Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

The kit lens is not very sharp. I dont have any experience with the telephoto but my guess is that a fast prime would be better.

He should look into renting the right lenses and some external flash units. But if he does not already own them he probably does not how to use them in a wedding context.

If there is time, he should at least try to observe a wedding done by a pro so he can get an idea of what is involved and how its done.

I wish everyone involved nothing but luck, but in wedding photography, like just about anything else, you get what you pay for.

MichaelL

For my daughter's wedding I filled in as a secondary photographer with my D7100. I got a new lens and an external flash to help the situation. Lens - 18 - 35 nikon for close ups and portraits. The flash was one of the Nikon Speedlights.

Professional photographer got the more important shots - family portraits, vows, etc. I got the fill in pics - dinner, reception, party night before, preparation, etc.

I think he worked 1 or 2 hours for maybe $600. Dad was free. Saved a lot of money and ended up with a good combination of pictures to remember the weekend.

I also had two cameras available and made a video of the vows using an unattended video camera.

thegrover Loc: Yorba Linda, CA

No No No, don't do it. He will be so sorry.

catchlight.. Loc: Wisconsin USA- Halden Norway

Never had a camera fail or heard of it happening... other than hearing of it on a blog site?...Odd when I hear people boast they have 3k in a "back up" camera...bringing extra batteries and cards would be a better plan.

Much better to have someone help shoot that second camera and look at it as a way to get more coverage.

jwkeith

I too often find myself wondering why the wedding photographer is near the end of the "must have" list in wedding preparations. Look elsewhere first when cutting costs. The food and flowers will be gone tomorrow but the photos will last as long, or longer, then the marriage. Yes, one can spend thousands on a great wedding photographer but there are many competent wedding photographers who are within almost everyone's budget. Hopefully, I am wrong but I personally believe there will be a world of difference between the output of any competent professional wedding photographer and a first time amateur no matter his experience level.

JoeV Loc: Wisconsin

When I was a college student, I reluctantly agreed to photograph a wedding. I had equipment problems and a half frame camera, and no backup equipment. I had a major struggle. The couple was satisfied, but I was not.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Our son shot his first wedding with a d70 and the two kit lenses we gave him a few months earlier. We also borrowed him a Tamron 2.8 for inside shots. Most of the pictures were done with a Nikon 18-70. Somehow he shot the whole wedding at 3 mps instead of the 6mps the camera is capable of doing. I think he forgot to take more memory cards. His pictures came out great. Several were printed at 8x10 and everyone was happy at the time. The pictures outlasted the marriage.
Another bit of advise is to know your clients. If either one of them is playing the deva role, run like hell. If you don't run, get all of the money up from with a signed contract. You don't need the newest equipment to shoot a wedding. Many weddings have been done with 6mp, 10mp and still are at times.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Shortly after getting my D40 (with kit 18-55 and 55-200 lenses) my sister-in-law asked me to shoot her wedding and reception; it was a long day and (because I knew something of photography from using film for 30 years) the photos turned out good (not spectacular, but good). This was my first (and only wedding). A few weeks before, my daughter had tied the knot, she did not have the money for a photographer so her mother and I told her we would pay for the photographer; she agreed as long as that was the only wedding present we would give her (she knows her mother's extravagant ways). I am glad I did it because the professional was able to read the venue and make spectacular (not just good) photographs.

That's my story; but if the couple are short on funds and the brother is somewhat knowledgeable, he should be able to do a passable job with the equipment he has. My only suggestion is that he get some sort of bounce card for his flash (which I hope is a manual flash).

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

If they're all gonna be elaborate set-up shots, yeh, take along an arsenal. If not, go with what ya got.

katbandit Loc: new york city

i have an idea ..im sure that the brother has other shutterbug friends..why doesn't he ask someone to help be a second shooter..im sure that he can get enough shots to have some decent ones for his sister to be happy with..many people today can't afford pros..and are happy with cell phone shots even..also the sister knows her brother well enough to know his capabilities..so let him give it a whirl..if he is confident enough to try then don't burst his bubble..if you're that worried then why not offer to go yourself..lol..i did weddings years ago..personally i would much rather be the second shooter...lol..

dsnoke Loc: North Georgia, USA

I shoot a D7100 with the 18-105 mm lens all the time. See http://www.seven-oaks.net/dickspics for some of my results. I would not be at all afraid to shoot a wedding with that rig, and while I would certainly use a tripod, I doubt I would use a flash at all. It really is a matter of knowing your gear. I would be absolutely sure to visit the venue to understand the lighting and where I am not permitted to position myself. I would also be sure to have a LOOONG conversation with the bride and groom to understand what they want (most likely in writing.)

