I just was with my daughter to attend my grandson’s graduation. I didn’t take many photos, but my daughter did. Not a great camera, but good enough for snapshots. While reviewing her photos, she asked me a question I not only couldn’t answer, but would love to have answered for myself: Why, when taking the same photo, seconds or less apart, is one photo more underexposed than the next? No change in settings, no change in light, yet the two photos are noticeably different. She’s using an old Canon, I’m using a Z9, and it happens to both of us. Would love to hear anyone’s thoughts.

Thanks,

Mike

I have gotten overwhelming response, and I am very grateful for everyone’s helpful comments and kindness. I should clarify though that I am 100% satisfied with my equipment. Actually pretty thrilled with it. My question actually was about the awkward position that I felt I was in, trying to put out professional quality work and frustrated at the label of “entry level” with a truly great camera. One commenter said it is a firm enthusiast level, and I agree, although I always see it categorized at top tier entry level. The answer was probably correct that it is the manufacturer trying to get people to buy the label with the bells and whistles perhaps unnecessarily. Also my T7i has optional tutorials on the screen, though I never needed that. Therefore it is good for newbies who want a great camera ongoing.

Cassidy:
Good luck, and enjoy yourself!
Now, I can see that you have received a lot of great equipment advice.
So the most important advice I can give you is to develop a shot list for each location.
Next, is to shoot as MANY of the shots ahead of time that you can. You want to enjoy yourself too.

These ideas were gleaned from the UHH wedding site from another MUCH WISER & EXPERIENCED UHH member than me.
I apologize for not remembering their name to give them credit.
For the ceremony, reception, etc. scout the locations and take test shots at each location, lit the same as you will find on the big day.

Some Possible Wedding Poses:
(Cut and paste & use as you see fit)

1. At the groom’s house
 Groom, getting ready,
 groomsmen, playing around
 Groom, in mirror
 The groom dressed, GQ pose W/Jacket over the shoulder
 Groom full length
 Groom with Mother close-up
 Groom with Father close-up
 Groom with both Parents full length
 Groom with both Parents close-up
 Groom with Grandparents full length
 Groom with Grandparents close-up
 Groom with Sisters / Brothers
 Groom with immediate family
 Groom and Best Man full length
 Groom and Best Man close-up
 Groom and Best Man shaking hands
 Groom and all Groomsmen

2. At the bride’s house
 Bride dressing
 Mother helping with veil
 Mother/Maid of Honor adjusting veil
 Bride looking in the mirror
 Bride with Mother looking in the mirror
 Bride putting on garter with Bridesmaids looking on
 Bride full length
 Bride half-length
 Bride close-up
 Bride with Mother close-up
 Bride with Mother full length
 Bride pinning corsage on Mother
 Bride with Father full length
 Bride with Father close-up
 Bride pinning-on Father’s button-hole flower
 Bride with both Parents, full length
 Bride with both Parents, close-up
 Bride with Grandparents close-up
 Bride with Grandparents full length
 Bride with Sisters
 Bride with Brothers with immediate family
 Bride and Maid of Honor full length
 Bride and Maid of Honor Close-up
 Bride with Attendants
 Bride with Flower Girl/Ring Bearer
 Bride leaving the house with Parents and Bridesmaids
 Father helping Bride into the limo

The ceremony
 Flowers
 Singers
 Groups of guests and everybody
 Flower Girl walking down the aisle
 Ring-Bearer walking down the aisle
 Maid of Honor walking down the aisle
 Bridesmaids walking down the aisle
 Father walking down the aisle with Bride
 Father “giving the Bride away”
 Bride and Groom exchanging vows
 Bride and Groom exchanging rings
 Bride and Groom kiss
 Bride signing register
 Groom signing register
 Bride and Groom walking back down the aisle
 Bride and Groom outside the church
 Bride and Groom getting into the limo

Formal photos
 Wedding party in place (front & back)
 Bride alone full length
 Bride alone ¾
 Bride alone close-up
 Bride alone headshot
 Bride alone peeping over flowers
 Bride and Groom kissing
 Bride and Groom full length
 Bride and Groom close-up
 Groom full length
 Groom ¾
 Groom close-up
 Close-up of rings
 Group shot of Bride & Attendants/Bridesmaids
 Groom & all Groomsmen
 Group shot of the entire family

The reception
 Wedding party announced
 Bride and Groom announced
 Bride and Groom's first dance
 Wedding party dancing
 Bride's dance with Father
 Groom's dance with Mother
 Best man toasting Bride & Groom
 Bride & Groom toasting each other
 The cake
 Bride & Groom posed at cake
 Cutting cake
 Bride & Groom feeding each other cake
 Throwing bouquet
 Bouquet catch
 Groom taking off garter
 Groom throwing garter
 Garter catch
 Bride & Groom with catchers
 Guests
 Posed departure of Bride & Groom (kissing, waving, etc.)
 Bride & Groom leaving reception venue
 Bride & Groom leaving in a limo
 Close up of invitation
 Picture of Band or DJ

Smile,
JimmyT Sends
Good Luck, You Can Do It!

What would you use?

I will take both

Landscape 850

Animals I’m reach impaired, will use 300 f 4, pf and tc 1.4, or 70-200 2.8 and tc 1.4

I also have, rarely use tc 2.0

I’m thinking the 850, dx mode might be slightly better for animals and if close could switch to fx and fill sensor

Seems pixels about same

Doing a week in Montana along Missouri River and Lamar Valley In December

I’ve got the landscape lenses covered

Help me pick the animal setup, realizing a 400 and more would be nice, but not realistic

Thanks

What would you use?

I will take both

Landscape 850

Animals I’m reach impaired, will use 300 f 4, pf and tc 1.4, or 70-200 2.8 and tc 1.4

I also have, rarely use tc 2.0

I’m thinking the 850, dx mode might be slightly better for animals and if close could switch to fx and fill sensor

Seems pixels about same

Doing a week in Montana along Missouri River and Lamar Valley In December

I’ve got the landscape lenses covered

Help me pick the animal setup, realizing a 400 and more would be nice, but not realistic

Thanks

Sorry, but this is a long one but I'm hoping you will find it worth the read. Not long ago, I posted two portraits of my friend. So many kind things were said by the HH community. I wanted to tell everyone that I had her read all of the comments. Some I made her read twice (no, really, I wouldn't scroll on until she read again). She cried! By the second, she had her hand over her mouth and by the 5th she had tears which stayed until I left. She said to thank you all "for making this ol' ugly ducking feel like a swan". (I swear, that woman, lol!) Anyway, wanted to share that y'all had a part in making my friend feel as beautiful as she is.

What I hadn't included, bc I wanted all genuine reactions, is that she is a selfless hospice home care provider (for decades) and has just been diagnosed with cancer, herself. This session was agreed upon, as a gift to her children and grandchildren, before she started chemo treatments (I wasn't even aware of this, myself, at the time).

At the end she insisted I take a quick photo of her turned and waving. I kept trying to say no (didn't match my normal style and seemed silly) but she was insistent and said how important it was to her. So, I took this photo. Not a good photo, imho, but she said it was what she needed and openly sobbed when she saw it. I thought the whole thing odd but, whatever, right? I did get what I wanted so why the heck not?

It wasn't until she told me about the cancer as why she had finally agreed to the session that she explained this waving photo was for display at her funeral. That's why it was so important to her and why she wanted it just like this. Talk about feeling as if someone punched you in the gut! What an honor and a privilege.

Please, no CC on this one. I just wanted to share part of my friend, the joy you all gave her and that we don't always know the impact of what we do.