Wedding photography with M8

[Alex Krasotkin]

Guys,

Is it possible, or simply crazy idea? :bang: Does anybody shoot weddings and other events with M8? Perhaps Canon 5D Mark II with 35/1.4, 50/1.2 and 85/1.2 would be a better combo?😕

regards,
Alex

 

[Pickett Wilson]

You can charge a lot more if you shoot weddings with an M8. 😉

 

[dcsang]

Riccis Valldares, a member here, has shot weddings successfully with the M8.
I've personally tried but I need a lot more practice and as such, I sold my M8 and went back to two M7's.

It's a bit "interesting" to shoot solely with a rangefinder but it certainly can (and has) been done - just requires practice.

Cheers,
dave

 

[whickus]

why would it be impossible or crazy? shoot with whatever you're comfortable shooting with.

 

[rolo]

I shoot weddings with the M8 and also a Canon 1D MkII N.

The M8 is a joy to use at a wedding. Tends to slow me down, compared to the Canon, yet always results in sufficient photos for the album and framed prints.

However, will say I prefer to use two bodies and leave the lenses attached throughout.

Rolo

 

[Riccis]

Alex:

Yes, I've shot plenty of weddings with the M8/M8.2. While I went back to shooting film with M6/M7/MPs, the M8.2 stills sees some action for certain events that require a fast turnaround for publication/press releases.

Cheers,

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'd cheerfully do it, but not without UV/IR filters and (ideally) coded lenses (except perhaps the Thambar).

This is based on (a) shooting half a dozen weddings with film Leicas and (b) using an M8/M8.2 since they came out.

The problem is black clothes going red/purple.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith]

I can't see why an M8 can't be used for weddings but I'd tend to agree with the need for two bodies and defnitely IR filters. I use an M8 to shoot the occasional gallery opening and the camera's ideal but I find changing lenses a pain in a busy environment as is changing an SD card. There'd probably be quite a few shots that you'd miss that a high end DSLR would take in it's stride and in certain lighting conditions being careful not to venture into too higher an ISO setting is always on my mind when I'm shooting because you will get noise in the shadows that probably won't appeal to a client's artistic sensibilities!

I'm lucky ... when it happens I tell them it's 'art' and they nod and go "that's nice!" 😛

 

[Iceboy]

Alex

Alex

My name is Asgeir and I am a wedding and children photographer here in Los Angeles. I have been using M6 for some of my weddings for the last 2 years and M8 for about a year. I usually bring my 24/2.8 Elmarit, 35 'cron IV vers ,Noctilux and 75mm AA/Asph. with my to weddings and love the look of it both film and digital ! I shoot also with Canon Mk lll with few lenses. I apply the M8/ M6 for documenting moments throughout the day and I have found the Bresson technique of hunting for images and / or 'frame and wait for things to click' work well. I agree with Rolo that it does slow you down and you work differently but with more thought IMO.
I hope this helps.

Best of luck😉

Asgeir
www.asgeirfotographica.com

 

[mwooten]

My name is Asgeir and I am a wedding and children photographer here in Los Angeles. I have been using M6 for some of my weddings for the last 2 years and M8 for about a year. I usually bring my 24/2.8 Elmarit, 35 'cron IV vers ,Noctilux and 75mm AA/Asph. with my to weddings and love the look of it both film and digital ! I shoot also with Canon Mk lll with few lenses. I apply the M8/ M6 for documenting moments throughout the day and I have found the Bresson technique of hunting for images and / or 'frame and wait for things to click' work well. I agree with Rolo that it does slow you down and you work differently but with more thought IMO.
I hope this helps.

Best of luck😉

Asgeir
www.asgeirfotographica.com

When you use the M8 do you shoot with the intent of the images being black and white, or do you go color and use the ir cut filters?

Thanks,
michael

 

[Iceboy]

Michael

Michael

The filters stay on my lenses 24/7. Since my M6 has mostly BW films in it and I select in post what files from the M8 become color or BW, it simplifies my day off routine t do that. I have found that leaving the filters on makes no difference whether I shoot with the M8 or M6 with BW films.

Best,

Asgeir

 

[easyrider]

There is absolutely no reason why a wedding cannot be shot with a rangefinder. Back in the days of film I used to use two Leica IIIFs. Also a Rolleiflex.

It depends how you want to tell the story. The outcome depends on the photographer, not the camera.

One time a TV cameraman hired me to shoot his wedding because he liked the "Cartier-Bresson" look of my pix. He meant candids. I am no CB!

I recall an argument with the bride's Mom in order to get admitted to the bride's dressing room.

Some here may remember the LIFE magazine feature "Life goes to a Party." Mostly available light and certainly a lot of Leicas and RF Nikons were used.

 

[dcsang]

It can be done - everyone knows this - just that you need to practice if you have never done it before.

Even if you know your wedding procedures "like the back of your hand" it takes practice. Professionals that are doing it have been shooting with RF gear for years in that same situation. Once a moment is missed; it's not coming back and this is something that's very important to keep in mind with a wedding so know your gear and know how to use it before stepping into that sort of situation. 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Riccis]

My name is Asgeir and I am a wedding and children photographer here in Los Angeles. I have been using M6 for some of my weddings for the last 2 years and M8 for about a year. I usually bring my 24/2.8 Elmarit, 35 'cron IV vers ,Noctilux and 75mm AA/Asph. with my to weddings and love the look of it both film and digital ! I shoot also with Canon Mk lll with few lenses. I apply the M8/ M6 for documenting moments throughout the day and I have found the Bresson technique of hunting for images and / or 'frame and wait for things to click' work well. I agree with Rolo that it does slow you down and you work differently but with more thought IMO.
I hope this helps.

Best of luck😉

Asgeir
www.asgeirfotographica.com

Good to see you here, my friend... We have to get together next time I come to L.A.

Cheers,

 

[wayneb]

I know very little on this topic, except that from watching friends and family get married and hire photographers, that people these days seem to gravitate towards a photographer that can provide quantity. Most set-ups and most coverage. Often at the expense of quality of photography, both the style and using digital '35mm' over MF.

 

[Riccis]

I know very little on this topic, except that from watching friends and family get married and hire photographers, that people these days seem to gravitate towards a photographer that can provide quantity. Most set-ups and most coverage. Often at the expense of quality of photography, both the style and using digital '35mm' over MF.

There are clients out there for every type of photographic style... While you are correct that some folks just care about having 10,000 wedding images, others look for quality over quantity (the trick is to properly build your brand and market to only one of the two types of clients mentioned above)...

 

[ali_baba]

works fine for me, although most of my work is done @ venues and nightclubs -- wherever the music hides, i shoot solely M8's, and occasionally my m6.

cheers

 

[pachuco]

The 5DMKII would be a better idea if you normally use a DSLR. If you normally use an M8 then that would be the better choice. Just remember that you will be the autofocus and you can't ask them to walk down the isle twice if you miss the shot. Also, many times a long lens is required to not be intrusive so in that case the 5D would be better as well. All in all, to make things as easy as possible, use the DSLR.

 

[Krosya]

If I was getting paid for a wedding shoot, I'd use what is known to get the job done - fast AF SLR and a MF, like a Hassy. If I was doing it for fun, - just some shots at a friends wedding, not being "the official" photographer, I'd take a RF camera - "if I miss a shot - who cares", sort of thing.

 

[dovevadar]

I think the only reason stopping anyone from using an M8/8.2 will be the noise control and also enlargement prints. They are far behind the DSLR monster. And this point is tremendous for a wedding photographer who needs to print large albums or his typical clients who demand "noiseless" pictures because they are so used to super-clean dslr.