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

That's a very good idea. The Wedding isn't until June. He could check the lighting in the small Church. I know where it is, but I've never been inside of it. He has a rotating flash unit, and a diffuser if needed. If lighting is dull, he could use my outdoor work lamp I own, and move it around. It's bright. He has 4 months to make plans. So, it isn't a rush thing.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

I think it can work out just fine. The bride should know he's not a professional but can probably record most of the memories she wants. Keep in mind that a lot of people are happy looking at photographs and seeing the people in them and not the technique that was used so some imperfection is fine with some people--hopefully his sister is aware of the distinction. I recently shot my niece's wedding with a D7100 and Nikon 28-200 lens. A friend of hers is a professional photographer who does weddings and gave the pictures to her as a present. I cleared my shots with the professional and made it clear I only wanted to work completely around her and she was fine with that. I got a lot of more candid shots and because of my inexperience a lot of them didn't turn out--even shooting in raw. However, I got a lot of pictures that complimented the professionals and am glad for the experience. I think since he will be the primary (or only) photographer he needs to enlist someone from the wedding party with some authority to marshal the herd of cats around as he shouldn't have to be collecting the people as well as setting up his shots. As long as his sister's expectations and desires are not that it will be the same as a professional full frame full equipment photoshoot everyone should be happy. Hope it goes well.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

Digital cameras are all more foolproof in any auto mode than the film cameras were. It is probably better for a non-professional to use the camera he or she is used to, without adding new stuff to the bag--and no doubt the wedding couple have seen that photographer's pictures and like them. If they like them, that is enough.

My parents were married during the Great Depression. My father had just got a promotion at the supermarket where he worked, with a raise from $7 a week to $11, so they could get married and start out in a rented room. The ring was $10 (a real diamond chip in it), and they went to a retired preacher's house where a little chapel was set up for weddings, with artificial flowers already in place. The preacher took their picture outside, with a little box camera. It was a cold, windy day in February, in Winchester, KY, with rain off and on, and the preacher stood too far back, but it is the only picture they had. They had their overcoats on, and even in hard times, their faces were full of joy and high hopes. They had cookies and punch afterwards at Aunt Pat's house--no pictures. The grocery store gave him half a day off for it.

Mother died of cancer 65 years later, and in the last days she was sedated with morphine. Finally, on the last day, she came to, briefly, and found my father at her side, holding her hand. "The happiest day of my life," she said, "was the day I married you." Soon, she passed away.

Marriages today don't last that long, no matter how much they spend on weddings (perhaps the more they spend, the shorter the marriage). The wedding is not "her day"--not just for her, or just for him, or just for family. The wedding is for the marriage itself, and all the spectacle and all the waste are just vanity--not a foundation for marriage that lasts. My parents learned to put marriage before self--happiness was not the goal but the cause.

If people hired photographers for the divorce, we could get them coming and going, but as an amateur, I can pass. If I were asked to photograph a wedding, I would offer one photograph of their choosing--basically a portrait together at the occasion--and I would probably use a 4x5 Speed Graphic for show, with a 150mm Xenar lens. Unlike individual traditional portraits, this would be full-figure with normal lens. But I might use the Canon EF-S digital with 60mm prime Canon portrait lens. Maybe a black and white on 4x5, and the Canon for color. I would set both cameras up ahead, on tripods--preferably outside in a good portrait light (north side).

Of course, one of the greatest benefits of digital photography is that you can see your pictures immediately, and re-do anything that fails. One of the best things that can start a marriage is the realization that things don't always go just as we want them to go. That can be an article of faith, or it can forbode a catastrophic failure.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Thanks for the advice. This is a brother and sister affair. I'm sure they will have a conversation about it. As far as getting something in writing, that will be unnecessary, because the brother is doing this free for his sister. She's actually the youngest of my friends' family.