Don't count on much from disposables. Even if they do get the lucky photo, I read somewhere a while back when they broke down the cost to make those things they figured out the lens was worth about 27 cents. They shouldn't get anything close to what you do which is why most pros don't mind it. Think of it this way. It doesn't matter if you have one bag of garbage or ten bags of garbage, all you have is a pile of garbage. Only the size is different. You may be able to improve it, just as you can sometimes help the stink with a pile of garbage, but it will still be what it is.
On the equipment front, the one investment I would suggest that you make either through purchase or rental is to get the flash off camera. You can do this with a minimal expense usually. The cords are not that expensive. This will also require a bracket for the flash and camera. The low end probably runs about $40 to $50 US and once you have it, you will wonder how you did without it. Getting the flash off camera is the single one thing I believe one can do to improve the results.
Now the testing and learning you do in the mean time should help you with the one thing you need the most and that is confidence. Now you will learn when to let the event take place, and then to stand up and lead with a smile. A confident photographer with a smile on their face can get people to help them get the photos you need and the bride wants. That you will figure out. I wish you luck
Mark
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Flash Photography
From: Gregory Fraser <Gregory.Fraser@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, June 19, 2009 8:56 am
To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students
<photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Ask yourself, IF I need to ask these types of questions of flash, am
I really ready to accept a wedding in the first place?
Yes Mark, an excellent question. Before I agreed to shoot this wedding I
made it perfectly clear to the bride that, unlike a pro, I have no
backup equipment and the equipment I do have is not professional grade.
If I have a failure with either the camera, media cards or possibly even
my PC, everything could be lost. I also have precious little experience.
What I can do, when everything works out, is sometimes take a better
photo than her mother can with a p&s.
For this wedding the bride and groom are on their second shot at
marriage, the event will be in their back yard, dress code is shorts and
t-shirts and they are going to buy a pile of disposable cameras to give
to the guests to use during the ceremony so if I fail, they should still
have plenty of shots.
Greg
