It's been a while since I actually sat down in front of my computer not editing pictures or emailing clients. Lately I've been shooting weddings after weddings, and even a Gown Trashing session with a couple. I've been updating my equipment rather frequently to adapt to the needs. The old Sigma 28-70mm F/2.8 is replaced by a wider Tokina 16-50mm F/2.8 for indoors as my bread & butter lens. I picked up a Nikon D300 as my primary body and moved the D200 down as a backup body which is giving me much more freedom with the much improved ISO performance. I picked up a Demb Flip-It! flash diffuser also for more options for flash bounce. And then there are lots of other little things like compact flash memory, memory card case, Rapid RStrap, etc etc...
I still remember when I got all the excitement before every time I picked up new gears (toys?), and I couldn't get my hands off of them and would go nuts shooting everything I find. I'm shooting less on random subjects lately, and started catching up on my readings mostly on books that I've purchased previously and some photography magazines for inspirations. I don't exactly get the excitement with my new equipment, but rather want to get the most out of them and get over the hump of familiarizing with them as soon as possible.
Last Sunday was my first wedding shoot with the D300 and also with the Demb diffuser. I made several adjustments in my gears again, and I think I'm getting closer to the ideal work flow as I progress.
- Morning Indoors:
- Carry: D300, 16-50mm F/2.8, SB-800 flash
- Bag: SB-600 flash, 50mm F/1.8, 105mm macro
- change flash batteries at the end regardless
- Church / Ceremony:
- Carry: D300 with 80-200mm F/2.8, D200 with 16-50mm F/2.8 and SB-800 flash
- Bag: SB-600 flash, extra batteries
- change flash batteries at the end regardless
- Banquet:
- Carry: D300 with 16-50mm F/2.8, SB-800 flash
- Bag: 12-24mm F/4, 50mm F/1.8, SB-600 flash
With a plan properly laid out, this should help me better arrange my gears in my bag(s) and reduce the chance that I'm carrying the wrong gears at the wrong time and relieve some stress off my neck & shoulders. It's really no fun to carry an extra 5lbs for several hours for nothing... which kept happening to me and I'm the only one to be blamed. :)
I also find myself in desperate need of getting a proper business card, which kept getting delayed... along with the website design which is long past due. It's no fun handing out my temporary business cards anymore *chuckle*
I've also been working on my price list, check list on tips/guidlines for B&G, and a checklist for myself which I think would really be helpful if you're forgetful like me... :) It isn't like the majority of the check lists you'll find off the Internet, but a very stripped down version of the small details that's easy to forget. I don't want to get the shooting sequence to a recipe and follow it exactly every time. I feel that every wedding is different and should be personal, and as long as you follow the general guidelines, you should really let your creativity lead you.
Anyway, enough of my babbling for tonight... :)
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