A question, arising from looking at an extended family wedding photo album from 1954:
-- what was the likely photo equipment used back then, by an upmarket photo business (still going, Bachrach Photo, Boston, since 1868)?
-- would the same setup be used for formal ceremony, and tighter diner pictures?
The darkroom retouching questions would take a whole new post so let's ignore it!
Jay, While I was born in December, 1954, but my first 'wedding photography' occurred at 11 years old in 1966 (well, OK ... it was a group photo .. and I'm not saying it was very good, either!). The point is, by that time I knew --and had learned from-- a a couple photographers who were of course still using their equipment from "the early days" (a few years before!). My own, true 'hard core' wedding photography experience began in about 1969, after my mom bought me a Japanese Rolleicord clone: a Yashica Model A. Anyway, not much of it had changed by that time, so, regarding Northern California during that era, With that in mind I submit, in answer to your question:
Cameras: Speed Graphic and Rolleiflex cameras (possibly Crown Graphic too)
Film: Kodak Ektacolor-S
Lighting: GE "Sure-fire" M5 and M5-B flash bulbs or maybe larger) in Heiland, Kalart and Graflex flash units (the "star wars" handles). The flash bulb base was usually licked before inserting it into the socket. This assured good contact and helped to avoid failed flashes.
Lighting diffusion: A (clean!) handkerchief with a rubber-band to hold it onto the reflector
PC cords: Paramount (still exists)
Camera Case: Typically, a hard, black or brown "boxy" type (often leather or shiny leatherette) with multiple external pockets, a faulty "lock" and uncomfortable strap that converted the photographer into a hunchback.
Albums: TAP-LOOMIS (same as today!)
NOTE:
The electronic Graflex Stroboflash and Honeywell-Heiland Strobonar flash units were soon to follow in popular, in the early to mid-1960s until well into the 1970s, as was the Koni-Omega (which evolved into the non-Konica lens "Rapid-Omega") cameras. While 4x5 dropped off in use, the Rolleiflex continued, too (the Rolleiwide was the Rolls-Royce in the early 1970s), well into nearly the digital age . . .
This is as accurate as my memory allows. Hope this is helpful.
Best,
Christopher
PS: The late Frank Denevi, for whom I often worked as a camera salesman and store manager, was an
excellent wedding and portrait photographer in the 1950S. His family still has a lot of his negatives from the 1950s. At one point I begged Frank to publish a book of these absolutely spectacular (if, by today's standards, a bit kitchy) wedding photos which, in my opinion, are valuable not only from a photographic standpoint, but as a social document. If you're familiar with Bill Owens' * book, "Suburbia", think of Denevi's work as a color version! Amazing stuff.
*sideline name-dropping: When I worked at Denevi Camera in the early 1970s, I actually sold film to Bill Owens, who was working on his book at the time while working as a news photographer for a Livermore paper, I believe. Touch me, I'm famous.