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Photography Gear and Software Advice for Professionals & Serious Amateurs
Advice on Lens
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Excellent Beginner’s and Backup Lens (Rated in Order) (1) EF 50mm f1.4 (Individual and couple portraiture) (2) Canon EF 24-70mm, f2.8 (General portraiture, groups) (3) Canon EF 70-200mm, f2.8 (ceremony, candid) (4) Sigma DC HSM, 10-20mm, f4-5.6 (Landscape, congratulations, tight situations) |
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The Eight Most Relevant Wedding Professional Lens (Rated in Order) Your lens arsenal will depend on your shooting personality and wallet. If you are not sure then try before you buy by renting first. Lens 6,7 and 8 are all optional. If you are still building your lens collection choose only one between the 35mm and 24mm as these are similar. The 100mm Macro, 24mm, 35mm and 85mm also are available in a lighter, much cheap alternative range. Superb buy if you must compromise on price and lens construction quality. (1) EF 135mm f2.0 L EXCELLENT FOR CEREMONY AND CANDID PORTRAITURE, INEXPENSIVE L-series (2) EF 50mm f1.2 L THE ALL-TIME BEST GENERAL PURPOSE PORTRAITURE LENS AVAILABLE – PERFECT FOR CROPPED SENSORS (3) EF 35mm f1.4 L EXCELLENT GENERAL PURPOSE LENS, GREAT FOR CANDID AND TIGHT MOMENTS, SUPER SHARP (4) EF 100mm f2.8 L Macro NECESSARY FOR CLOSE-UPS OF DRESS, JEWELRY, MAKEUP, ETC… CAN ALSO DOUBLE FOR HEAD SHOTS BUT SLOW (5) EF 24mm f1.4 L II USM RECOMMENDED FOR CLOSE ENCOUNTERS SUCH AS CONGRATULATIONS AND DURING BRIDAL PREP (6) EF 85mm f1.2 L LOOKS IMPRESSIVE, EXPENSIVE BUT SUPERB FOR SPEECHES AND LOW LIGHT SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE MORE CANDID APPROACH (7) EF 14mm f2.8 L LANDSCAPE SCENES AND ROOM DECORATIONS, EXCELLENT OUTDOOR LENS (8) EF 200mm f2.8 L “THE LIGHTWEIGHT PAPARAZZI” – FOR LARGE CEREMONIES AND CANDID INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITURE WITHOUT GETTING NOTICED |
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THREE LENS AT A TIME Wedding photography will require you to carry expensive lens around all the time. To minimize risk of damage, loss and thief it is recommended that you keep your main camera bag stored safely in your car or with your assistant. A wedding can typically be divided into four parts, each part requiring a different set of lenses. Bridal and Groom Preparation 100mm Macro, 50mm or 85mm, 24mm or 35mm Ceremony and Family Either 135mm or 200mm, 85mm or 50mm, 14mm or 24mm Bridal Shoot 50mm, 35mm or 24mm, 14mm or 85mm (depending on scenery, if beautiful use 14mm) Reception (access to all lens) 85mm or 135mm for speeches 24 or 35mm for cake cutting and bridal dancing and group photos 50mm for couples 14mm and 24mm to go crazy on the dance floor Macro for cake and rings close-ups |
Top 5 Iphone Apps
MAILDASH
Create templates for SMS or Email and send instantly to anyone in your contacts.
Smart templates also insert automatic text such as names, dates etc…
DSLREMOTE
Control your camera via your iphone, must be connected to a computer.
POCKET WEATHER
Real time weather, for example, with radars you can see when the rain will hit your Wedding Party and how strongly.
Also get wind speeds, tides, national weather even historical information.
ITELEPORT
Best application ever! Easy view and remotely control any computer you own! Free software needed for computers.
HIPPOREMOTE
Turn your Iphone into a wireless mouse, must use Wifi connection.
PHOTOGRAPHER’S CONTRACT MAKER
Create instant contracts on the field, emailed to you. For model releases, copyright releases, and assistant contracts.
TinEye
TinEye is a web image search engine.
Uses
(1) You visit a photographer’s portfolio but suspect that his images are actually from another site. Discover the truth in seconds.
(2) Want to use a stock image but need to see who else have used it.
Honeymooners SLR
What is a great entry-level SLR camera and how does an SLR compare to a compact camera? This question can only be answered by looking at the pros and cons of each recommendation.
High Performance Compacts
from $200-$800
PROS (compared to SLR)
small and lightweight
discreet and easy
video comes standard
No need to change lens
CONS (compared to SLR)
picture taking can be slower
Image quality can be lower
Battery power does not last long
Flash is weak
top pick for compact camera
Canon Powershot G12 – $500-$700
Product Highlights
- 10MP CCD Image Sensor
- DIGIC 4 Image Processor
- 1280 x 720p HD Video Capture
- 2.8″ Vari-Angled LCD
- JPEG and RAW File Image Capture
- SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMC+/HCMMC+ Card Slot
- 28mm Lens with 5x Optical Zoom Hybrid IS
- Optical Image Stabilization
- Stereo Sound for Video
- Manual Exposure Control
Entry Level SLR – from $700
SLR PROS
Able to use the right lens for specific job
Better quality in all situations
Faster shooting
Add-on Flash with diffuser gives professional results
SLR CONS
Heavier, bulkier
Lens cost extra
More prone to damage or thief
More expensive
Need to purchase more accessories
SLR top pick – 600D Canon
$700-965 – Body only
Product Highlights
- SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card Slot
- 18MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor
- 3.0″ Clear View Vari-Angle LCD
- 100-6400 ISO
- Full HD Movie Mode w/ Manual Exposure
- Compatible with Canon EF and EF-S Lenses
- 3.7 Frames/Second Continuous Shooting
- 63 Zone Dual-Layer Metering / 9-Point AF
- Intelligent Auto Mode
Even better SLR Canon cameras
60D $1000-1200
7D $1900-2000 (serious or semi-pro)
5D MKII $2700-2800
(affordable pro option)
1D Mark IV $5600-5700 (Full Pro)
Lens and Accessories to consider
Best inexpensive general purpose lens
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
$500-$750
Best professional general purpose lens
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
$1250-$1480
Best inexpensive portrait lens
Normal EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens
$450-$600
For more lens recommendations visit
Buying Duty Free
If you buy in Australia be sure to look at the the TRS link below to get a tax refund.
Previewing images
ACDSee
For PC use ACDSee 14 and ACDSee Pro 5 offers a quick preview and selection mode and has basic editing features as well.
Expect cost for the Pro version to be just under $250 for PC version and around $80 for the standard “amateur” version.
The Pro version has many new features such as lighting and contrast controls, HDR creation using only one image and the ability to dodge and burn shadows, midtones and hightlights.
ACDSee online is also now featured in both versions offering 10 GB of free online space for photo sharing and storage.
Photo Mechanic
Photo Mechanic is available through Camera Bits.
If using a MAC you can not go past Photo Mechanic for basic previewing and photo culling.
It’s also available for PCs.
Other features include an automatic import from multiple cards feature, basic editing, automatically adding info to metadata, and automatic gallery, or proof sheets creation.
You can also FTP your photos, email these to clients or even burn these to DVD using Photo Mechanic.
Cost is around $150.
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