Canoe50d

I have been asked to shoot a friends wedding. I am the back up (2nd photographer) so no real preasure to nail it. The setting is 6pm on the white sands beach of Destin Florida. West coast, Panhandle. A casual event but I assume some of the traditional events.........
My questions range from lens? to filters? I have L 70-200 2.8 as well a 50mm 1.8. Can't see needing, but will have with me Canon flash, and Tamron 10-24 wide.
Should I use a filter? Polarizer, ND, UV??
I will in the background just catching candid shots here and there. Not over the shoulder of the other shooter. I have let my friend know and was very clear with the fact that I shoot birds and nature and not people. I am thrilled to know they have also another non pro that is shooting. The preasure is off me as anything I shoot is a gift and a bonus to them. I plan to use my mono pod, but can also have tripod with me. Any thoughts you have as to what you would use, ???? Settings? White balance? ........ I don't plan to PP all the pix but will send her the CF card or make a disc of the everything I get. What they do from there is on them so I would like to NOT depend on PP for fixing after the fact. Thanks in advance

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

I would think the 10-24mm wide angle and a circular polarizing filter.
The wide angle lens would be more inclusive and you could crop out what you didn't want.
The CP filter will allow you to remove the glare on the water and act somewhat as a ND filter.

hlmichel Loc: New Hope, Minnesota

I would say that it depends on your personal style. Any of those lenses would work.

Personally, I'd go with the 50mm, keep it at 2.8--but that is what I like.

bvargas Loc: Palm Harbor, Florida

Try Auto ISO, Auto White Balance and set to Program Mode. Use TTL Flash for all photos with-in distance range. KISS. Keep it simple. Too much going on in a wedding to be doing something wrong. On Sunsets, meter for the sky, in Manual Mode, set these setting and use flash as fill light. TTL. If your flash is either to hot or too dark (Skin Tones), adjust flash minus or plus.
Have done many weddings this way. No problem. Try it and check it out as you shoot, on the LCD. If you don't like what you see, then do it your way.
Good Luck.

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

You'll have lots of daylight, but who knows if you'll want fill-in flash for some shots. Built in flash might work - tissue or something for diffuser. You have the best of all possible worlds, photographically speaking.

Sunblock, fine white sand, cameras - don't always mix well. Try to avoid setting anything down - obvious, I know.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

The white sand and lots of sun will tell your meter you have more light than you really do. I would do a few test shots at +2/3 to +1 1/3. Fill flash is needed unless you do some close ups and use a reflector instead. Late in the day like that you can get some really harsh shadows falling across the face from nose and eye sockets. You should be able to get some nice sun set action if things run on for about an hour. A polarizing filter will help deepen sky and enhance the sunset colors but cut your available light in half so maybe you should shoot at ISO 800 to keep movement blur down to a minimum. This will be a balancing act -- you don't want a shutter speed that exceeds your flash sync. Good luck -- post some of your shots.

Canoe50d

All good stuff and thanks. I plan to be there a day early and will take a few test shots at the same time of day. I didn't mention but do have a 430ex speedlight and will play with and without that as well.

Charles Bury

you haven't said what the weather will be

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

I guess we can all read the weather forecasts for the Pensacola area and then hope for no rain.

Canoe50d

Down in this part of Fl we get rain about everyday in the afternoon. Doesn't last long and the sun comes out right after making it just a tad more humid then humid. Not sure if the same thing happens up there but will be ready for it. I am just reading that a meteor shower is set to start the same time I am up there. Focus is now off the wedding and set to taking some night shots of the light show. Hoping for a dark enough area away from hotels........
lol. Still shooting the wedding, but looking more forward to the sunrise, sunset, and star show late night.

JosephB Loc: South Jersey

Personally - I always have a UV filter on (to protect my lens more then anything else).
A polarizer might be nice if the beach are is really bright but a good lens hood is better. Try not to shoot people with the light behind you - they squint.
Low ISO (full auto and the camera picks everything so I don't recommend that but I know people that only shoot full auto).
Since you have no pressure to perform - enjoy it! Use different lenses (from wide angle to telephoto) to get different looks.
I always like a nice wide angle shot of the service but also do some in tight on just the bride and groom.

Canoe50d

Thanks. I was thinking as I was driving today that I still have my Canon 50d (not sold yet), so with that in mind I will take them both. One on tri pod with one lens and one hand held with another lens. Loving this idea as I hate to trade off lenses often, especially on the beach in sand.

JRG Photo Loc: Alvin, TX

Do not use the 10-24mm its great for architectural but its almost like a fish eye lenses and people get distorted unless your doing really close ups shots of them. The 70-200mm or the 50mm would be my choice depending on the shot, the 70-200mm would give you a better range since you don't want to change lenses on the beach with surf and sand. Depending on time of day the position of the sun possibly a polarized filter but defiantly a hood. Just have fun!