My niece asked me to photograph her wedding. I told them I was not qualified to shoot a wedding. I hemmed, I hawed, I tried to say no in a nice way, but they didn't listen. I've allowed myself to be pressured into it. I've taken pics every time she's around, trying to show her all the mistakes I make, but she doesn't see. I've fought with my mother about it, and even showed her the problems I am going to have because there are things I just don't know. My mother looked straight at me this past Christmas and said, "Well then, you better learn." No matter how much I learn between now and then, I will not be ready. They might be better off with friends taking snapshots with their cell phones. There is so much I don't know. The more I read, the more I dont' know.

I wish I had been a complete and utter Bi*ch when I was asked, and just said no way on God's green earth would I do this. Now I feel more stuck every day. I am so stressed about it. Every pic I post I see the horrible mistakes I am going to make. I can't even edit very well. If there are blemishes, they will have to live with them.

I talked to my brother who is catering the food for the wedding with his wife. I said, aren't you nervous? He said sis, they can't afford a caterer, so they're going to get what we give them, and that's life.

You see, I do not feel like he does. I am going to be devastated when I mess this up. Every video I've watched says to go along as a second photographer to at least 6 weddings before you ever try to take on one by yourself. I called the photographer that did my wedding. Family friend. He doesn't do weddings anymore.

Angel...say no before it's too late. Tell them you'll be glad to work as an assistant to the photographer they hire.

jimberton, Great capture, these little guys are hard to catch at this age. I assume you are a Grandpa like me. It is tiring, but look at the bond you are creating. I replied to an earlier post "Our Anna" because I have an Anna as well. I have two sons, one uses me for their portraits, and the other a photography chain mall service. I do not consider myself a great photographer, just another amateur. I like the shots I did for my son and daughter-in-law that they used for their Christmas card, versus the "professional" shots and my other sons Christmas card. The "pros" have more props available, but the use of the ornament was great. Gary

Actually, it's rare where I live, because there is always enough snow to prevent getting a car out onto the lake ice. Once in awhile we'll get long periods of cold before the snow comes (it always comes, like you remember around Chicago). Then the lakes get smooth like hockey rinks. When that happens we get the occasional carfull of teens out spinning doughnuts at 40 to 50 mph. Wouldn't get me out there in a car.

As of 12/16 we have several snow reporting stations listing snowfall for this season at 105" to 130". Snow actually on the ground is over 3'. Can't drive a car to the ice through that!

Thank you for your thoughts. What I thought was noise I think it is related more to the way I sharpen on the camera and in the Aperture program on my computer. Went overboard in this area. When I start to use some common sense in this area my experience with ISO is like yours. So far I like the 6D and plan on using it mostly with the 24-105mm for general shooting and macro work with a 100mm lens. I have a 60D and plan on using the 100-400mm on it for my birding photography. One interesting thing I learned form this topic was to over expose a little when shooting a dark bird against a bright sky. Will work on that. :thumbup: