Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/05/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A few random thoughts that haven't already been touched on: 1. If you are going into the wedding with a game plan centered around Leica-style available light photography, you are needlessly setting yourself up for failure on a good number of shots. If this is really what the couple want, then you need a "Plan B" for at least the bare minimum of formal portraits of the B&G and family groupings. If you shoot these available light, you will be lucky to escape a lynching. (If the B&G say they don't want ANY formals, ignore them. They will later forget they ever uttered this remark). 2. Flash. What is the plan where available light simply isn't an option? You really need a fast-recycling unit that is also workable when the camera is turned on its side for verticals. Don't plan on sticking an SF-20 on top of a Leica M and going at it. 3. Outdoor weddings involve a whole different set of problems than indoor ones. Workable flash fill is a necessity, not a luxury. This is problematic with a Leica M due to the 1/50th sync speed. 4. When you shoot a wedding for friends or family, you can no longer behave as a guest even if the B&G still think of you as one. Specifically, no drinking. 5. If you haven't done this before, make a list of the "must gets", "would like to get" and "purely optional" shots beforehand and have a plan which incorporates the "must gets" and most of the "would like to get" possibilities. 6. Don't forget your tripod -- you'll need it. 7. Use film designed for the job -- Kodak Portra NC or Fuji NPH. 8. As you can see, deciding which lenses to use is really the least of the problems ;-). For the record, I try to avoid these situations like the plague, but like others, I have done my share. For the last one I used an R8 and a Quantum T2 flash with a Quantum Turbo battery. I used a bracket which allowed the flash to remain above the camera when it is rotated for a vertical. I used a Leica M for available light candids where possible. I've also done some weddings for friends completely in medium format and I don't consider using 35mm that much easier, although it is a little less expensive. Good luck! - -- Rolfe Tessem rolfe@ldp.com Lucky Duck Productions, Inc. - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html