I've been getting so much E-mail about this I have decided to go
       and start.

       First, you've gone out and bought a consumer grade SLR at W-Mart or
       at the local camera shop. They told you its wonderful and you can do
       anything you want to do with it. It's auto focus, has a built in
       flash, a zoom lens in the 28MM to say 80MM range and the best thing
       its black and looks very professional.

       You shoot some film. Play with it a little and get some really nice
       photographs. You are processing these in the local one hour. You
       probably have tried several brands and speeds of film. Someone sees
       you work ,likes it and says, my sister is getting married next week
       and I would love for you to photograph her wedding.
       
       OK. Let me tell why I think you should refuse this offer. Weddings
       have a bad habit of being held in dark places. A lot of auto focus
       systems don't work well in a low light situation. Because of the low
       light you are going to use a lot of flash and built in flashes do
       not have the necessary output to handle most shots past about 10ft.
       (3 meters). Most consumer grade zoom lens are slow in the f4 to 5.6
       range and are not very sharp when shot wide open. If you have not
       settle in on a film you like your are likely to choose a very fast
       film like Kodak or Fuji 800. And a big problem is built in flashes
       create red eye,especially in a dark situation. I would like to hang
       the person who designed this system first. I can say. I have never
       seen a red eye reduction system that works.

       This friend who ask you to do his sister wedding will catch a lot
       of grief if this wedding does not turn out well and I have seen it
       create bad feelings between friends.

       If you want to do weddings I would recommend you do several things
       to allow you you to do a satisfactory job.

       Equipment:
       The consumer grade SLR can work most times if you add some
       additional equipment to your photo inventory.
       I would get a fast normal lens. Say an AF 50MM f1.4 and shoot
       most of my shots with it. Most major brands of cameras have a
       lens like this and its a good investment. Because it's 3 or 4
       f. stops faster it will focus better in low light.
       Get an off camera flash with an output of at least 100 watts.
       I use Vivitar 285 and have used 283. I like the big head of the
       285. Buy a flash bracket. You can get one that will allow you to
       use the camera in the horizontal and vertical positions and allow
       the flash to be centered directly above the lens. This bracket will
       solve the red eye problems because it get the flash head away from
       the lens. Pick a film you like and stay with it. If you mix Kodak
       and Fuji film on a job they will look different. They have different
       characteristics. I like Kodak Portra 160 NC for wedding. I find its
       more neutral in its gray tones and produces white wedding dresses.
       Fuji makes great film but it can go a little green in the shadows
       and add a green cast to the whites. An 81A filter will solve the
       excess green if you want to shoot the Fuji. Portra 400 NC works
       well but makes grainer enlargements.
       IMPORTANT: If your camera has a electronic shutter I would get a
       Wein safe syc. I burned up two new cameras before I became aware
       syc voltage. I discuss this in a later installment.
       Finally, I would buy a good flash meter. I use a Minolta IV. This
       is the best investment I think you can make after you buy a camera.

       I plan to go into more detail in later installments. I'm shooting
       photos of my rig and will show how I shoot. You may find it in
       interesting or you may already know everything I plan to cover at a
       later date.
       Marshall Thurman