I'm looking to buy a new Canon Digital SLR sometime down the road. Don't know which one yet or even when!

Question

Right now I use a Canon Rebel XTi. I'm starting up my own photography business...right now just doing kids, babies, some senior portraits etc. I haven't been charging much...even doing some for free. However, three peole want me to shoot their weddings. I'm a little nervous, but I know I can do it!

My question is.....i'm intersted in buying new lenses. Right now i'm using the Canon 50mm 1.8 to do most of my shooting. I also have the lens that came with the camera that I don't use much. I've been looking at the 60mm 2.8. Anyone have any thoughts on that one? Or the 50mm 1.2

Should I buy a new lens...or wait to buy a new one when I upgrade cameras?? I'm lost and confused.

I was thinking to spend money on a good lens and keep the Rebel for now until I do a couple of weddings, then spend the money on another camera.

HELP! i NEED ADVICE!

What lens? What camera? WHEN?

Is this too much to ask?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

hi i think a good canon would be the EOS 40D. its a mid range camera that will give you more professional level control than the rebel cameras. it also has the 10.1 MP censor which is very good. i think that would be enough for you to make the prints for the weddings. (the recomended size to make a good 10x8 print is 7MP); so i think this would help to make some images even a little bigger.

if your shooting weddings you really should think about getting a good camera that will give you the best reults. this is a very important day for some people so you want to give them the best results right?? and if you do a good job you'll probably get more work.

i dont really know that much about the lenses.

hope this helps

best of luck

jani

Answer 2

In order to do a wedding you are going to need a couple of lenses, A good flash, diffuser and flash bracket. For starters the 50mm will be good for portraits. Some other lenses to look at would be the following.

24-105 F4L $1,059.00

24=70 F2.8L $1,190.00

16-35mm F2.8L $1,500.00 Good for large group shots

17-40 F4L $650.00 Good for large group shots (not as fast)

28-135mm IS $425.00 A great all around lens

If I had to pick one it would be the 24-105 F4L. If this is to much money the 28-135 will be good to. You will need the wide angle for large group shots. If you can't afford a new one the kit lens will work.

As far as flashes go get the Canon 580EX $420

Also pick up a diffuser and flash bracket. There are many to choose from. A simple diffuser like a STO-FEN is about $20.

A Gary Fong lightsphere or Lumiquest light tent would be nice. They run between $25 and $100. The flash bracket will be about $60.

I would hold off on buying a new camera. To succesfully do a wedding you need a better lens, and flash.

On the day of the wedding see if you can borrow a camera or rent one. You don't want something to break and not be able to finish the job.

These are minimum requirements. Please think carefully before doing this. Make sure your clients know that you don't have much experience. Weddings are much more complicated than you think and you can't reshoot them.

Answer 3

Invest your money in lenses, the technology of the cameras keep changing every few months.  As long as the XTi is working for you, keep on using it.  A couple of lenses you may want to look at are the, Canon EF 135mm f/2L and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L or the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II, all are excellent for the types of photography you are describing.

Answer 4

The moment you mentioned weddings, I thought time to put on the brakes. From what you've covered here, you are not ready for a wedding.  Even if you purchased the equipment you need, are you familiar with release forms? Contracts? Do you know that you could get sued and end up in court if you blow a wedding?

The best thing you can do right now is keep on doing these small jobs, focus on that get better at it.

The next best thing you could do if you haven't already is join a photography forum. There are lot's out there. Nikon has Nikonians.org? I think, Sony has Dyxum.com, I'm sure Canon has something like that. Join, read, read and read some more before you even ask one question. When you read some wedding photo shoot nightmares, it will make you take  pause.

If you are going to shoot weddings, you need to have your composition skills nailed down, how to shoot in low light with and without a flash, understand off camera flashes, strobes, when to gel your lights. You have to learn where you need to be and when, timing is crucial.

You need fast zooms, and fast primes. Your 50mm 1.8 is good for low light, you might think about picking up a 85mm f1.4. You need a fast tele, like a 70-200mm f2.8, and you need something fast on the short end. And you need a fast 2.8 zoom so you can get some wide shots.

The rebel is ok, probably enough to get you by, but you need something better. Every wedding shooter worth their salt has 2 camera bodies. The XTi should make an ok back-up body. But if you are serious, a Canon 40d should be your minimum body, up the chain is even better, but it's gonna cost you.

The full frame 5d is about to be replaced, so you could get the new body, or get a good deal on the 5d since it's on the way out.

You have a lot of work ahead of you. DO NOT do a wedding at this time unless it's really small, casual, and other people attending are taking photos. If you are just a little something extra, then that's fine. If you are shooting a mega-buck wedding and it's all on you, don't take it on at this time.

You've got a lot of reading to do

Check the forums at

Canon forum http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

http://community.mpix.com/forums/

http://forums.popphoto.com/

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/

Good Luck

Answer 5

i've shot weddings and a slew of other things (you can check out my work at the site below), all with a canon xt and xti, sigma 18-50/2.8, and 50-150/2.8, and 580ex.  

you will benefit from a fast lens set similar to this focal range.

i may get some booers for this, but this is the bottom line:  yes weddings are a big deal; if the people you are shooting for know what your capabilities are and agree to your terms, then shoot away!  practice!  you have to learn somehow.