Quixdraw Loc: x

Busch -- glad to help! Quite a lot of my shots were as good or better than the ones the kids paid for -- and I had only practiced with the DF for two months. Pay attention to your gear, skills, and family and you will do well!

Bobbee

24-70 f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8, You can take the SB900 but have the SB600 on you for when the SB900 locks up.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Hi Busch. You are getting some good replies. The back ground shots will be a big hit with the family. Most pros will not take many. Just take a lot of the things going on around the church and the reception. I do second shooter all the time at Jeff's wedding and my shoots are the ones everyone likes. They get to see them selves and the other family members. Oh, he gives them to the Bride and Groom for free. It makes for good PR and he gets a lot of wedding down the line from folks seeing his and my work!!! But make sure you too enjoy the wedding!! It is family!!!

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

Maybe it would be best to see the photographers contract with the bride and groom. The contract might have a sole photographer's paragraph. Doing this can lead to all kinds of bad feelings. Be careful, very careful here.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

djb663 Loc: Massachusetts

Take the 24-70 for its speed and range. Bring a flash, but don't use it until the hired photog has left. Maybe your niece doesn't have the photographer till the very end of the night and she wants you to take pics of the dancing, etc that the photographer may have left for. If you do take more than that, STAY OUT OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S WAY AND BE SURE TO STAY OUT OF HIS OR HER SHOTS. Photographers go to great lengths to compose their shots, even the candid shots, to avoid distracting elements. Respect that and be conscious to stay out of the field of view of the photographer. The "free" shots that you capture could ruin countless shots that your niece may be paying dearly for.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Hi Busch,

You have some nice equipment and I am sure you can cover many aspects of the venue. The most important thing for all involved is please give the hired photographer a call and let him/her know your intent is not to interfere with their process. Most will welcome your participation and fun will be had by all.

"Extra" photographers can be a nuisance in many ways. I can think of 3 off the top of my head. The first is "taking away the eyes". Nothing worse than editing the group pics and finding that two or three people are looking at another camera. Second, is taking positions during the ceremony that the hired photographer needs to get the best shot. Third, is actually ending up in the official pics. For example a beautiful pic of the father daughter dance with you in the background firing your flash.

Not trying to be negative but these are real situations that can develop with well meaning extra photographers. However, just conferring with the paid photographer can do wonders to eliminate stress during the wedding.

Now to answer your question, what glass you use will depend on which type of shots you choose to do. Your greatest opportunity to add to the traditional shot list will be candids of the family and friends before, during and after the wedding. Go for emotional looks from mom, dad, sister, brother ect.. If you are in close quarters as the bride is getting her hair done then primes would work well. If you are shooting from the pew during the ceremony your 70-200 will work well. During the reception use a shorter lens with a speedlight. You can try without the speedlight, but you will need to raise the ISO (D800 should handle it) and shoot wide open. A custom color balance will save you much time in post.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I have done this several times, for various friends. I make a point of introducing myself to the pro when they first get there, and telling them to barge through me if I get in their way. After that, I don't talk to them at all - no silly questions! I do, however, watch them like a hawk! I want to learn how they do it, and also to make sure that I *do* keep out of the way...

I concur with everyone else about shooting *lots* of pics of the guests - you can't go wrong with that. When the pro is shooting the formals, I like to hover in the area, and capture shots which *include* them posing the groups and shooting the actual portraits. For some reason, couples seem to love having these.

Usually, these are taking place in my church, so I know all the cubby holes and hidey places. I have several cameras hidden out-of-sight shooting video, which I can then edit into a reasonable record of the event.

I am in no way competing with the pro in any of this, and there is no way I would *ever* be the only shooter at a wedding. I *have* had pros thank me afterwards for keeping out of their way, and telling me the horror stories about Uncle Bob and his instamatic... I also had one email me later with very positive comments about my work, which I had posted in Facebook so the guests could access it.

Don't forget to enjoy the wedding!

studavis

The Pro is out to make a living and you may take some of the shots he or she would have been paid for.

This is why it is hard to be a pro and make a living.

I won't bring a camera to a wedding when I go as a guest

Jamers Loc: Michigan

:thumbup:

jmizera Loc: Austin Texas

Lol! I did wedding video for years, and it's now very much the same thanks to smart phones. Especially the ones that don't have the sense to hold the phone sideways. And in front of my camera of course.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Bring the 70-200mm. You can stay well back from the photographer they hired so as to not get in their way and you can get some nice natural looking shots from a distance. You can stop down for more dof or open up for a nice blur BG.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

35mm f1.2, or 50mm f1.8, I wouldn't get too carried away and be in the way of the hired pro. It's very annoying. Better yet, bring your cell phone, everybody else does.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

1. I agree with previous response... Be certain to check if there is any conflict with the hired pro... Then at the event introduce yourself, explain you are just family, plan to shoot a little but will not be a problem, and then stay well out of their way.

2. 24-70/2.8 is one lens that most wedding photographers would not want to be without. That will probably serve for many of your shots. I'd also take the 70-200, but you're unlikely to need the teleconverter and may even find 200mm "too long" most of the time.

Take your primes, too. Use the 35mm and 50mm in situations where you can't use flash (such as during the processional and ceremony)... and for more candid shots (such as in dressing rooms and after the wedding at the reception). I assume the 105mm is a macro lens, which can come in handy for details of the cake, rings, centerpieces, and more. Of the four primes, I'm not familiar with and don't see use for the 60mm... both your f2.8 zooms are just as fast and close to the same focal length.

Take both flashes (and plenty of fresh batteries) and leave the 28-300mm at home (unless you just want to take it as a "backup" ).

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

AS mentioned before, most officiants (me included) do not allow flash inside during the ceremony. Be prepared for that restriction.