Wedding photography - travel kit

[Manfred M]

I've managed to dodge shooting at weddings of friends and family by telling folks that "I don't do weddings" for quite some time. The trouble for me this time is that it's my daughter who is getting married and she won't take no for an answer.

Just to complicate things a touch more, the wedding will be in Japan, at the end of the summer, so I have to haul everything I need along. That's not as bad as it sounds, as we are planning to spend a few weeks there touring around, so the cameras and lenses are coming along, regardless. Weight is not going to be an issue either as the airline we are using has a very generous baggage allowance.

The reason that they don't want a local Japanese wedding photographer is that she and my wife have seen the albums that the Japanese wedding photographers produce, and they don't want to go that way as they both feel that these are "tacky" by North American standards.

Just to complicate things a touch more, Japanese weddings are a bit different that the Canadian ones I've been to. There is the ceremony, a post-ceremony meal and a party in the evening. There will be a rehearsal, so at least I won't be walking in totally blind. I own the equipment, so I won't have to go out and buy anything new except for a hard sided travel case for the lighting equipment.

In addition to the cameras, I was thinking of taking a couple of light stands, a couple of Speedlights (SB900 and SB600), RF triggers (PocketWizards), flash meter, tripod, batteries and chargers as well as an external battery pack for the SB900. I am thinking of taking a couple of white convertible umbrellas as modifiers for the more formal shots plus the Lumiquest and Gary Fong modifiers for the on-camera work at the meal / party. I'll probably take a couple of empty sandbags and fill them on-site if I need to weight the light stands. I have no intention of taking my studio lights and softboxes; that would be overkill.

So, what am I missing in my list? I realize I'll have to get a hard travel case for the lighting gear. We are going to be on different three flights to get there (and three to get home again), so I'll have to buy one of those. I see that there are padded and unpadded ones; any thoughts on which ones will be better?

[Rob Ekins]

Manfred,

Your wife and daughter need to do some more research... Your baby girl is getting married, no good can come from you being the primary Photog.

[Manfred M]

Manfred,

Your wife and daughter need to do some more research... Your baby girl is getting married, no good can come from you being the primary Photog.

Robbie - that was my approach with them and you can see how far that got me.

I know that it is impossible to be both photographer and important guest at the same time and have said as much. I have no intention of doing a traditional wedding coverage; that would be impossible to do, given the circumstances. They know this and are fine with it; in fact she didn't even want a formal wedding (she is probably the ultimate non-traditionalist) and her fiance is totally unconventional (at least by Japanese standards), but they are bowing to family pressure on his side (oldest male of his generation in the family) in even having a wedding ceremony.

So I have to do the best I can. This means a combination of a few formal posed shots with families and the couple post ceremony, perhaps a couple of shots during the ceremony and the rest will be very much a journalistic documentary approach. This is a nice way of saying, the typical shots that guests take, but a notch or two higher standard and quality.

I know I will have to have some supplemental lighting to do this, hence my question.

[benm]

The key issue seems to be the album, not the photography or the photographer. Maybe you can negotiate with the photographer to buy high-quality jpegs and then design/make your own album.

[Manfred M]

The key issue seems to be the album, not the photography or the photographer. Maybe you can negotiate with the photographer to buy high-quality jpegs and then design/make your own album.

Nope, it's also the photography style and you "buy a package". Prices seem to be comparable to what we would pay in North America for a photography package and they offer specific options. The graduation packages are less tacky, but the theme seems wrong. And yes, they've checked out a number of different photographers and the offerings are similar...



You kind of get the idea here.

Just as an aside, we consider a lot of the packages produced by North American wedding photographers quite tacky as well. There seems to be a worldwide trend of "flavour of the month" approaches when it comes to what seems to sell to brides.

[Manfred M]

Folks - the two answers I've gotten were how to get out of doing it. Not an option. My question was about equipment...

[tclune]

Clearly, the answer is to fly Colin in for the occasion.

[Manfred M]

Clearly, the answer is to fly Colin in for the occasion.

I have friends who are award winning professional wedding photographers. I could fly them in for less, again, not an option.

[Polar01]

Manfred: just wondering about some of the lighting stuff, would it not be possible to check out renting some there? Maybe less trouble than hauling everything then find out you forgot something or the airline misplaced some of your baggage.

Cheers: Allan

[Manfred M]

Manfred: just wondering about some of the lighting stuff, would it not be possible to check out renting some there? Maybe less trouble than hauling everything then find out you forgot something or the airline misplaced some of your baggage.

Cheers: Allan

Thought of that, but seeing as my Japanese is nil, and none of the people at the other end (other than my daughter) speak English, that would be difficult to arrange for. None are photographers either, so they wouldn't have a clue as to where to look. By and large, there is very little English used in Japan. When you see a sign in Japan that says "English spoken here", that is just a little Japanese joke...

I'm not too worried about the gear; it's all pretty compact (the light stands and umbrellas would take up the bulk of the space), and we would be on the ground a couple of weeks before the wedding, so even if things get lost, lots of recovery time. I figure everything would fit in a single hard case. Not to mention, I know my own gear and how it works, so there would be one less thing to worry about.

[rpcrowe]

Robbie mentioned...
"Your baby girl is getting married, no good can come from you being the primary Photog."
Manfred replied...
"that was my approach with them and you can see how far that got me."

