this is for leaning not a place for you to feel you are better than anyone get over yourself. your not that usefull to anyone here. just another troll that should be deleeted.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Thanks, I have a very thick shell. If I didn't have a thick shell, I would have run off when I first joined the forum,
made the mistake of asking which was better, Nikon or
Canon, boy did I open up a can of worms. People don't
realize that we join these forums for HELP, not a tongue
lashing.

ROCKY JA Loc: Living in Burnsville, Minnesota

I agree with Transey.. Weddings are hardball. A good wedding photographer, most know pose everyone at the alter, and finish shooting before the priest says you're taking to long, you have to know what to shot first and when. what if your camera breaks? do you have an extra? Same goes with the flash. what will you do, when you need to reload film just as the bride and groom kiss?? sorry, you missed it. What I'm saying is, it's a major responsibility. are you fast at posing groups?? Did you miss granddad... or the mother???

Other then that, it's a piece of cake.... Good luck.

Rocky

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

you read my post wrong, I said experienced photographers can use entry-level glass and get some nice results BECAUSE they know what they are doing and how to read light properly (plus add and subtract light where they don't need or want it) an inexperienced/newbie to the photography field with no additional lighting or knowledge of how to use off camera lighting is not going to get anything but sub-par quality images using entry level glass on an entry level camera body (the Rebel XTi is entry level and actually an older body at that).

The Rebel XTI maxs out at an ISO of 1600 and the 40D has a max ISO of 3200, but even if the OP uses the highest ISO settings for each camera, the noise will be very noticeable. The 40D can in real live be pushed to an ISO of 800 before the noise renders the image unusable, the XTi around an ISO of 400, couple that with entry level lenses and there is no way the OP will be able to up his shutter speed to stop movement in a low light setting and still get a properly exposed image.

lbrandt79 Loc: League City, Tx.

Me too.
I am a native Houstonian and love your W. Cronkite pic, had you given all that great info with it would not have said a word.
Regards. Larry

ROCKY JA Loc: Living in Burnsville, Minnesota

If you do the wedding...scout out the location in advance..take sample picture of where you plan to shoot the couple portraits. this way you wont have to such at the last minute,