Alien Skin Exposure Software. Google it. :)

yeah, I use servo/MF for aisle stuff. sparkler departure is MF for sure. not enough light for AF...

nope. I just tell them if they want to fulfill their "vision" for their photos, they're going to have to be ok with getting their shoes/dress a bit dirty.

99% of the brides I shoot are all in for it.

I'd go flash to be safe, but not always. If there is enough ambient light, I'd LOVE to shoot w/o it.

with:

http://benjhaisch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CAT+BRETT-BLOG-110.jpg

without:

http://benjhaisch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/bCHRIS+KELSEY-769.jpg

If you literally had no time to test anything, going ETTL would be last resort, but better than nothing.

I don't always get responses. I'm not too worried, more used to it. They'll let you know if they DIDN'T get it though. I've had that happen a few times.

50%

maybe not my BIGGEST piece of advice, but close.

whenever things get crazy I just remind myself, "they hired you for a reason, just do what you do at every single other wedding & do your best"

if I keep that mindset and follow through with it, there isn't any ACTUAL thing for anyone to be upset about. I pride myself on my work being very consistent.

sure. My preset is SUPER mellow, so it works on everything. I actually am really growing to like VSCO Film, but I can't find one preset that will work for everything.

nope. I just do the standard, which is already matte.

I don't have anything wider than 35mm right now.

I'm REALLY laid back when it comes to this kind of thing. I'll email people after a couple of weeks, but I figure if people really want to book me, they'll get back to me.

It's more about what the 2nd photographer is worth and a lot less about how much you're getting paid.

For a full-time professional photographer, I'd say $250 is the minimum. $250-$500 is probably typical. Up to $750+ depending on who it is.

for family portraits? yeah. I'd probably go 35/85.

I just try to get to know my clients and work off of that. Some people are just naturally magical in front of the camera, of course, but I try to make the session about them and not me. I don't go into a session with some big elaborate vision or anything. I just TRY really hard to capture people's personalities. I

absolutely. I love traveling with it. LOVE.

I don't have any examples because I don't have the same shot with 2 different lenses on hand, BUT if you're above your subject a bit, the distortion slightly thins out the subject's midsection/torso.

I don't usually freelens my 35L, it's usually the 50mm. When I have though, it's usually not the lens that getts in the frame, but the lens hood. Take the hood off and you should be good to go. Same goes for the 24L if you ever try that.

all over the place. I'm pretty discreet, but at the same time, my responsibility is to the bride and groom to make photos that help them remember what it was like to stand up there and look into each others eyes and commit their lives to one another. If that means that I have to stand in front of someone for a few seconds or walk around a bit, it's worth it to me.

also, the award for "longest run-on sentence" now goes to me.

Haha, right on. Photography was just self taught. I took a Basic Photography class at UW Seattle after I'd already started, but I'd already progressed beyond that by that time.

35mm. Sure it distorts a little, but I use that to my advantage.

I have the 85/1.8. The f/1.2L is incredible, but I'm fine with the f/1.8's better AF as I mainly use it for ceremonyies.