What equipment do I need?

[CactusLove]

I'm starting a business in taking family pics, portraits and engagement pictures with weddings in the future. I have been doing this for firends and family just for fun but would like to take it to the next level. Any suggestions on must-have equipment?

My current equipment is:
Canon Rebel XT
The kit lens: 18-55mm
A telephoto lens: Quantaray 70-300mm 1:4-5.6
A tripod

And that's about it. No fill flash, no diffuser, nothing fancy. I plan to mostly shoot outdoors right now, maybe move indoor to a studio later on. Do I need a better camera? Different lenses? Any information and suggestions would be helpful at this point!

Thanks!!

[brian.austin]

There is a book called Digital Photography for Children's and Family Portraiture by Kathleen Hawkins. It doesn't cover a lot of equipment but includes many aspects from the business perspective. It's a good primer.

From an equipment perspective, you need to decide what you want to accomplish and how much you're willing to spend. $100? $500? $1,000? $5,000? For $100, it's going to be flash only, probably a used unit. $5,000 would get you a full, portable studio set up, a new lens, and possibly a new body, depending on your budgeting.

I can't see any images on your website. (The link in your sig is broken, btw. It should go here: CactusLove Photography) Without images, we don't necessarily know what you're missing, either from an equipment or skill perspective.

[FatNakedGuy]

One marjorie consideration would be a backup camera body.

I've got a very nice camera but sure wished I had a backup body when it locked up at a shoot recently (fortunately I was able to borrow a body from someone else who was shooting the same event).

Good luck and have fun!

[CactusLove]

Both excellent points. I will be looking into both of those.

Link should be working properly now and I've uploaded some images.

If you were going to a shoot and could only take 5 pieces of equipment, what would they be?

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by CactusLove

Both excellent points. I will be looking into both of those.

Link should be working properly now and I've uploaded some images.

The other link would have worked if you had removed the text ahead of your link. This code doesn't look as good.

If you were going to a shoot and could only take 5 pieces of equipment, what would they be?

LOL...good question but too many variables. Including body and lens? Outdoor or indoor? What's the weather like if it's outside? How many people?

Assuming it's something similar to your pics (good start, btw):

1 large 5-in-1 reflector
1 medium to large off camera flash with long sync cord (wireless would be nice but I'm keeping the $$ low)
1 prosumer camera body (Canon 40D, Nikon D300, Fuji S5, etc.)
1 24-80ish large aperture (f/2.8 ) lens
1 tripod (for either flash or camera support)

I could do 90-95% of a typical portrait and casual shoot with that.

[CactusLove]

I appreciate the comments Brian. Thank you. Now I have plenty of items to research.

Thanks to everyone!

[lendur2]

I am not a wedding photographer by any stretch of the imagination. What I have done has been free of charge. But this information, as well as I can remember it, has stuck with me:

You don't get any slack; if your equipment goes south during a shoot, you'd better have a backup. Failing the shoot, your name is mud. So I (the writer, not me) carry two bodies, two flashes, overlapping lenses, plenty of batteries and a charger, (and I can't recall anymore of equipment). I scout out the place of the wedding, noting where the plug-ins are and any helpful or hurtful features.

Hope that helps a little.

[richardpcrowe]

You are talking very different scenarios when you mention informal outdoor portraiture and wedding coverage.

You will need a larger arsenal of equipment for wedding shooting thanfor informal outdoor portraiture.

You could make do with your present camera and lens for your informal portraiture and simply add a flash unit, bracket, diffuser and off-camera flash unit. Sure the kit lens isn't the best lens in the world nor is your tele zoom. However, the requirements of informal portraiture are a LOT LESS STRINGENT for that type of shooting than for weddings.

Sure it would be nice to have a better lens such as either the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS or the 17-50mm f/2.8 Tamron and it would definitely be nice to have backup camera, lens and flash. However IMO that is not a strict requirement. If your gear goes down during an informal portraiture session; you can always say to your friend, "Shucks my camera went down, let's do this anothertime!"

That is not the case in wedding coverage. If you accept the challenge of shooting a wedding for pay, you are expected to provide professional coverage. Equipment failure is no excuse in this case.

IMO, the minimum equipment that a photographer should possess before attempting to shoot a wedding is two cameras (full frame is dandy but, 1.6x is totally adequate), two medium focal length zoom lenses which will provide top-notch imagery, two good flash units with off camera cords, brackets and diffusers. Of course you need a selection of extra batteries and CF cards.

Unfortunately, the only piece of equipment you have which would be suitable for weddings is the XT to use as a second body. On the other hand, setting yourself up with the additional gear should not break the bank:

Except where indicated; all prices are from Adorama

One refurbished 30D = $640

Two 580 ex flashes = $780 (total)

One 17-70mm Tamron f/2.8 lens = $419

One 28-75mm f/2.8 Tamron lens = $350

If you can afford a longer zoom lens with an f/2.8 aperture (in addition to the two lenses above) then get two 17-50mm lenses. However, the long side of the 28-75mm will ee you through most weddings.

Two off camera cords = $78 (total)

Two diffusers. There are plenty on the market. I use the Joe Demb Flip-It Pro.
Demb Flash Products - Demb Flash Diffuser Models

However lets just say about $80 or less for the two diffusers.

Two camera flip brackets. I have had good luck with this Chinese knock-off of the Stroboframe camera flip model but, I can't find one on ebay today. Ensure that you get a camera flip model rather than a flash flip model. The camera flip will keep your flash pointing in the same direction whether you are in vertical or horizontal positions.
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Let's say under $200 for both brackets and a lot less if you find the Chinese knock-off or buy the Stroboframe brackets used on eBay.

Now you will need a couple of hundred bucks for extra batteries and CF cards.

We are probably talking an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM of $2,500 over your present XT to shoot a wedding confidently. That is not a lot of money to start a business with equipment that will see you through from the start.

You just can't do it on your present equipment. After all, you wouldn't contract to haul gravel in your Toyota Corolla just because you have a folding back seat and a plastic tarp.