Manfred, I hear you loud and clear. After, (over my objections), I shot my first step daughter's wedding, I was determined not to shoot the wedding of #2 stepdaughter. So much for the well laid plans of mice and men!

Daughter #2, "You shot daughter #1! Don't you care enough about me to shoot mine?"
Wife, "I really think you shout show equality."
Daughter #3, "You did a great job shooting my wedding do you want to trust this to a stranger?"
Me, "O.K., I give up!"

The only victory for me was that I planted my heels and refused to wear a tuxedo to shoot this wedding, like I was convinced to do during the first wedding. Actually, it was not much of a victory since the dress for the wedding of Stepdaughter #2 was quite informal."

Manfred, as with me, you really have no choice Just make the best of it and don't tipple too much sake during the event!

BTW: There are lots of YouTube videos on Japanese weddings for research... https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...panese+wedding

Have a safe and happy trip and shot a lot of great images!

[PhotomanJohn]

I am NOT a wedding photographer but have been in the same situation except for the travel and it all worked out well. The only real issue is that you end up not being in any of the pictures and you will miss the bride's entrance if you are the one escorting her. In my case it was her second wedding and she walked down the aisle with her new husband. Hopefully someone else there could handle some of the photos for you. Everything went pretty well.

I suggest that maybe you rethink the need for that much lighting equipment. I know we are alike in that we are used to using studio gear and the associated lighting set-ups but they are not completely necessary to take good wedding photos. It will also put an extra load on you to deal with the extra equipment during the event. You really don't need any more pressure on you, there will be plenty as it is.

One flash on a flip bracket will handle a lot of the shots. Hopefully you will be able to bounce the flash off suitable surfaces part of the time. Where one may need more lights is to illuminate the ceremony and larger groups which you may not be able to do with a couple of speed lights and umbrellas anyway.

Like I say, I am not a wedding photographer and I'm sure some much more experienced than I will chime in. When it was all over I decided it was fun.

John

[DEAN01]

Manfred,
I understand about the "no option" wedding shoot. In response to your original question, you seem to have the equipment issue well covered. I would probably leave the light stands and umbrellas, but that's just me.
Have a wonderful time and bring back great photos and memories!

[Shadowman]

Location scouting, weather predictions, wardrobe notification, etc.

[Donald]

Equipment-wise - Can't see any obvious omissions. However, in terms of human resources, have you got an assistant on your packing list?

Particularly given your dual role of 'tog and father, I'd have thought you're definitely going to need at least one, if not two, runners who will be there to be instructed by you as to who to get where for which group pics and just to be on hand to do whatever you need them to.

[Shadowman]

How about a shutter remote?

[William W]

. . . Weight is not going to be an issue either as the airline we are using has a very generous baggage allowance. . .

I realize I'll have to get a hard travel case for the lighting gear. We are going to be on different three flights to get there (and three to get home again), so I'll have to buy one of those. I see that there are padded and unpadded ones; any thoughts on which ones will be better?

I am unsure what specifically you are referring to with the term "a very generous baggage allowance" but here, that term refers to the Hold Luggage. I would NOT do that.

I pack Cameras, Lenses and Speedlites as "Carry On" Luggage.

Most of the traveling I do is with Swim Teams - just like they "carry on" the essential racing gear, I carry on essential camera gear.

All the Airlines that I have flown on, have a "Carry On" WEIGHT limit (as well as size limit) - some, in addition that weight and size limit for the 'bag' also allow single items like "and one camera carried on".

It seems that you are traveling with at least one other person, so if you choose to "carry on" what I term "the essential gear" it should be easy to split it up to comply with the Carry On weight allowances.

***

Re: the Hard Travel Case for the lighting gear - padded is what I use.

WW

[Manfred M]

***

Re: the Hard Travel Case for the lighting gear - padded is what I use.

WW

Thanks Bill - ANA (All Nippon Airways) seems to have a 2-bag limit with each bag up to 23kg / 50lb; the limit doubled earlier this year. With three of us traveling, that makes a 300 lb limit. I can't see even getting close to half that limit. Dimensions are not going to be an issue either

Agreed as well on how to transport the gear; camera, lenses and speedlights always travel in the hand luggage (I've had my stuff all over the world, and only had an issue once (they weighed the hand luggage in Johannesburg and South African Airlines staff were going by the book on the Jo'burg / Windhoek leg).

Tripod, light stands, umbrellas travel in the cargo hold. I've checked the tripods in soft bags before, but consider myself a bit lucky that they've come through unscathed. Light stands and modifiers are a bit more flimsy, so I don't want to risk it. I'll have a good look at a padded hard case.

[Manfred M]

The only real issue is that you end up not being in any of the pictures and you will miss the bride's entrance if you are the one escorting her.

Still researching this one, but the father walking the bride down the aisle does not appear to be traditional there, so that is still in the "to be determined" category.

In Japan, the actual marriage has no ceremony; both parties sign the paperwork and the marriage is effective when the paperwork is received by the government office. The ceremonies themselves are more of a celebration for friends and family although there are "official" ceremonies for the Shinto or Buddhist adherents, there is also a "anything else category" which is more wide open (i.e. whatever the bride wants). Nobody shows up the bride because it is "her day". In general the bride has a fancy dress and the rest (including the groom) are dressed in black or dark colours so as not to take anything away from the bride.

[Manfred M]

How about a shutter remote?

I'm definitely considering taking the CamRanger along; it's quite small and I'll have a smartphone and tablet along, so triggering would be easy.